Thread: double tape/ tape????

I'm sorry if this is not the best place for this post. But i'm totally at a loss for what any of this means! I've just bought two razors of the classified section here. And the seller is saying that both razors will be honed using "double tape". And that I should use "tape" when stropping. Can someone explain what this means? I'm sorry to say I'm completely in the dark?? I know how to stop obviously. But how does one strop with "tape"??? He also has offered to change the "angle" if I like. Is he referring to the bevel? If so I thought the bevel was sort a set thing. Now he is clearly very knowledgable and certainly seems a proper gentleman. But he is in Europe and English is not his first language. I'm inclined to lean towards his prefrance as he clearly has far more knowledge then I. But can anyone help clearify?

Thanks Fella's!

I'm no tape guy, sure if someone "orders" me to use it I will but strop with it, naah, I wouldn't want to get any sticky tape close to my strops.

My guess would be that "double tape" refers to the usage of two layers of tape. If that is the case, it would make sense to stick with two layers for any honing you do. I always use three layers myself, but I never use tape when stropping and don't think it is necessary.

Using more than 1 layer of tape..

Stropping on a hanging strop, trust me on this, you do NOT need to tape the spine to strop, I don't care if you used 5 layers of tape the hanger has enough give..

Now stropping on a pasted balsa strop I might reconsider that statement but since I don't use balsa on my razors I don't know for sure

Ohhhh!!! Ok.. so he's saying he puts 2 layers of tape on the spine!????? I get it.. So as to not damage the spine with the hone.. Is that it??

Originally Posted by orange

Ohhhh!!! Ok.. so he's saying he puts 2 layers of tape on the spine!????? I get it.. So as to not damage the spine with the hone.. Is that it??

Yes, and it could also be for a fix to heavy pervious spine wear to re-adjust the geometry

Originally Posted by orange

Ohhhh!!! Ok.. so he's saying he puts 2 layers of tape on the spine!????? I get it.. So as to not damage the spine with the hone.. Is that it??

Either for protecting the spine from hone wear, changing the angle for easier honing or both.

Edit; to slow... again!

I use an SRD Modular Paddle strop, have honed razors with as much as five layers of tape, and have never used tape while stropping. I've never had a bad result with it.

so how does tape change the angle and ease honing?? And what kind of tape is used?? Maybe the mods will want to move this thread to honing..

Tape raises the spine just a bit making the bevel narrower thus removing less metal from the edge, and with the tape on none from the spine.

Electrical tape is the tape of choice.

It changes the angle of the bevel ever so slightly if I recall gssixgun's post it is around .62 degrees. Not enough to affect the shave but definitely enough to ease honing.