Thread: To tape or not to tape, that is the question.

Make a choice and deal with it...

I can only state all the various reasons over and over so many times...

I am one who tapes every single razor Yours, Mine, and Theirs.. I am very very conscious of changing the tape at every level of honing...
I started taping because, I started restoring razors and I will be d*mned if I am going to spend all that time polishing out a blade to a near perfect finish, then put hone wear on it, so I tape...

Now on the reverse side of that I have yet to have a razor come in for honing or restore that has been harmed from tape (maybe 100 years from now I will) but I sure have fixed a truck load that have been harmed from hone wear on the spine

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I will be d*mned if I am going to spend all that time polishing out a blade to a near perfect finish, then put hone wear on it

It's a wonder that you go on to hone them at all, scratching up those innocent, newly mirrored bevels with all manner of hones and strops

I knew that Glen and Randy both tape them all and I did too. I probably would have been comfortable doing that forever. It is certainly easier than trying remember which were taped if you don't tape them all.

The fact that Lynn didn't use tape gnawed at me. I figured there must be some advantage or he would have. So I experimented without it. Like Lynn I will still tape a damascus, a decorated spine or per customer's request but the feel of honing without it is so much nicer IME not to mention a lot less hassle. Different strokes and all roads lead to Rome ... figuratively speaking.

I don't understand why taping would be considered a PITA? How hard can it really be?

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

I don't understand why taping would be considered a PITA? How hard can it really be?

Until you don't do it you won't know what a pain it is when you have to.

"Make a choice and deal with it..."

Fair enough! Now, where's my tape?

Originally Posted by ace

"Make a choice and deal with it..."

Fair enough! Now, where's my tape?

Dude, you are killin me!!!!!!

I go both ways depending on how the razor was honed before.
On restored razors i always use tape. It is just question of choice and nothing more.

I tape what I have not initially set. Works every time....for me!

Originally Posted by Bladerunner

I tape what I have not initially set. Works every time....for me!

Like I said, different strokes for different folks.