Thread: When Did Taping the Spine Begin?

Yea, I suspect in the past if they cared about the spine they raised it off the hone ever so slightly. Just enough to avoid contact. The vintage blades that I've come across with little or no hone wear on the spine all had higher angle bevels than what I made with tape or simply honing them with the spine on the stone.

Years ago this question came up and some folks thought there may have been a metal sleeve used to slide over the spine to do the equivalent of taping. Whether there has ever been anything written/published to that effect I don't know.

I dare tot differ.
Perret in 1770 recommended honing with spine on the hone not off the hone. In those days hollow grinding had not yet been invented. If you look at the old wedges some of 'em have more honewear on the spine than on the bevel. Perret describes a wooden sleeve to cover the spine and most of the blade as a blade guard, not to make honing easier.
He describes the practice of regrinding as soon as the bevel and spine wear would interfere with honing.
Let's credit Lynn with spine taping.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Years ago this question came up and some folks thought there may have been a metal sleeve used to slide over the spine to do the equivalent of taping. Whether there has ever been anything written/published to that effect I don't know.

IIRC Mastro Livi did once make one for one of our members to protect the spine of one of his expensive razors.

Yeah the thoughts on this go back a few years this thread is 9 years old

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...honed-day.html

I remember Josh Earl doing some hardness tests using the older Sheffield razors that found the spines were softer than the blades so that also could have an effect of the excessive spine wear we see..

It has been a topic of conversation and conjecture for quite a long time

Since someone mentioned Perret, I thought this link might be useful too

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ds-1771-a.html

The wooden sleeve was for shaving, not honing, apparently. But I would not be surprised if someone used it for honing.

Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

Wedge blades are especially susceptible to spine or blade surface wear when honing. If taping or another system is to be dismissed prior to the Internet and the 1940s invention of electrical tape, perhaps they were honed raising the spine if they have come down to us in decent shape, provided that they were actually used?

I too have picked up very old (1850's) wedge blades that appear as if whoever honed them held the spine off the stone. Bevels were not very even side to side, but it appeared to have a good enough edge to shave.

I first heard of honing with tape around the year 2000.
I was taught to hone with the spine off of the hone by a fingernail height.
Using tape is a lot easier!!!
So whoever came up with the idea, my wrists say THANK YOU!

There are guys around that can hone a razor without putting on hone wear, leaving marks, or use tape. I am not there yet. Tape is a great solution for those of us that have not made it there yet.