Thread: Could someone explain why they tape splines when honing?

I see a lot of mentioning of taping splines when honing. Is the point of this to create more of an obtuse edge angle or just to save on spine wear?

I thought the whole point of straight razor design, whether it be hollow grinds, wedges, or whatever, is to be able to hone the blade flat with no assistance and have the correct edge angle result.

you can. taping prevents spine wear. It also creates a more open angle.

Taping a spine is done purely for aesthetic reasons to minimize or prevent hone wear.

Honemeisters will commonly tape spines as razor owners may squawk about spine wear.

You'll hear many arguments for and against taping spines. Some razors due to their aesthetic value pretty much require taping to preserve their overall look ("damascus" steel, etc).

I've found that it's typical for "newbies" to pick up on the spine/hone wear issue and IMO incorrectly put much more negative weight on spine wear than their should be. Hypothetical example: You'll see someone ask if a very nice used vintage razor on Ebay is worth buying. Almost invariably, and most often from a newer member, you'll see a comment about how the razor looks nice "but.........it DOES have some hone wear". The feisty side of me, keeping the retort to myself wants to say "Duh, it's a used razor.".

Thankfully I keep my feisty comments to myself most of the time.

I rarely tape spines and actually like the look of both the bevel AND the spine gleaming back at me with mirror like reflections with the hollow separating the two. To me it looks sweet and baaaad! Then again, I don't have $1,000 custom razors either, so I can see both sides.

Some will say that taping the spines on razors that are meant to be shaved with is akin to only driving a sports car at 5mph around a parking lot for fear of yielding wear and tear on the vehicle. Wait, maybe I'm the only one that says that.

Everyone is different. I can see both sides. Neither is "right" or "wrong". It's user preference. Honemeisters probably do, or if not they should tell a razor owner EXACTLY how they honed a blade if they did use tape though. It would make a rehone much much easier for the next person honing to know what kind of tape/how many layers, etc.

Chris L

Originally Posted by tsenfw

I see a lot of mentioning of taping splines when honing. Is the point of this to create more of an obtuse edge angle or just to save on spine wear?

Actually, it could be either. The more common reason is to protect the spine from wear or damage. Some only tape the spine if they are working on a decorated or a Damascus blade. Others do it all the time in order to prevent hone wear (particularly if there is a lot of work required).

Using tape to build up the cross section of the spine as a way to increase the blade to hone angle is a bit more esoteric. You might do it if you have a razor with a particularly thin/worn spine. Recently some honemeisters have been using a taped spine for the last finishing strokes in order to establish a tiny double bevel. I believe that Tim Zowada developed this technique.

Originally Posted by Chris L

Taping a spine is done purely for aesthetic reasons to minimize or prevent hone wear.L

Or maybe to save some time on a wedge that needs a new bevel or edge damage repaired

Originally Posted by Chris L

I rarely tape spines and actually like the look of both the bevel AND the spine gleaming back at me with mirror like reflections with the hollow separating the two. To me it looks sweet and baaaad! Then again, I don't have $1,000 custom razors either, so I can see both sides.

Some will say that taping the spines on razors that are meant to be shaved with is akin to only driving a sports car at 5mph around a parking lot for fear of yielding wear and tear on the vehicle. Wait, maybe I'm the only one that says that.

I totally agree. I mean if that's how a razor is supposed to function why is spine wear viewed as ugly or bad and why try to prevent it? Sort of like putting plastic on an expensive couch lmao. I bet if you correctly hone a razor it will last a lifetime without spine wear becoming a honing issue.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Or maybe to save some time on a wedge that needs a new bevel or edge damage repaired

I could see how it would be used to repair an edge. But why would you use it to save time? More material on the spine to remove on a wedge correct? Wouldn't that mean you would have to use tape forever after that?

Because if you took the tape back off you would have to hone the spine or edge side flat again because a new angle is created by removing the tape. That would negate any time you saved honing the first time with tape.

Originally Posted by tsenfw

But why would you use it to save time? More material on the spine to remove on a wedge correct? Wouldn't that mean you would have to use tape forever after that?

I don't see why. Just peel the tape off when you're done, then strop and shave as usual. You'd have to re-apply the tape for the intermittent hone refreshing every few dozen shaves I guess, but that might be a more efficient use of time for some people than spending hours honing through the entire bevel.

Originally Posted by Bill S

I believe that Tim Zowada developed this technique.

I think you're right IIRC. Creating micro-bevels on chisels and plane irons has been done for ages, but I think Tim is the first one I know of that adopted that long used technique for razor honing.

Chris L

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I don't see why. Just peel the tape off when you're done, then strop and shave as usual. You'd have to re-apply the tape for the intermittent hone refreshing every few dozen shaves I guess, but that might be a more efficient use of time for some people than spending hours honing through the entire bevel.

True, good point. Never even held a wedge in my hands, so I don't really have a concept as to how long they take to hone.