Oh NO!!!

Somehow I managed to get two small chips on my blade. I am horrified.

I noticed a slight scratching sound when I was using my poly web strop, so I lightly pulled the blade across the top of my thumbnail and felt the chips. For the life of me I don't know how I damaged the edge.

Is there a chance I was too aggressive with stropping? Or did I contact a hard surface? I may have touched the faucet while shaving and just didn't notice... Terribly dissapointing. :cry: If I drag my thumb pad acrros the edge, is that enough to chip it? I do this with my knives to check for rolled edges... If you roll the edge while stropping, does that then cause chips as you continue to strop?

I bought my beautiful, but now damaged Ralf Aust razor from Straight Razor Designs so I will send it back for the free honing, but I must figure out how I chipped the edge.

On the bright side, now I need to purchase a back up razor. :rock:

I would hazard a guess that it was caused by a slight "ding" against something. :shrug: Probably wont ever know for sure.

Looks like contact with something did it to me also. It doesn't take much but no your thumbnail probably didn't do anything but dull the heck out of it. Don't do that unless you surely want to have to refresh the blade :<0)

At this point it need to have a little bit removed to get past this. Thumb nail tests are destructive to the edge, but won't cause chips, as has been said. It is for checking your bevel set during honing and you have to hone a little afterwards to undo the thumbnail test. Time for a honing.

I agree, this is not from your thumb pad but from a hard object.

Using your thumb pad to test the edge is perfectly fine, as long as you're careful - it's a good test whether you've stropped it well. Moistened thumb pad is what you want it's much more sensitive that way, but you probably know that already.

Looks like it made contact with a hard object. You might have barely touched the faucet & didn't realize it. I agree with the others...............your thumbnail didn't cause it.

Razordinkaphobia made me switch to using a folded damp washcloth on the counter like a bench strop to remove the lather in lieu of going near the faucet.
This also improved my learning curve as I was able to keep up the rhythm and pattern of shaving. Before I would focus on the rinse and then it would be "what was I going to do next?"

Mind the edge, it is everything...

Smooth Shaving...

The washcloth is a good idea!

If the planets are lined up you can chip an edge on the strop.
You also have to be Bruce Banner with your pressure & the razor has to very hard steel with rust pits in the edge ready to pop.

I don't think you meet any of the criteria. :)

I just recently realized I have the same chip in a razor. I'm pretty sure it happened when I knicked the faucet. Ever since then I have been using the wash cloth idea to avoid the faucet. I haven't hit the faucet since.

A damp household sponge works well also. Just wipe gently in the direction you strop.

After I've used the hot wet cloth on my face, I drape it over the edge of the sink and wipe gently on that. I never hold it under the running water from the tap. Hope you can sort that chip out. Doesn't look too serious.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Highwayman

A damp household sponge works well also. Just wipe gently in the direction you strop.

---

What he said...

I keep a large, wet, household sponge with a paper towel covering it and wipe my blade as needed. Avoids dings and chips and thrown away lather loaded paper towel keeps the drain from clogging up after awhile from the shaving soap lather.

Love that new term - Razordinkaphobia.

I like to use a wash cloth draped over the faucet so easy to wipe and if I do use the faucet the razor is protected by the wash cloth.

I've got a couple razors with floppy scales. If I'm not careful when using them the edge can hit the scales when closing and cause that kind of damage.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bluesman7

I've got a couple razors with floppy scales. If I'm not careful when using them the edge can hit the scales when closing and cause that kind of damage.

---

Are those scales home made? If so, they were probably made too thin.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by engine46

Are those scales home made? If so, they were probably made too thin.

---

Nope, one is a vintage Joseph Elliot's and the other is a Double Arrow. My homemade scales are much stiffer, even at .08 "

I guess their age has made them a little floppy.

I will have to switch to using a towel to wipe off the lather. Probably better that way, so I don't get the pivot pin wet...

OMG you get the pivot pin wet too ? That's it, you have to read care and feeding of your razor 9 times as penance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gugi

I agree, this is not from your thumb pad but from a hard object.

Using your thumb pad to test the edge is perfectly fine, as long as you're careful - it's a good test whether you've stropped it well. Moistened thumb pad is what you want it's much more sensitive that way, but you probably know that already.

---

See I didnt know or missed the point of moist thumb pad. Thanks for restating what I should have known, now I may get the correct feedback from the test. I have been doing it dry and thought what are you guys talking about? Getting good shaves, but not TPT results, and didnt want to slice open my finger with more pressure.

I've been wiping the blade on my forearm, a technique I picked up from Ed Hewett. Works great.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 10Pups

OMG you get the pivot pin wet too ? That's it, you have to read care and feeding of your razor 9 times as penance.

---

SRP rules...........

My goodness, you guys kill me. A razor is just a tool, it will get a ding or a water spot on it...it's not the end of the world. I've dinged razors on the sink a couple times, but I have learned to never EVER take my eyes off the edge. When you do this, the dings diminish significantly...so much that I haven't (here comes the jinx) dinged one in years. Relax fellas...