Thread: Throw out your electrical tape boys and girls

So ever since I posted about not being able to use my barber hone because of the need for tape. I have been thinking.

A google search later revealed this site. Now this site may be old hat to some but let me explain.

The thickness of 3m electrical tape is 7mil. The paper is 8mil and it has a magnetic back that would attach to your blade. I called the company and was told that the gauss is low about a refrigerator magnet worth of stick. I certainly do not know if this would be enough gauss to hold onto the razor during honing but if anyone has access to a fridge magnet and a razor let a guy know. For regular honing this would not be practical but for touch ups I think it would be.

How resistant is the paper to abrasion?

I believe one of the attributes that makes e-tape so good for what we use it for is that it is quite plaible, and thus squishes out of the way of whatever hone you are using.

Well its injet paper mounted on a super thin magnetic sheet. So about as abrasion resistant as inkjet paper.

Like I said it is probably not practical except for touch ups.

Exactly! put it on for your barber hone passes-3-5 passes only.

Hmmmm...interesting.

Most refrigerator magnets hardly stick to the fridge You'd probably end up fighting it just to keep it in place.

Plus, could you get it wet?

It sounds to me that it's more trouble than it's worth... why not just use tape?

I am gonna see if they will send me a sample.

Originally Posted by pjrage

Most refrigerator magnets hardly stick to the fridge You'd probably end up fighting it just to keep it in place.

Plus, could you get it wet?

It sounds to me that it's more trouble than it's worth... why not just use tape?

Because as I understand it, the entire purpose of having a barber's hone is so that when you notice your razor feeling less than optimum in the middle of a shave, you can right then and there give it a couple of laps to refresh it on a smooth, gentle stone. Tape defeats that purpose entirely...

Originally Posted by JimR

Because as I understand it, the entire purpose of having a barber's hone is so that when you notice your razor feeling less than optimum in the middle of a shave, you can right then and there give it a couple of laps to refresh it on a smooth, gentle stone. Tape defeats that purpose entirely...

Couldn't have said it better myself. I have, and use, a barber hone for exactly that purpose. All joking threads aside, this is the main reason I don't like the idea of taping razors. It makes regular touch-ups on a barber hone, or using a paddle strop a big PitA, and some folks have used so much tape that it even becomes an issue using a hanging strop.

(not trying to start a tape vs no-tape debate. I understand the arguments in favor of using it perfectly well)

As far as the paper wearing out, it may be that wearing out the paper would be a good thing.

I'm not sure if this is the same stuff I've seen at the office stores around here, but if it is, the actual paper is very thin, and most of the thickness is taken up with the magnetic material. If you were to soak the paper off before use, it might get it down to the same 7 mil thickness of the tape.

Also, I've seen several people who like using tape because of the torque it generates when honing, and I'd think the material under the paper would generate a level of torque that was closer to the tape than the paper would.

the answer to the mid shave touch up is the rotation. If a razor seems to need a touch up. I set it aside, lather my face, pick up the next razor in the rotation, strop and resume shaving. Later I tape, do my 3-5 laps, strop and put it back into the rotation.

Alternatively, I suppose I could leave a pre-cut tape on the inside of the drawer where I store my stuff or in the medicine chest attached to the back of the mirror and put it back when I am done. You could easily get a number of uses out of each piece of tape.

Hey single edge what about this stuff? I'm just wondering if you inquired about this when you talked to them. Pretty expensive I know.
Magnetic tape with adhesive in stock and ready to ship.