Thread: How often do you tape the spine?

To tape or not to tape...

I always do.

I find it protects the spine from unnecessary wear, makes the razor glide more easily across the stone and creates a really narrow bevel. Plus it also means the hone doesnt glaze over as quickly.

Originally Posted by ZMKA

To tape or not to tape...

That is the question, whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous hone wear or by seizing a piece of 3M electrical tape end them. Kidding aside....

This is a topic I brought up when I was new. Differing and strong opinions at that time. What I've come to with the issue is that new honers are better off taping until they feel confident in their honing. Learn the stroke and the amount of pressure to use and then try it both ways and decide for yourself which procedure you prefer.

I have so many razors that I decided to tape them all just to avoid having to remember whether I taped one or didn't. Following that for a long time I began to feel like I half way knew what I was doing and curiosity led me to try honing without tape and for now I find I like it better. There is a different feel on the hones without tape.

OTOH, I mainly hone for myself. If I was honing for others, whether for $ or free, I would probably ask which they preferred or just tape the razors I was doing for others. If I do create hone wear on my razor that is one thing. On yours that is another.

Of course with Damascus blades or decorated spines I will always use tape. Many knowledgeable members who have been at it for years say that the amount of difference a piece of electrical tape will make to the geometry of the razor is negligible. OTOH, if it is a situation where a guy has one or two razors in a rotation over many years it might make a negative difference .... I suppose.

Edit; I couldn't answer the poll because my category would be, "it depends".

i usually tape if razor belongs to someone else. 1 layers of tape.
i am not taping any of my own blades. sometimes owner wants he blade honed without tape i will do exactly what they like.
Sooner or later you end up taking tape out. That is why i think if you are using the razor it shouldn't be taped.
while i hone i do have different feeling to taped and not taped blade. they glide on the surface differently.i cannot vote don't have right choose.
hope this helps

For me it depends on the razor.

I always use tape. 1 piece if setting the bevel and 2 pieces in other cases.

I don't see an option for "almost never tape a spine". That's where I'm at. For me it just feels better and more natural.

Not a good idea to tape when bevel setting then remove the tape when continuing to hone. Raising the bevel angle like Ramon says he does is one thing but lowering it mid-hone creates issues at the edge that have been discussed quite a bit over time and IMO isn't an effective way to hone.


Chris L

I hardly never use tape only if i add secondry bevel or serious setting bevel or somtimes i use one layer for an old razor with a larger than normal bevel other than that never.

I do tape every time

never (:

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