Thread: Tape When Honing VS. NO Tape

Maybe if you used masking tape or packing tape you might get crud clogging your hones, but the electrical tape leaves nothing sticking to your hones; any plastic that abrades off the tape is in the form of these little black balls that just float in the water on the hone. And you can probably hone for an hour on a 4k norton without wearing through the plastic to the glue; the pvc or whatever they use for the tape is extremely abrasion-resistant.

This is the reason I became and enjoy this site so much. I ask a question and I get reply's from experts. If it's a colletible or not, straights are not cheap. If it's the price in dollars that is inexpensive it's expensive to obtain the correct tools, and time to maintain and use those razors.

I'm addicted to shaving which has become a very enjoyable hobby. I like my shaving equipment to look and feel as best as I can get it. The question about the tape was two fold. One, to get the best edge possible and two, to keep my razors in the best possible condition.

I learned a lot from all of your reply's and I am enjoying the conversation.

I usually tape the spines of my razors, except for the last few passes between the 4k and 8k. On my paddle strop, I never tape the spines.

I had a pretty good honing session last night with 5 razors, most of which I needed to put a bevel on. I started with scotch tape, but it wore quickly so I switched to black electric tape. I think the scotch tape might have abraded in such a way that it left some of itself in the hone, but it didn't seem to affect the cutting speed at all. The electric tape abraded much more slowly, and it didn't seem to get any of itself in the hone.

After I was done, I cleaned my hone with just abit of soap, scrubbing with the palm of my hand. Anything that was on it was gone after that.

Originally Posted by ToxIk

On my paddle strop, I never tape the spines.

A taped spine will pull the pastes off a paddle, at least if you use electrical tape. At least it did on mine, fortunately I noticed this before it did much damage.

I haven't used tape on the spine and in general I don't think its necessary with the proviso that if you have a fancy razor then yes its probably a good idea. The one case I wished I had used it and didn't is when I had to do some major honing on my TI damascus. I didn't and the spine is now beautifully polished through the pattern.

Best regards to most... and happy trails. Time to migrate. I may start something on my own site.

U guys crazy??

I can replace the pastes, I cannot replace the steel. Thats why I use electrical tape all the time now.

Just my two cents,

Originally Posted by mparker762

A taped spine will pull the pastes off a paddle, at least if you use electrical tape. At least it did on mine, fortunately I noticed this before it did much damage.

Best regards to most... and happy trails. Time to migrate. I may start something on my own site.

[QUOTE=urleebird]Get some ferric chloride at Radio Shack (etching solution / looks like iodine) Mix 1 part FC to 2 parts warm water (around 110 degrees) I use an old tupperware drinking glass for my razors.

Mix everything in a skinny glass (less materials you have to use) and let the blade soak in the water mix for a coupl of minutes.

Keep an eye on the progress from time to time. At the end of the bath, rinse in soapy water and then let the blade dangle in some water with a teaspoon of baking soda for 10 seconds or so. Rinse again, dry off, and apply some good gun oil. Wipe that off and hone it again as you will discover the pattern has also reappeared on the cutting edge.

That process makes all the steel the same. The FeCl3 attacks the two steels in different degrees, which is why you see the pattern. There is another way to fix the shiny line. Use the FC mixture on a Q-tip and patiently paint it on the shiny spots over and over until you are happy with it. You still need to neutralize with the baking soda. THEN ~ tape it so you don't have to fix it again...

Thanks Bill-great advice!