Thread: How Do You Remember What You've Taped

I have enough razors now that I can't just remember what I've done with each. So I have to ask you who have honed many razors: how do you remember which ones you taped, how much, etc.?

I had one razor that for some reason needed two layers of tape. I remember it by sticking two small pieces of masking tape inside the scales "2 tape" reminds me. What's nice about that is that in the bathroom if i want to touch it up on a barber hone, I can see immediately that this one needs tape.

Still, I'm not sure this is the best way to remember.

So what's your plan?

I keep a log of all my straights in a spreadsheet. That way i always know what happened to each razor, and when.
I don't track each shave, but every honing, refreshing and the amount of tape, if any, is logged in that sheet.

I tape every single razor 1 layer, same ole 3M tape...

except 2

One is my Barber's Hone test razor, to test that every barber's hone I lap is fully functional...

One is my Finishing Hone/Pasted Strop test razor, I have honed this one razor so many different ways, and so many different times, I can quickly tell what the stone or strop is really doing...

Even though I have a fair number of razors it's easy to remember because the ones with goldwork on the spine get the tape so that's easy and the others really just a few like the Zowada's get it and a couple others. In general I don't tape razors.

If you don't have a simple rule for taping, the best thing to do would be to keep a list of the taped ones. If it's not on the list, it's not taped.
Our memories do really weird things (just look at all the issues with eye witness testimonies), so it can be good to keep a written account

I only have 3 razors and use a layer of tape on them all so I guess its easy for me to remember.

I think I like the idea of a log just so I can see how often I have to refresh the blade.

I'm another spreadsheet user. Bevels (single vs double), hones, pastes, and specific notes are my column fields with razors by country of origin in the rows.

I tape them all. Takes the confusion away, and I'm still new to honing, so I'm very aware that I may use more strokes for the same result....like gssixgun said in a previous thread....tape slides, steel grinds.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I tape every single razor 1 layer, same ole 3M tape...

Except for wedges, then I cheat and lift the blade, but you can usually feel the bevel on a wedge. If I screw it, I get to hone it again(does happy dance)!

My first year honing I taped them all. Now I don't tape any unless it is a damascus (pattern welded steel) or a decorated spine. I wish I didn't have to tape them because I like the feel of the blade on the hone without the stuff.

I have been swearing I would keep a honing journal so that I know which hones I used on a particular razor. How it worked out for me, which stroke and that kind of thing. Maybe one of these days I'll do it.