blade hit the scales today

This afternoon I used my straight for about the 3rd time. When I closed it, the blade hit the scales. It didn't do this before, and I'm wondering if I'm stropping incorrectly or something. What do you think?

IMHO its not improper stropping that caused your blade to hit the scales of your razor--unless you are really bearing down on the razor when you strop. That's a no-no. It could be attributable to the fact that there is an ever so slight misalignment of your blade where it is peened or pinned to the scales. Or it could be that the blade, spine and tang are not completely flat but ever so slightly out of true or bent that it cannot be detected with the naked eye. Over time and with repeated use--even three times--the misalignment of the blade has now made itself known to you.

I have razors that occasionally act up like that. Its not a game ender for your razor--unless you chipped or rolled the edge of your blade when it hit the scales.

Try to exercise a bit more care in closing your razor next time. I do.

Just my 2 cents. Other SRP members with more experience than I will most likely be able to give you a more accurate diagnosis and solution.

Hi,
If the blade did not hit the scales before,then this means you may have applied too much pressure on the blade while stropping.
If you hold the razor correctly only slight pressure is applied-read the wiki and revise your stropping technique.
Are the pins loose in the scales?-If so get it repaired.
Regards
Noggs

:gl:

if you didnt chip the blade your still in buisness just give it some extra stroping before you use it again and i think you will be alright

Probably a warp in the scales is the main cause. You see that alot with vintage celluloid but it can happen with horn and wood and just about every classic material they use for scales. Usually it happens very slowly however I would imagine with wood in high humidity it could happen rapidly. I have a few like that and it just seemed to happen over a period of days. Also like has been said bad pinning can do that as can a blow in the right place.

There are a lot of possibilities. Here is another; by any chance were the scales exposed to hot or warm water? I have had that happen with celluloid scales, and it instantly caused the blade to start striking the scales, making corrective action necessary. I think it induces a slight warp sometimes, when warm water contacts celluloid scales. What I do is note which scale the blade is touching during closure. Then, I place razor on my jewelers anvil such that the opposite side is up, with the pin lying on the anvil. A few very light taps on the pin with the round end of a small jewelers hammer usually corrects the problem by moving the blade to the center of the scales. Warning: tapping too hard or missing the pin can crack and ruin the scales!! Not for the faint of heart or inexperienced.

Hi All,
Thanks for the feedback! It's a new Dovo. I do shave with hot water, so it's an almost certainty that it got wet. I'll be more careful with the stropping in the morning (and forever after).

-P