Thread: I'm new and get blade nicks after first use

Hi, I am brand new on here and need advice.

I'm brand new to straight razors (been using DE razors). I ordered two new shave ready Dovo stainless razors and each blade got a small nick after the first use. They seem very small but I can definitely feel the nicks with the thumbnail. I've babied them, didn't hit them on anything. They were perfect before using them. What am I doing wrong? Stropping doesn't seem to help.

I've read and researched stropping and shaving before starting this. I'm afraid I'm going to ruin any razor that I get my hands on. Thanks for any advice.

Phil

Phil,

Welcome to the forum!!

First, a question.....why do you think they're "shave ready"? Were they listed as honed by a professional, or just labeled as such, but with factory edges? If factory edges, they're not what we consider shave ready.

Nicks......either you have tapped the faucet, or something else, or something has happened in the stropping. If you aren't keeping the blade flat, spine and edge in contact with the strop, except at the flip, and using light pressure, then you can drag/scrape the edge and that can nick the edge. Something else I've seen is taking too long of a stroke on the strop and bumping some of the hardware on the strop.

For stropping help, check out this thread. There's lots of good posts and vids to help.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...st-2012-a.html

Oh yes, if you're doing a thumbnail test to feel the nick, you're damaging the, supposed, shave ready edge. A thumbnail test is usually only used during and before bevel setting.

Other things could account for nicks depending on what you've been doing, but ponder the above and see if any of those could be the culprit.



Best Regards,

Howard

Thank you for the advice. The razors were honed by the vendor; one was marked with the date honed and the other had the name of the honemeister. After reading your response, I suspect my stropping was too aggressive. I don't know what else it could be. I guess I need to find a way to get them fixed and lighten up on my stropping.

If anyone can recommend a place in San Diego to have them corrected (or elsewhere), that would be appreciated. I had no idea the blades could be so delicate. Thanks, Phil

Yeah, the edges are very delicate. Dragging the edge over the thumbnail will kill a shave ready edge.

If you use too much pressure, like I did starting out, you can damage the edge, or accidentally lifting the spine during the strop stroke, or a very loose strop, sagging, etc. etc.

Here's a link to our Member Services in the classifieds. There are very capable and respected members that can hone your razors to perfection. Their ads will have contact info, etc. listed.

Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

As far as brick & mortar places in San Diego, I don't know. I'm Leary of any honing service unless they are straight razor users and have a good, verifiable, reputation as razor honers.

Also, below in my sig. Line are a couple of links with great info. The Shave Test link is a video that will help a lot with what to expect from a shave ready razor......technique and prep, etc. worth a look!!

Howard

Thank you for the help and advice. One last (maybe) question though.

My strop has some thin fine scratches caused buy the nicked blade. Do I need too use another strop now; will the scratches on the strop ruin any blades I strop on it?

Phil

Originally Posted by imhere

Thank you for the help and advice. One last (maybe) question though.

My strop has some thin fine scratches caused buy the nicked blade. Do I need too use another strop now; will the scratches on the strop ruin any blades I strop on it?

Phil

Your strop should be fine. the scratches won't look so bad after 1,000 more laps.