Best tape to protect blade while finishing handle

I wish I had old phone books. I'd switch.

I will also attest that the blue 3M painter's tape will cause pitting if left on too long, even on stainless steels. I live in Houston where the humidity is high . . . perhaps that's a factor, along with the tape choice?

The tape is so convenient though.

I make an effort to only leave it on as long as needed. If I step away from a project for a week or so, the tape is removed.

Mike L.
 
Very helpful thread guys. THank you for all the responses. I've had both clear packing tape and blue painters tape ruin 01 blades. Of course, its humid here, and the steel is usually 01.
 
Humid here too... sometimes with a large difference in temp between day and night. Unless your shop is carefully climate controlled (mine is not) I think that's even worse than just being hot and humid all the time.

The upshot is, I'm pretty sure any kind of tape/adhesive is going to cause problems eventually. The oil/paper wrap thing is easy, quick to apply and remove, and basically idiot-proof. :)
 
Andy,
This is the stuff I use when I need to apply tape-to-steel, which I try to keep limited as I work mostly with carbon steel as well. Scotch Blue Exterior. The cheapest I've found it is through Amazon. It isn't a paper based tape like most. It adheres really well and leaves little-to-no residue behind when removed. I've found it doesn't promote corrosion like the other paper-based masking tapes I've tried. Like most of the others though, when I can, I apply heavy mineral oil followed by phone book paper and then wrapped in electrical tape.

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Why the Phone Book? Wouldn't the Daily News work just as well?

With the internet the Phone Book is getting pretty scarce.
 
Shur tape From Sherman Williams. Viva is the only paper towel that I found that wont scratch

P.s.
thank me later `- I'm a slow learner. Took many times of screwing up.
 
I carefully wrap each blade in pages from Verhoeven's book, "Metallurgy of Steel for Bladesmiths and Others who Heat Treat and Forge Steel", soaked in a double extracted tincture of Inonotus Obliquus, infused with freshly pressed and reduced oil from the pancreas of a bald eagle. The saturated literature enveloped blade is then placed in a sandlewood box filled with soggy cornflakes to marinate for 72 hours in the rear right corner of a horse stall with a 153# Peter Wright anvil placed on the lid. After 3 days, it is removed from the box, sprayed with BBQ paint and taped up with Elastoplast brand bandages.

Or sometimes I don't do anything but be careful not to scratch the blade.
 
For carbon steel knives, I put a light coat of oil on, and then wrap in electrical tape. Any residue it leaves is easily dissolved with Goo Gone.
Like others have mentioned, I've found masking tape can cause corrosion. I tried filament tape once, and it caused scratches....
 
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