Thread: Micro-chipping and how to fix it - HELP

I'm still a noob when it comes to honing. After a few shaves with my newly pro honed razor, I noticed micro-chipping along the edge of the blade with my 60x loupe. The shave has become very uncomfortable and I'm wondering what may have caused the chipping and how to fix it. I have a set of hones, as well as CrOx on balsa. I'm a do it yourself kind of guy so I'd like to try to fix it myself, and if all else fails, I'll send it off for a hone. Can't seem to find that much on how to remedy this problem.

Originally Posted by Justino14

I'm still a noob when it comes to honing. After a few shaves with my newly pro honed razor, I noticed micro-chipping along the edge of the blade with my 60x loupe. The shave has become very uncomfortable and I'm wondering what may have caused the chipping and how to fix it. I have a set of hones, as well as CrOx on balsa. I'm a do it yourself kind of guy so I'd like to try to fix it myself, and if all else fails, I'll send it off for a hone. Can't seem to find that much on how to remedy this problem.

I'd say your options are limited. If CrOx won't help, then it's the stone that will restore the edge.
Assuming your razor is a reliable one and not a razor shaped object, it could be stray coarser particles on the balsa wood, maybe too much CrOx on it, using too much pressure there or while stropping, or simply, you can't keep an edge shave ready indefinitely with a piece of balsa wood and CrOx and a strop; at some point it will need honing.

Is it your only razor ? What I did early on was have a few pro honed razors that I shaved with, and some old (good condition) razors that I learned to hone with. I would use the pro honed razors to compare my own honing. If you cannot see the chips with the naked eye a touch up on a 10 or 12k hone might refresh the edge enough to get a decent shave. If you can see them without magnification you would probably need to start with a 4k or so. If you're going to hone it use a piece of electrical tape on the spine. Watch some honing vids and don't be heavy handed.

What is the brand of the razor?
Usually micro-chipping is a function of very hard steel or/and the stones used are not suitable for the steel . That assuming there is nothing wrong with the heat treat of the razor. You can add an extra layer of tape and see if that will help.

I can only see the chips under the loupe. I haven't used the CrOx on this razor yet so I guess it's because of my stropping. It is a brand new Boker King Cutter. How many laps should I try on the 12k? I have a vintage razor I could practice honing on but it is a wedge, is that hard to learn honing on?

Originally Posted by Justino14

I can only see the chips under the loupe. I haven't used the CrOx on this razor yet so I guess it's because of my stropping. It is a brand new Boker King Cutter. How many laps should I try on the 12k? I have a vintage razor I could practice honing on but it is a wedge, is that hard to learn honing on?

A wedge is more difficult than a hollow ground, but it is basically the same thing in terms of the motions. Many guys use more tape on a full wedge to decrease the size of the resulting bevel, and make it easier because you're removing less metal. Try 5 round trips weight of the blade on your chom-ox strop. It won't remove chips, but it might smooth out the shave for you. I wouldn't put it to the hone except as a last resort if you're an inexperienced honer.

Micro chipping is a tough one to decide where it came from. There have been a ton of posts on where they come from and what to do. In general I would kill the edge lightly on my thumb nail and then bring it back on a 4K and progress up. It is true you may get that edge back with CrOx. It is certainly worth a try, especially if you are uncertain if your honing.

A few years ago when stropping on Balsa, was all the rage, there were a flood of edge chipping issues, from stropping on balsa. The cause was/is too much pressure, or lifting the spine.

Also make sure you are using Razor quality, 100 percent Chromium Oxide, not hardware/woodworking store or polishing compounds.

Try pasting and stropping on a piece of cardboard, (inside of a cereal box).

Micro chipping is easily repaired, by jointing the edge straight and smooth, with one stroke on the corner of the stone, then reseting the edge. Once the bevels are flat and in the proper plane, 5-10 laps should bring them back to meeting.

Is your 12k a real 12k or an EBay Halcion 12K?

I occasionally get micro-chipping when I back-hone or do half strokes. Seems like some harder steels don't like that. Jointing the edge and then doing only edge-leading strokes seems to cure it.

Originally Posted by Justino14

I'm still a noob when it comes to honing. After a few shaves with my newly pro honed razor, I noticed micro-chipping along the edge of the blade with my 60x loupe. The shave has become very uncomfortable and I'm wondering what may have caused the chipping and how to fix it. I have a set of hones, as well as CrOx on balsa. I'm a do it yourself kind of guy so I'd like to try to fix it myself, and if all else fails, I'll send it off for a hone. Can't seem to find that much on how to remedy this problem.

I think you are making this post extremely confusing for many on here

The nicks and chips that come from Shaving are part of shaving, as you get a better handle on shaving and stropping these will become less and less

Micro-Chipping from honing although similar in appearance actually come from improper use of the hones.


Since you say it is coming after shaving and not from during honing we have to assume that this is shave related

Adjusting your angle and learning to prep better and what and how a scything stroke is accomplished will help lessen the impact on the edge
Learn the stages of proper stropping will help to improve the edge after shaving..
the stages are
Learn the mechanics
Do no harm
Do some good

You might have to learn to do weekly or bi-weekly touch up and maintenance on the edge some people just have tough beards and it pounds the crap outta the edge


What did you shave with before and how did those blades hold up ????