Thread: Using tape for touch-ups

I tape for honing...I tape for touch up.

You could NOT tape for touch ups, but I find it to require less strokes when I tape.

Anyone say it yet?...YMMV

Originally Posted by brooksie967

That's because guys from out west only understand things about oil?

I use oil on razors. It prevents rust & stops tape sticking to them.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The answer is not quite so simple...

If the razor was just honed, without ever shaving, it takes about 20 laps on a Norton 4k to erase the 1 layer of tape bevel completely (test it yourself)
Now when you are shaving the razor, stropping the razor, resting the razor, shaving the razor, "Rinse and Repeat" That now no longer holds true, as you shave you ding up the edge then you strop and clean that mess back up, and continue, that back and forth action starts to erase the bevel.. When you go to refresh it might very well take only a very few strokes to pull the bevel back into line on a Barber's Hone regardless of the Taped bevel because it has been worn down..

Again this is another of those things that makes a good logical arguement for an engineer, but in the real world it has very little to zero bearing..

Try it and see, do not just take my word for it, go test it yourself with a good Loupe and back that up with your face

This EXACT thing happened to me by accident. A blade I had was in need of a refresh so i pulled out the ole rock and gave it about 50 half strokes with about 10 X strokes and it shaved like a champ. I then half remember honing with tape (I rarely do) so I looked in my journal and I'll be $&@@&! It was honed with tape but touched up with out and there was no problem. I don't know and I hate to admit it but I may be a tape convert