Thread: Electrical Tape leaves staining on blade????

Hey Guys,
I have been trying my hand at honing a blade with a pretty big smile (something i need a lot of practice with...i still can't a decent bevel). Anyway, it is a chopper, almost 7/8 full wedge and i had two layers of electrical tape to avoid hone wear. When i took it off there was a line that looked like adhesive left over from the tape which didn't surprise me and it usually wipes clean with a cloth. I've tried soaking it in dish soap and even tried peanut butter (i heard that it takes those annoying persistent UPC stickers off of glass and thought it might work in this case). Does anyone have any better ideas for getting this crap off the blade? (I'll start another thread for suggestions about putting a bevel on a smiling blade =P )

I am wondering if this is actually staining from water that got under the tape there. Was it on for an extended period of time?

It depends on what you consider extended. It's been on there since yesterday. (I got worn out after working on it for like 4 hours but still couldn't pass a TPT except at the heel.) I started working on it again this morning and got the idea in my head that maybe the tape got worn down from the low grit stones and was changing the angle of the edge to the hones. So i changed the tape. It's a black line (i could try to get photos if you want) the same as the residue on the otherside of the blade and on the on the tang just behind the shoulder. All of which came off except the line on the front of the blade.

Its best to pull the tape off if you're going to leave the blade lay for an extended period of time. I use lighter fluid to remove residue because I have it around. Alcohol, mineral spirits, nail polish remover works well too, I've heard. If the blade is etched where moisture laid against the edge of the tape you may get lucky and remove the line with a metal polish such as semichrome, maas, wenol, flix ..... any of those on a paper towel. Then again, it may require more drastic measures such as buffing. It has happened with me and if it won't come off I live with it. A reminder to me to remove tape once I'm done honing .... even if the job isn't finished.

I bet that is it then. I made that mistake once. Left some tape on a wapi I was honing, came back the next day and had staining from the moisture that got under the tape.

Metal Polish will remove it.

Originally Posted by holeHeartless

It depends on what you consider extended. It's been on there since yesterday. (I got worn out after working on it for like 4 hours but still couldn't pass a TPT except at the heel.) I started working on it again this morning and got the idea in my head that maybe the tape got worn down from the low grit stones and was changing the angle of the edge to the hones. So i changed the tape. It's a black line (i could try to get photos if you want) the same as the residue on the otherside of the blade and on the on the tang just behind the shoulder. All of which came off except the line on the front of the blade.

>.< Crap....I can't believe it happens that fast...I haven't really gotten into restoration so i don't have any kind of metal polish and i'm going out of town for the weekend today. Will it be harder to remove if i wait a few days or does it need to be taken off asap?

Hit it with some flitz or maas.
If you have a high carbon blade it can begin to rust in a matter of hrs,thats what you are seeing.

Ok. Thanks for solving the mystery and for all the good advice. I'll be back for more tips about getting a bevel on this chopper. =P

I think it all depends on the type of steel alloy. I have had staining on the blade after using tape but only on one brand of razor.

I agree, use Flitz, MAAS or Simichrome. They take that gunk right off and your blade will be nice and shiny.