Thread: tape vs no tape?

so I was practicing honing a couple razors last night and finishing them this morning, and got to wondering about the tape vs no tape thing.

right now I am liking the tape, as ive only honed a couple dozen razors, and sometimes get a bit heavy handed and put extra wear on the spine. and the tape helps as I can see that I would be putting the wear there and reminds me to lighten up. also I can see where when making razors for sale, that folks wouldn't like the hone marks on a fresh blade.

but I guess my question is how long it would take to notice a difference in the edge geometry by using tape all the time on a single razor? as in a person purchases a razor, and shaves with it every day, and hones it once every couple months with tape. ive worn out plenty of knives out using them hard, but there you are talking about cutting rope, wood, insulation, shingles, ect.. wrecking edges on staples and bone and constantly resetting edges and such. with a razor and just using even the relatively fine 1000 grit stone to reset a bevel, I cant imagine that we are really removing much steel during a normal honing.

would it take 5 years? 10? more? and would the increase in edge angle when you finally got out of the normal range be noticeable?

Originally Posted by caltoncutlery

so I was practicing honing a couple razors last night and finishing them this morning, and got to wondering about the tape vs no tape thing.

right now I am liking the tape, as ive only honed a couple dozen razors, and sometimes get a bit heavy handed and put extra wear on the spine. and the tape helps as I can see that I would be putting the wear there and reminds me to lighten up. also I can see where when making razors for sale, that folks wouldn't like the hone marks on a fresh blade.

but I guess my question is how long it would take to notice a difference in the edge geometry by using tape all the time on a single razor? as in a person purchases a razor, and shaves with it every day, and hones it once every couple months with tape. ive worn out plenty of knives out using them hard, but there you are talking about cutting rope, wood, insulation, shingles, ect.. wrecking edges on staples and bone and constantly resetting edges and such. with a razor and just using even the relatively fine 1000 grit stone to reset a bevel, I cant imagine that we are really removing much steel during a normal honing.

would it take 5 years? 10? more? and would the increase in edge angle when you finally got out of the normal range be noticeable?

I hope you will enjoy Glen's video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMchDtXzUO4&t=197s

Ain't no thang!

My thoughts are;
When in the early stages of learning to hone, very often there is way too much pressure put on the spine, and no tape risks the blade geometry far more than the other way around. Later on when one gets good at it and learns toctorque the blade and hone the edge not the spine, tape is then optional.

See the affect for yourself. Set a bevel with tape. Remove the tape and see how many strokes it takes to get back to a clean edge. Take a few strokes and check your progress often. It's not a big difference.

The 'how long to change the angle question' is mute ~ 1/16" would have to be worn off of the width to change the bevel angle 1 degree. I'm more worried about the 1 degree change toward the obtuse that you add by using tape. I generally go by the bevel angle even on brand new razors that I plan to sell unless the razor is etched. I've had people ask about hone wear in person and have shone them a razor that has been honed a few times without tape. I almost have to point out the hone wear and when I ask them if it looks bad to them I've never gotten anything but a no. This particular razor has often been picked out by people as their favorite! I'll have it at the Denver meet, unless it sells before then. I would always recommend tape to a beginners until they can hone without wearing through the tape. Beginner shavers are probably better off with a more obtuse bevel angle and I bring the owners experience into the discussion of tape or no tape. If they are experienced shavers and I'm seeing angles at 16 degrees or more, I tell them that I would hone that razor without tape unless they have any objection.

A lot of times I will hone witout tape until i get to my finisher then add one layer and put on a micro bevel but thats different, the method I used to use was no tape unless the spine is worked or has gold or some other type of embellishment on the spine but now I just use tape all the time just to keep the wear off, I usually sell razors after I use them for awhile and some guys want zero hone wear not even a micro thin line of wear so its just easier to tape and be done.

I only use tape when honing out chips, and usually when I receive older slightly beat up razors with micro chips and shaving bevels that are quite far off, I use tape first to remove some steel at the edge first and fast.

When that is done, I remove the tape and re-set the bevel and continue the progression without tape.

Gotta love it, yet another tape vs no tape thread.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Gotta love it, yet another tape vs no tape thread.

Bob

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