When to Tape?

I'm a noob, and have been lurking for a while.

I tried straight shaving a couple of years ago, but didn't want to invest the money in the equipment.

I've decided to give it a go and have purchased some shave-ready razors, padle strop and hanging strop (both from Tony). I've also purchased some practice razors to learn how to hone on.

I've read a lot about taping the spine of the razor and I have two questions:

1) When?
2) How?

Thanks.

I'm a noob too, but from what i've read... tape should be used when you're taking off a lot of metal, like restoring the edge. just run a piece of black electrical tape along the back of the spine and fold it over on each side

1) You don't *have* to tape, but it's good to do so if you're taking out a nick or doing the first hone on an ebay razor.

2) Either lay it down the spine and fold it over each side, or run it down one shoulder and wrap it around the toe and back down the other shoulder. I've got some razors with really wide spines or long shoulders and a single width of electrical tape won't quite cover everything.

I've also used it when putting a smile into a blade. After taping the spine, I run another piece of tape in the middle of the blade from one shoulder around the edge and back to the other shoulder; then I can grind the heel and toe without messing up the middle. After I take the tape off the edge I do need to do some more work on the 4k to make sure that the edge flows properly.

Makes sense - I assume you use a single layer in most cases, with the primary purpose being to safeguard against taking too much metal off of the shoulders.

That's right and for that reason I think that electrical tape might be a bit too thick. Also taking metal off the spine while doing large honing jobs, while affecting the aesthetic adversly, keeps the ratio of spine width in closer proportion to the diminished length which is why some argue against it.

For regular honing, don't tape the spine unless it has gold leaf or bluing that you want to protect from erosion.

X

I agree with X on this one.

I have never used tape on the spine of the razor while honing, but I know that some people do, and say they have great success with it.

My understanding is also that the spine sets the angle of the edge, based on the width of the spine versus the width of the blade (wider blade, wider spine). If you are removing a major portion of the blade (nick/chip repair), making the blade less wide, but retaining the width of the spine will make the angle of the edge (the bevel?) more broad.
At least this is how I've always understood it to work....

BUT I am often behind on current understanding.

C utz

I only tape when I'm doing the initial honing of dull blades. No tape for touchups. You should remove the tape once it gets close to being shave ready and finish it off wiht a few 1-5s

I use black electrical tape on all razors. From the beginning of the honing process til the end and that includes the abrasive pasted strop. Works for me.

Just my two cents,:)