Thread: Taping the spine

Originally Posted by mdeamicis

Thanks, what you say makes perfect sense. Especially after watching Lynn's honing and refreshing tips last night. I was geting a headache wrapping my head around the idea of how few strokes to rehone a blade when it's not taking an edge anymore. But then again I've gravitated to D2 tool steel and above for knifes. There's just something about being able to beat the crap out of a knife an keep on using it. But don't let it happen go to far or your gonna break your arm re sharpening em.

Here is the important difference between letting a razor and knife go too long between honings…

Only one of them is being dragged across your face!

Originally Posted by Utopian

Here is the important difference between letting a razor and knife go too long between honings…

Only one of them is being dragged across your face!

Dragging sounds like there's some pressure involved? Am I missing something here. I thought no pressure was the big secret.

Yes, that was a lazy choice of words on my part. The razor should only lightly skim the face. The appropriate expression is that you should shave the lather, not the skin.

OK, the yucksters have taken over the forums, and more of the senior mentors and moderators are gone for this one.
I miswrote something and it flew way out of hand. I'm not going to quote my own miswritten line, but here's my last chance to ask my question correctly.

In the time when tape did not exist, were there any techniques that were employed to hone a razor that resemble what tape does when honing? Okay?

I was merely imagining the first guy that went to tape. The day before he used tape, was he wrapping the body of the blade with string? I found the measurements of coins. Did any shaver ever rest a blade on coins to push them? I know protractors have been around since Jesus' dad used 'em...so, you can "see" the 15-17 degrees - but were all the generations of men since, PERFECTLY steady-handed to not use anything at all to achieve a "perfect" shaving angle? More than likely not. They didn't use tape, because it didn't exist. ---> SO what do YOU think was employed to hone that "perfect" angle?

Originally Posted by ItalianBarber77

OK, the yucksters have taken over the forums, and more of the senior mentors and moderators are gone for this one.
I miswrote something and it flew way out of hand. I'm not going to quote my own miswritten line, but here's my last chance to ask my question correctly.

In the time when tape did not exist, were there any techniques that were employed to hone a razor that resemble what tape does when honing? Okay?

I was merely imagining the first guy that went to tape. The day before he used tape, was he wrapping the body of the blade with string? I found the measurements of coins. Did any shaver ever rest a blade on coins to push them? I know protractors have been around since Jesus' dad used 'em...so, you can "see" the 15-17 degrees - but were all the generations of men since, PERFECTLY steady-handed to not use anything at all to achieve a "perfect" shaving angle? More than likely not. They didn't use tape, because it didn't exist. ---> SO what do YOU think was employed to hone that "perfect" angle?

I actually think that they just honed them with the spine exposed. The thing is that back then razors were just tools, nothing more.

Today they have become precious family heirlooms. In addition back then they were not digging up 150 year old razors and trying to nurse them back to life. Also I think that many men would have bought their razors shave ready and then taken it to their local barber who simply refreshed them on his hone a couple of times a month rather than them being hobby shavers like we are today.

This is probably why, when we do find vintage razors they often exhibit signs of hone wear too.

A correctly honed good quality razor can be maintained with just a leather and linen strop for 50 + shaves in the right hands, one of the things that interested me when I started out.
A few laps on a barber hone, escher or coticule would quickly bring them back to shave ready, minimising wear on the spine.
Pastes for strops using compounds as various as lead, chalk and even ash have been around as long as razors themselves.
The reason for using tape is to preserve, maintain and be able to shave with what are quite often rare and valuable items.
Excuse my ignorance, but what's a yuckster?

As Porl said, most back in the day went and had their razors touched up by a barber. A man who knew how to freshen up an edge in a minute or two. But it was done on a higher grit stone. Hence no scratches on the spine.
The tape came along to protect the spine for us that are not professionals. So we don't leave deep hone gouges on the spine when we reset the bevel and work up through the progression of stones.
It keeps the angle in the proper degree area.
But it can also sometimes need to be a few layers. Depending on the degradation of the razor.

As to what was employed to hone that perfect angle, craftsmen with a TON of experience!!! Then as was said, just touching it up after that. There was no restoration back when they were made

My original comment, eluded to professional sharpeners, and they were everywhere, and some that traveled. They would repair razors that had been damaged, regrind ones that were badly worn, and do it all with minimal wear. If you look around here, you will find new guys that bought into the nomtape theory before their first honing, then stuffed one or more perfectly good razors trying to figure out how to hone. Without having training or jobsite mentors and using internet videos you can get on the wrong foot super fast. There is a lot more to the technique than rubbing a razor on a stone. It is kind of like playing a musical instrument, in that there is a little more going on than strumming and fingering a keyboard. Once someone really gets the hang of honing and understands torque and wear, tape is optional. Up until that point you are literally putting decades of premature wear on razors. It is not rocket science, but the is a little to be learned.

Originally Posted by Porl

I actually think that they just honed them with the spine exposed. The thing is that back then razors were just tools, nothing more.

Today they have become precious family heirlooms. In addition back then they were not digging up 150 year old razors and trying to nurse them back to life. Also I think that many men would have bought their razors shave ready and then taken it to their local barber who simply refreshed them on his hone a couple of times a month rather than them being hobby shavers like we are today.

This is probably why, when we do find vintage razors they often exhibit signs of hone wear too.

I truly appreciate your kind words and thank you for joining the discussion.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

My original comment, eluded to professional sharpeners, and they were everywhere, and some that traveled. They would repair razors that had been damaged, regrind ones that were badly worn, and do it all with minimal wear. If you look around here, you will find new guys that bought into the nomtape theory before their first honing, then stuffed one or more perfectly good razors trying to figure out how to hone. Without having training or jobsite mentors and using internet videos you can get on the wrong foot super fast. There is a lot more to the technique than rubbing a razor on a stone. It is kind of like playing a musical instrument, in that there is a little more going on than strumming and fingering a keyboard. Once someone really gets the hang of honing and understands torque and wear, tape is optional. Up until that point you are literally putting decades of premature wear on razors. It is not rocket science, but the is a little to be learned.

Thank you for coming back to the discussion and sharing what you have said. I'm not a honemeister, nor do I purport to be one, and I have been in the shaving enthusiasm for about 10 years...collecting good quality and vintage razors over that time...When I found the forums for discussions on all things shaving, I have simply never seen any discussion regarding the Pre-tape Era which has always interested my curiosity when it comes to restoration of the tool.
Thanks for your time.

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