I'm indebted to both of you gentlemen for sharing your knowledge. As regards the YouTube video (and your comment was to the point regarding believing everything one sees there), the gent doing the honing stripped the tape off, if I remember correctly, after completing the bevel at 1000K. He then moved on to 4000K. I see what you are saying about removing the tape changing the angle that one would get vis-a-vis the bevel.

I'm quite obviously a noob here, thinking of getting into maintaining my own razor. Having said that, I'll venture another question. I would be inclined to keep the tape on throughout the entire process, for the reasons you have mentioned. Would the tape get ground into the stone? Would it have the effect of slicking it up if some of the material in the tape got into it? BTW, I've looked at both your sites and found them attractive. I'll probably wind up a customer. Again, thanks!