Hi Guys, reading and leaning as I go and questions keep poping up. I was wondering how many guys use black electrical tape on the spine and how many do not. Looking for the pros and cons of using the tape on a Norton 4/8K stone.
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Hi Guys, reading and leaning as I go and questions keep poping up. I was wondering how many guys use black electrical tape on the spine and how many do not. Looking for the pros and cons of using the tape on a Norton 4/8K stone.
The tape is there to protect the spine if you've got serious honing to do like taking out a nick or setting a new bevel on an ebay razor, but even then I think most guys take it off once they leave the 4k and start heading up the grit progression. If you've got a decorated spine then you might want to tape it the whole time, but if you're that worried about the decorations then you probably don't want to actually shave with it...
I never use it really. And just recently I sold some razors that I've gotten good comments on the sharpness for. So anyway....I never use it.
One of my favorite razors is a frameback with a brass spine (I suspect it's a wartime model). This soft spine can't handle the hone at all, so it gets tape even for a 2 or 3 lap refresh on the barber hone. It's kind of a pain, but it shaves so well...
Best regards to most... and happy trails. Time to migrate. I may start something on my own site.
This weekend is honing weekend. I have 2 ebayers that I will have to set a new bevel and two that are almost shave ready. I plan on using the pyramid on the two that are almost shave ready and then going to .50 diamond past and .25 diamond paste. The two I have to set a new bevel, I was thinking of starting on the Norton 1000 grit to shape it and then going on to the 4/8k pyramid and to the paste. What do think.
thanks for all the help.
:) hey there, in my way of things Ive tried both scotch tape and electrical tape , having an obundance of it being an electrician formerly,the scotch tape with my experience serves as a guide but also wears out quickly, so you need to change it alot, electrical tape is a bit hardier and doesnt wear away therefore not coming off on your hone, im still getting to grips with the honeing and i find it relaxing when doing it, i know i probably didnt give you a great answer but those are my findings, best way is to try it for yourself....cos Im no expert thats for sure.
Have fun,simon:D
ps, some of the experienced member use skype and I found that a great help..
I only have working razors without decorations etc. Their spines get no protective tape.
Same with me. All of my razors are strictly for shaving and I don't have any real collectibles. I just don't want to clog up my hones with tape and adhesive residue.
Best regards to most... and happy trails. Time to migrate. I may start something on my own site.
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by ToxIk
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, :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by mparker762
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... :D
Thanks Bill-great advice!
My TI got a nick in it the first week. Very thin edge.