Thread: Electric tape while honing

Hello,

I remember reading that some people apply electric tape to the spine of their razors, to make sure no material is taken off there.

The razor I got has a decorated spine, which I would like preserved. I imagine applying electric tape, would change the contact for the blades cutting edge on the stone.

Is this a good idea to preserve the edge? Or will a minimal amount be removed from the spine over the years?

I know honing is something you do seldom.

Thank you,
- Ram

I always use tape for the above said reasons but another reason for me I really dislike the sound of an untaped spine on the stone, another thing I get more feedback just listening to the blade edge while honing so taping all the way for me.

"I really dislike the sound of an untaped spine on the stone, another thing I get more feedback just listening to the blade edge while honing so taping all the way for me. "


celticcrusader really nailed it. I have not heard much mentioned on here about listening to the edge but it is something I really depend on when honing

Here is a razor with spine work and hone wear.
This is not my razor, but personally I kind of like seeing hone wear. If you do not want hone wear, by all means tape the spine when honing. Tape will increase the bevel angle about one degree which will not effect the shave. You will never do harm by taping and you will be long dead before the cumulative geometry changes to the razor, do to taping, are even measurable.

I'm a tape user and would always use it on a decorative spine. Never used to but most folks I honed for wanted it so I just started using it on all razors, mine included.

I tape everything - there is no reason not to IMO - but it's a preference thing...

-john

I would and do use tape on all my razors when I hone. There are good reasons to do so, already mentioned above, and few if any for not doing so imo.

Bob

I tape all as well. For heavily worn spines I might even do two or three. It is not a very noticeable change on newer razors but for a worn spine it tightens up the bevel and leaves a bit more metal on the razor.

I would not buy a razor that has hone wear. I am just too picky

I used tape my first year honing because I wasn't confident enough in my skills to hone without it, and risk excessive hone wear at the spine. After a year I began honing without tape and I liked it better. Tape is a PITA, and I found that I didn't cause excessive spine wear.

I went back to taping all of my razors, even though it is a PITA, because I don't keep records (my bad) and I can never remember which were honed with tape, and which were not. We are talking a couple of hundred razors. The solution is hone them all with tape. As much as I like honing without it, I will always use one layer of 3M electrical tape. (Or more under certain circumstances)