Thread: Dropped razor - how to fix the edge?

I was stropping my Helj the other night when I noticed light was bouncing off of the edge in one spot right in the middle of the edge. I took a close look and the edge looked like it was tapped on something hard to make the slightest dimple/bend in the edge!!!

I don't know how it happened or when because I'm always careful with my razors, only lay them down on towels and use a towel to remove shaving cream/hair when I shave. My only conclusion was that our cleaning lady dropped it when she moved stuff around during her monthly visit and the blade opened somehow and hit something or she hates me and did it to spite me. (yes...my roommates and I pay a cleaning lady to come once a month to clean the stuff we forget to clean because we're guys like wiping off TV screens, on top of cabinets and under our beds, mop, etc)

I'm totally bummed because it's my favorite razor. Arrrrr!!

I just bought a Norton stone set off ebay for $76 which I am going to use for some restores, but looks like this might be the first razor I do instead. I'll have a 220/1000, 4k/8k, and lapping stone soon enough. I've been using my 12k hone to touch my edges up and have had really good success so far.

How should I go about fixing this?

What kind of finisher do you use?
Naniwa or the Chinese natural?
Depending on the ding size you can start with your 8k, or with your 4k

Without seeing I would say start with the 12k and work your way down if you have to. You have the 12k now is why I say that :<0). Unless you are good at honing and judging I would say that route might save you some time and frustration.

I use a Chinese stone and placing an order for some Chromium Oxide today.

I'll post a pic later when I get home. Had the light not bounced off it, I wouldn't have noticed. :-/

I would also have a talk with the maid. :<0) She could hurt herself messing with that thing.

Sounds like something happened perhaps other than the cleaning lady. If the razor had actually been dropped the damage
to the blade would have been more significan than what you describe. It has been dinged on something however and the
way you describe the damage I would have guess a faucet touched even if you did not feel it or perhaps a roomate fooling
around. In any event it will need to be honed out. Do not try any kind of pressure on the ding directly to straighten it because you run the risk of causing a crack since the metal has been stretched.

It really doesn’t take much to have a ‘dent’ or ‘ding’ appear on the edge!

I was helping a young man who was complaining about the edges on his DOVO not holding up. I sent him a razor that is a very nice shaver (all it says on the tang is HAIR OP SPECIAL, there is also 78 and what appears to be a barber’s pole) any way I asked him to shave with it every day for one week being sure to strop it well before shaving, then return it.

When it came home I rinsed the oil off and then dried it. With the naked eye I could see that the entire edge had many ‘shiny spots’ on it. With the 30X Loupe I could see the damage/dings/dents.

What caused the damage? He has a beard made of Brillo!!

I’ve never used the Chinese hone as I finish on the Naniwa 12k, but I’d strop the blade very well on both cloth and leather ‘BEFORE’ I went to a finishing hone. I feel this would help prevent the ‘ding’ from putting a scratch in the hone.

Neither Steel nor Stone can be replaced!

Keep us posted!

I agree with Cudarunner. Take it to the strop first. I'm also very carful with my straights laying them down on towels,making sure when I rinse the razor off I stay away from the edge of the sink and faucet. And before every touch up I use my 30x loupe and still notice the tiniest little dings. But most of the time a good stropping or a couple passes on the 12k seems to take care of it. Not once did I think about blaming it on my house keeper