Thread: When Did Taping the Spine Begin?

Thank you for your comments. From them, I'm thinking that taping is a more recent innovation. That makes me wonder about wedges though. Also, a frameback with removable blades is sort of a metal analogy to taping.

I always suspected that it was popularized by commercial honers to speed things up and also not scratch their customer's blades.

I think it is driven more by hobbyists and collectors. And I understand that.

For an everyday tool as the spine gets thinner so does the blade width.....

I have never seen taping being recommended in barbers' manuals so I guess it is a pretty modern invention of hobbyists who want to try many blades and sell them on looking near mint after having tried them for a short while. It does facilitate honing of wedge style razors.

Originally Posted by Kees

I have never seen taping being recommended in barbers' manuals so I guess it is a pretty modern invention of hobbyists who want to try many blades and sell them on looking near mint after having tried them for a short while. It does facilitate honing of wedge style razors.

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?

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?

That's my take. Several of my old wedges had bevels that were uneven side to side which might indicate knife-like honing.

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.

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 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!