Thread: 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. 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.

I would hazard a guess that it was caused by a slight "ding" against something. 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.