Thread: People who tape their spine, then sell that razor irritate me.

Here is a quote from one of Lynn Abrams archived posts,

"I think the biggest problem out there not unlike shaving is that people think because they have honed knives or tools forever and shaved since they were 12 that it's gonna be very easy and expect it to be. "The problem *CAN'T* be me". But a razors edge is a very delicate instrument and with a little patience and experimentation, you *CAN* learn to hone with the best of them, even if you are just honing for your own satisfaction. The search for that absolute perfect or just a little better shave resulting from that just a little better edge is never ending."

We who have honed with 1 layer ... or whatever ... of tape know what works. I have chosen to go to no tape since becoming confident in my skill level. When I was new I feared I might do more harm than good without the tape. Here is another quote from Lynn Abrams,

"Where I see the problems daily when honing or fixing people razors is that they use hundreds of strokes and uneven pressure and end up with bevels on top of bevels and uneven spines and all kinds of interesting stuff. Every time I see sandpaper scratches on an edge or blade, I know I need to go from scratch on that razor to repair the deep scratch marks, set a new bevel and re-hone the razor."

Until a new guy gets the chops down tape may be a good idea. Once learned it is certainly optional. IME one way is as good as the other.YMMV.