Thread: Taping when stropping?

Hi everyone, hopefully a quick question. Having honed to a reasonable level a few blades now I have encountered a problem, I tend to tape the spines of blades with two layers of electrical tape to protect the spine from wear. I realise that at some level this must be "thickening" for want of a better word, the cutting edge but I can live with that. What I am not sure about is what happens when the blade then goes to the strop. Up until now I have always removed the tape prior to stroping. I am guessing that even when pulled taught the strop is pliant enough for the very tip of the blade to be polished?

Is this the case?

Would very much welcome anyone's feedback or opinions for or against my theory.

Thanks
Adam

You are correct. The flex of a taut hanging strop still allows contact on the leather along the edge, so tape isn't necessary at that stage. However, if you are using a flat strop such as a paddle or balsa strop I would recommend keeping the tape on

Your correct, there is plenty of deflection in the strop to more than compensate for two layers of tape. No need to tape the spine when stropping.

For me, I usually use a pasted paddle strop after honing and I leave the tape on for that. But before going to the hanging strop I remove the tape, as Ryan said the deflection of the strop ensures contact.

Adam

You can lessen any illeffects of your stropping issue by honing with only one layer of tape. One layer is quite sufficient unless there is some sort of blade geometry problem.

Not to scare you but you might even try no tape just for fun.

Jerry
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Yeah, I agree with Jerry about the one layer thing, esp if it's causing you concern with stropping, just make sure you change the tape when needed.

Good question though; we've all asked it, but I believe the general consensus is no tape is required for stropping with a hanging strop...

Originally Posted by Ryan82

You are correct. The flex of a taut hanging strop still allows contact on the leather along the edge, so tape isn't necessary at that stage. However, if you are using a flat strop such as a paddle or balsa strop I would recommend keeping the tape on

Tend to agree. Stropping is essentially a polishing move. Unless of course your using an aggressive paste. As your polishing the point that you've established I don't see where you would have to retape.