Thread: Taping the spine

I tape the spine almost all the time I hone. It boils down to personal preference. HOG

On a really technical note, at the microscopic level a taped razor's bevel would be made up of very slight angle variations all along the edge, I think, due to the elastic nature of the plastic tape, as compared to a non-taped spine. Very slight so as not to make any difference whatsoever in a practical sense, but I reckon it would be a very cool experiment, if it were possible, to investigate if this indeed happens to taped razors.

Interesting technical discussion. Regarding the taping of the spine causing microscopic differences in the bevel along the blade because of the elasticity
of the tape, it is also possible that the tape could be moderating irregularities already in the spine. One could argue that taping the spine could accentuate
those irregularities as well, but the elasticity of the tape would moderate that effect.

I've used tape from one layer all the way up to five, never with ill effects and always with good shaves.

Maybe it doesn't matter on the various Ebay finds we see, but it would seem a shame to initiate hone wear on a NOS, Custom, or restored razor. There may be
people who would not mind doing that. I'm just not one of them.

Originally Posted by ace

On a really technical note, at the microscopic level a taped razor's bevel would be made up of very slight angle variations all along the edge, I think, due to the elastic nature of the plastic tape, as compared to a non-taped spine. Very slight so as not to make any difference whatsoever in a practical sense, but I reckon it would be a very cool experiment, if it were possible, to investigate if this indeed happens to taped razors.

It simply doesn't. The imperfections in the honing stroke and the hone surface are orders of magnitude larger effects.


It's pretty simple.
(1) The tape alters the bevel angle by about half a degree - this is completely insignificant on any razor, unless it's defective by design or manufacture, like some of the early Hart razors.
(2) The wearing off the spine in the exact manner as to preserve the exact geometry is a fib. The geometry will be changing slightly, at a slower rate than if one uses a tape, but it will be changing nonetheless. In fact I've honed a few razors which had to be taped because the spine was wearing off faster than the bevel, so they could simply not be sharpened without a tape. I consider them defective though.
(3) It's much easier to hone properly without abusing the razor, so that taped or not taped, it will last thousands of years of daily shaves. Yes, the razor is a tool, but the one who hones it doesn't have to be.

Bottom line is, if taping the spine makes a difference in function, there is something wrong.

He was quoting me Gugi, but for some reason it didn't show. Whilst I agree with your assertion that imperfections on the honing surface would probably swamp any signal from the elasticity in the tape, I disagree about the honing stroke. I mean, I am like a machine with my honing stroke.

Measurable or not, detectable or not, these things are theoretically there are they not?

James.

James,

Sorry about the quotation marks. I can't get them in posts when I want them, and I can't get them out of posts and PMs when I don't want them.

While I am not averse to the occasional technical discussion, I tape to preserve the cosmetics of the spine. I think any practical issues are so minimal as to not be worthy of consideration, although the discussion can certainly continue. But then, what do I know?

It is no problem. I agree, there is no sense talking about things that we can never really know or will never really have any impact on the end result. Sometimes I just get a hankerin', that's all

I think I have said (but am too lazy to go check) that I always tape the spines of razors. The only thing you really have to watch out for is the tape wearing through on lower grit hones. Tape is so cheap, however, that even replacing the tape every 5 laps is no big deal, although it could get a bit boring. Personally I see no sense in buying anything but the crappiest, cheapest tape (within reason), as it all goes to landfill in the end anyway.

James.

First, you have to ask yourself about how much hone wear and damage you intend to impart to the spine. If you intend to do a lot of honing you should consider tape. If you are a beginner at honing you should be prepared for the likelihood that you'll probably cause way more damage than you intend to. many experts can hone just fine, without imparting any damage.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Measurable or not, detectable or not, these things are theoretically there are they not?

Absolutely! All the electrons in the steel, the hone, the water, the air, etc. are all quantum, so they're subject to Lamb type of energy shifts and Casimir forces.

However, I suspect that worrying about those kind of things is what got your profession a bit of a bad rap
If you ask me, if you don't get the result you want, just take a different average until you do

Originally Posted by gugi

Absolutely! All the electrons in the steel, the hone, the water, the air, etc. are all quantum, so they're subject to Lamb type of energy shifts and Casimir forces.

And let's not forget the "Dance of Shiva"

Am I late? hehe