Can't look at the vid ATM but I do quite like Ben and find his waffling entertaining and interesting so will check it out later.
transatlantic":2s7v3oxx said:
I really liked the masking tape trick, not seen that before (I've seen the ruler). Makes a lot of sense to have it be thin like that.
Some use a strip of milk carton plastic, also because it's thinner than a typical 6" steel rule but if I'm remembering correctly it was also said that it was to prevent leaving unsightly scratches. Although how long that would continue with abrasive contamination I don't know.
Anything like this is just a variation of the ruler trick and at the end of the day it makes little difference what you use to raise the iron because the back bevel created is always shallow. It is a good trick but not absolutely necessary and of course of little to no use on chisels so I made the decision early on not to rely on it. For plane irons I think it's far more useful for those who are using abrasion-resistant alloys. On basic carbon steel, even particularly hard stuff, if you're honing on diamonds, waterstones or good abrasive paper I don't see the point.