Thread: Taping the spine

As you see , some do it, some don't and some use it depending on the razor to be honed. I tape always, as I prefer the feel with a taped spine on the hones and to avoid confusion to which of my straights that are honed with tape or not.
There are no downsides really, not using tape will not give you a better edge, or vice versa.

Over time, of course, a taped razor will lose its original geometry. But if you are careful to hone only as much as is needed, and no more, this will take many, many, many years, as stated above. And even if it does, there are many degrees of "unoriginality" than can be endured by a razor and still produce a good edge.

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.

James.

I always tape using 3M Super 33. I like the way it feels, in addition to the added protection it provides. And yes, 3M makes the best tape.

I use tape most of the time, but when needed I can gowithout too.
Matter of preference IMHO.

I know it sounds freakin nuts, but I usually tape with a really basic grocery-store cellophane tape. Cheap, and a roll lasts for weeks of day-in day-out honing. If I have to work a lot at the bevel I might have to change tape a few times, but it's actually surprisingly durable. I also like the feel on the hone. Geometry? -- If a razor is half honed away, I'm probably not fooling around with it anyway, and with a nearly unworn razor I'm just not making an appreciable difference.

I don't tape full hollows but I do tape the heavier grinds.

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

Originally Posted by Wid

I don't tape full hollows but I do tape the heavier grinds.

For me, it’s the opposite.
Regularly I tape full hollows and I avoid taping wedge razors.

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.