Thread: Pasted Strop and taping the spine

Hi,

Should I be taping the spine on my straights when using a pasted strop? I have a pasted hanging strop with Chromium Oxide on one side Boron carbide on the other. It sounds like some people do it and others do not..

If so, is electrical tape the best type to use?

I don't want to remove any material from the spine so I thought I tape.

Thanks,
Neale

There's nothing wrong with doing it, but it's too much of a hassle for me. I only tape the spine (yeah electrical's the best) when doing the initial honing.

Neale,

I don't think it's necessary to tape the spine on the pasted strop. It would take years before the amount of metal you're removing would become visible, if all you're doing is maintaining the edge.

It seems like the guys who tape the spine when they're using a pasted strop also tape it during honing. In that case, keeping the tape on ensures you're using the exact same angle on the strop as on the hone. It's more of a consistency thing than from a concern that they'll wear the spine. (An exception might be razors with highly decorated spines. Those you'd probably want to tape.)

Electrical tape is what most of us use when we need to tape a razor, although scotch tape also works.

Good luck,
Josh

Excellent,

Thanks Guys!!

Originally Posted by joshearl

Electrical tape is what most of us use when we need to tape a razor, although scotch tape also works.

Good luck,
Josh

I have found that scotch tape doesn't do so great on a 1000 grit hone, though. It gets torn up pretty quick. The e-tape does much better on that stone. Just some info from my experience.

I second that. Scotch tape, even multiple layers of it, only lasts like two strokes on a 1000-grit stone. Tried it, bad idea.

If I have a big nick to work out, I'll usually burn through several applications of electrical tape, too. You have to listen for the scraping hebejebe sound to know you've gone one stroke too many...

Josh

Very good info, I haven't bought a hone yet but will be picking one up soon..

Does the tape clog the pores / surface of the hone?

Thanks

Padron,

Not as much as you might think. I was pretty worried about that when I started out, so I used Scotch tape, thinking it wouldn't be as likely to clog the stone. But the only thing that can cause any clogging at all is the adhesive. If you're careful not to wear through the tape, electrical tape won't leave much in the way of deposits on the stone. If you do wear through the plastic to the sticky stuff, it can leave some goo on the stone.

If that happens, it's not a big deal; you can just re-lap the stone on some sandpaper and it's good as new.

Scotch tape is actually worse in this regard because it wears out faster.

Josh

Thanks Josh,

Neale

Originally Posted by padron

Hi,

Should I be taping the spine on my straights when using a pasted strop? I have a pasted hanging strop with Chromium Oxide on one side Boron carbide on the other. It sounds like some people do it and others do not..

If so, is electrical tape the best type to use?

I don't want to remove any material from the spine so I thought I tape.

Thanks,
Neale

It's really only important when you're using a coarse grit to restore or repair an edge. The rest of the time you're really not removing enough material to be concerned, unless your protecting a fancy spine etc.

Also realize that if you're always taping you will be changing the intended bevel angle on the razor.