Thread: Safety tip -- chipped edges

I've come across a few threads where people were advocating for shaving with a blade that has a visible chip. Today, I learned better and wanted to share the experience with you gentlemen.
I had a blade with a major chip (polishing accident) that I honed down on the 180 before going to the 1000 and then the Norton. By the time it left the sand paper, the chip wasn't visible to the naked eye. I know, I should have done a thumb-nail test, but I never felt the necessity for it. The blade came close to being shave ready so I gave it a shave test to see where we stood. Then I noticed a red line along a surgical scar. That got me freaked, so I took the edge under the microscope (another thing I should be doing more of) and lo and behold, there was a slight dip where that chip was. That's been fixed but I'll hone the razor tomorrow.
This brings us to the following lessons that I've learned and wanted to pass on:
1) Never shave with a chipped edge, no matter who tells you it's ok. (Unless you like scratches on your face)
2) Always inspect the edge with the thumb nail test and the microscope (if you have it). The $10 hand-held one was good enough for me.
3) No matter how many of them you come across and how good you get, there's always something new to learn or an old lesson to re-iterate.
Be safe gentlemen!