Some interesting thoughts there guys!
I'm a regular user of duct tape but I just can't see putting some on one of my blades... It's probably an image thing...  

  Blue painter's tape is a thought, but when polishing I work on both the blade and handle in the same session so at some point the tape would have to come off.   

Gloves are a thought, but I haven't noticed any laying around and I don't know how abrasive the knife proof ones are.  'sides I feel like I loose some control and sensitivity when I wear gloves.   

  Kinda like wearing a r... , uh... 
raincoat in the shower!  Yeah!  That's it!  A raincoat!!  

An old sheath would work for some blades, but I'd probably have to have a dozen laying around to cover all size blades I may work on.
And then there's this suggestion... 
Sharpening after it's all done might be good.
They always got to be one don't they...  
   
Poster board may be a good idea if it will stand up to a number of insertions and extractions and remain smooth.  Oh and BTW, I don't 
begin to sharpen a blade until the knife is finished!   

What I did last night was to cut out a scrap of lining leather and hold the blade with it.  I think I'll glue a piece of that to an appropriately sized section of poster board, fold it over, glue it shut and cover it with duct tape and/or painters tape.   

  or, I may just buy a glove...  
