Thread: taping he spine

I have subscribed to GS sixgun's Rule that taping the spine is a good Idea. I have done this for about two months and it sure made life easier. ONly one thing to add is replacing the tape is imperative. I always do after using a diamond stone but it is really important when finishing the edge. If you don't the finisher never gets to the cutting edge. He says this in his videos but It never soaked in that it is always important.
Stingray

I tend to change tape on every step in my honing regimen.
Every time I move up a level in grit, new tape is applied.
Whenever I have a razor that needs more than your average bevel set as a start, I will even change it during that level before moving up in grits.

I'm still pretty new to honing, and after producing some very uneven wear to the spine on a practice razor I've always used tape.

One thing I do which might help other beginners: peel off the tape carefully and straighten it out - examining it when it's flat shows very clearly if you are toe-heavy or heel heavy, or if (as in my case) I was using different pressures on the towards and away strokes.

Originally Posted by Birnando

I tend to change tape on every step in my honing regimen.
Every time I move up a level in grit, new tape is applied.
Whenever I have a razor that needs more than your average bevel set as a start, I will even change it during that level before moving up in grits.

Wow! I need to get into the tape business!

I can see doing this with a razor that needs considerable work, but I cant see doing this with the average razor. To each his own, I will allow you your eccentricities if I can keep mine. As if I had any.LOL

I use eccentric tape, but I'm trying to quit.

The dreaded 'T' word! Bwahaahaa.

I found Glen's (kick me if I don't represent this right) idea of changing at the first sign of the sheen being worn off the surface of the tape on the spine wear surface to be helpful.

Ya gotta love controversies.

To each his own...but that eccentric tape really is a hassle to work with....waka waka waka

I've used tape several times and it did what it was meant to do but i think that if we are going to use the razor the way it was made to be used why not sharpen it the way it was made to be sharpened,i always get better edges without tape and i have a few with a lot of spine wear and large bevels,the angles stay the same as the razor wears and my ocd is satisfied with that but that's just the way i look at it

How do we know that it wasn't meant to be taped right from the start?? I'm not sure that it was designed to lose part of its spine to honing. ??

Originally Posted by Matt69

I'm still pretty new to honing, and after producing some very uneven wear to the spine on a practice razor I've always used tape.

One thing I do which might help other beginners: peel off the tape carefully and straighten it out - examining it when it's flat shows very clearly if you are toe-heavy or heel heavy, or if (as in my case) I was using different pressures on the towards and away strokes.

Excellent observation. and quite true