The ordeal to tape or not to tape 
, here is what I did. I wound up diving into films to get to feel if I liked what I was getting into. I taped because I didnt know what I was doing confidently and I didnt know how much pressure I needed to put on a blade. So I used tape in the beginning, once I felt like I knew what I was doing and practiced on a few razors, I stepped up to stones and invested in 2 coticules, 1 small trans. Ark and 1 sergical black Ark. To be hosnest I enjoy the coticules the most, but now when I hone I dont use tape because I know the feel and pressure to use so I'm not destroying the spine. I use films now for setting a bevel on a new blade or fixing a small chip and then finish up on stones. Films are a great all around media for beginners and experienced shavers and are cost effective, just make sure you get the non adhesive backed films.
Larry
, here is what I did. I wound up diving into films to get to feel if I liked what I was getting into. I taped because I didnt know what I was doing confidently and I didnt know how much pressure I needed to put on a blade. So I used tape in the beginning, once I felt like I knew what I was doing and practiced on a few razors, I stepped up to stones and invested in 2 coticules, 1 small trans. Ark and 1 sergical black Ark. To be hosnest I enjoy the coticules the most, but now when I hone I dont use tape because I know the feel and pressure to use so I'm not destroying the spine. I use films now for setting a bevel on a new blade or fixing a small chip and then finish up on stones. Films are a great all around media for beginners and experienced shavers and are cost effective, just make sure you get the non adhesive backed films.Larry
