Thread: Taping the spine

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Originally Posted by MODINE

I am from the camp that tries not to tape the spine. I will:

1. tape the spine sometimes if there is significant hone wear and I want to “try” and expose fresh steel Or,
2. if the spine is ornate or custom.

I try to get the maximum out of a “quality steel” edge. I prefer to hone the blade as the OEM had intended... IMHO
MIke

+1 for me, except that my name's not Mike.

I honed my first blade without tape. When I saw what 1K could do to a spine's appearance, I went out and bought some tape. I've never looked back. My edges are sharp, and my spines, well, not mine, the blades, are pretty.

I have always used 3M, however I bought some Scotch brand electrical tape and am trying it. It seems to be thinner than the 3M and stands up just as good. It is easier to get a bubble in, however, so care must be taken when smoothing it down. I like tape for the above reasons, but it definitely is lots easier on the hones, IMO!

Which brings up something I have always wondered about,as the tape wears,is it loading up the stone?

I have found that it rolls off with the water. Not much wear on the tape occurs unless setting a tough bevel. On good, concave razors, I can go all the way through with the same layer in most instances. By the time I am off the finisher, the tape is worn and much thinner than when beginning, seemingly upsetting the layer of tape/angle formula by at least half!
Wedges?....... Another layer, please! This one wore through! Make it a double! I'm getting tired!

Another very important word starting with the letter 'T' is torque. Those that understand it will not wear thru their tape quickly & those that don't tape will not create excessive extra wear on their razors spines.
It must be remembered that the spine is simply your honing angle guide & doesn't require the same pressure on the stone as the edge does.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Which brings up something I have always wondered about,as the tape wears,is it loading up the stone?

I have wondered about that as well. It would seem that the tape would load up the stone, but I haven't seen it, even on 220. I make sure that the stone is well-soaked and sprayed often, and I never use much in the way of pressure. I use brightly-colored tape so I can see it if it does come off on the stone, but it's never happened. I make a point of replacing it often to retain the bevel angle.

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.

OK - Yes, old post - and here I am revving it up with a "Reply", well, it's more a question to the topic, and so, why start a new thread, when this is the topic I want to discuss. Ready? - - What about before the time of tape? Before Dow Chemical made 3M, or Scotch 3M, or any adhesive films were ever made, straight razors were being manufactured, and correct me if I might be in err here, but chunks of mountains were being mined and smoothed and used to set these edges keen once more, by medieval men! -- -- So, what does anyone think about honing a "with tape" method, before there WAS tape to apply to the blade? Does this imply the TRUE method desired by cutlers and blacksmiths and razor makers all through those times? - That you simply apply blade to stone, and there you go!? Hone away! I lean to believe, Yes. That without the invention of tape, a blade was honed. How it was honed, wedges easily predate the hollow grind styles due to pure simplicity of design of blade, and thus ease of technique...
What say you, good forum trolls/moderators, and mentors?