Thread: What's the deal with tape?

Originally Posted by Grumpy61

When do you use tape

Only when I run out of glue sticks

In other words I don't use it for honing razors

I used to have a magazine with a photo of Jeff Cooper holding a gov model .45ACP. The caption read,"If you want to win, this is the gun you will carry." He later was instrumental in developing the 10mm cartridge. The 10mm hasn't superseded the .45ACP in popularity but it has in performance. I've got a 10mm in a Glock 20 and another in a '91 Gold Cup. I love the big 10 but I carry a Kahr .40 or .380 depending on the day so I guess I must not want to win.

On tape, I used it the first year I honed because I wasn't confident in my skill and was afraid I'd cause inordinate wear on the spine. After a year, I was troubled that Lynn didn't use tape routinely, so I began to experiment with honing without the tape. I found that I prefer to hone without tape, I don't damage spines , and I believe a relationship between spine and edge develops that cannot be gotten if tape is used.

Of course I hone decorated spines and Damascus blades with one layer of tape. I will also begin with tape if I have a lot of material to remove, as in a ragged or chipped edge. I will lose the tape when I get past the damage. OTOH, I don't usually hone other peoples razors. If it was a razor belonging to someone else I might use tape unless they specifically asked me not to. I always use 3M electrical tape if I use any. Lets keep those folks in Minnesota working.

I use the Nitto tape as well (it's pretty much identical to 3M), noticed I had two different kinds even though they appeared the same. One matted, one shinier. I only use the shiny one since it appears to give me less residue to get rid of and is slightly thinnner, but that may just be feel.

I use tape for preserving the spine, really. I use a coticule too, and going by what I read at coticule.be, I add a layer when switching from slurry to water, since apparently there's a difference in the release of particles and as such a slight increase of angle might be necessary. Works fine for me.

If you only do touch ups on razors I don't think tape is even that necessary for preventing hone wear, since polishing and refining the blade goes pretty fast and doesn't require a lot of strokes compared to setting a bevel.

You just have to remember to change it after a set of strokes, maybe two and wipe off the residue from the blade, re-apply. And get it even on both sides when honing (near) wedges, to prevent an uneven angle.

Dramatic angle increase only starts, effectively (noticeably), at three layers. I think. Or maybe I'm just really wrong here.

I very rarely use tape when I hone. It a real PITA and I avoid it like the plague. There are rare occasions on wedge razors where I do use tape but mainly when doing a repair like removing chips. If there is any way I can avoid the tape I do not use it. When I do use it I use the thickest electrical tape I can find. Luckily I have a lot of vintage commercial electrical tape on hand and it works better than the consumer tape available at the local hardware shops. Still, I cringe when I feel the need to use tape. I have a database I created where I store details about my razors along with some pictures. I make sure I note that tape was used and the number of layers used. Nothing worse than using tape, in my book, other than having to reset the bevel with tape for a second time.

love my .45

coud do with out tape, but I can see the benefits

I use tape coz I hate the look of spine wear.

Oh, and my pick would be a .357 magnum in 125gr hollow point through a Colt Python 6" and a .338 LaPua magnum through a rifle. JMHO of course!

I really shouldn't post in yet another post about tape...
Ah well, here goes.
I do use tape on most of my razors.
I do a bit of honing for friends and acquaintances, so I don't wanna add any spine-wear to their razors.
However, I don't think there is much difference to any of the two approaches.
The angles change, but ever so slightly. I really don't think it matters much.
And a single bevel set and sharpening doesn't add all that much either. IMHO.
Both ways work out just fine in the right hands.
I'm a bit puzzled to be honest, about all the controversy about that little detail in the big picture

I think tape makes the razor look pretty. I use different colored tapes for the variety. I might just start leaving it on for shaving.

Where's Glen when you need him !! HeHeHeHeHeHeHe

Originally Posted by Str8Shooter

LMAO!! What about the 40cal? Best of both worlds!!!!

How do you figure that? Better than a 9mm and not quite a .45, it still falls short IMO, but some people need to grow into these things.

To stay on topic did I mention that I use tape?