Thread: Is it possible to have a chip in only one side of a bevel

I know this may sound like a silly question but I got back to my room today after a week away from work and the cleaners had evidently knocked my razor out of its stand and put it back with the blade resting on the wire of the stand, upon inspecting the blade I can see a chip in one side but not in the other.
I only have a barber hone and some slates with me but with work I am sure I can fix it as it is relatively small (see photo).
I am still puzzled though, unless the bevel has just been bent over.

I don't see how that can be the case? Have you checked with a loupe? Maybe just some trick from the light ?
What could be possible is of course some remaining local pitting one side of the bevel...

Originally Posted by decraew

I don't see how that can be the case? Have you checked with a loupe? Maybe just some trick from the light ?
What could be possible is of course some remaining local pitting one side of the bevel...

I don't see how either. It isn't pitting, it is the point that the razor was rested on the wire. You can see from the photo that there is definitely a chip.
The other side looked fine but could I suppose have had a bent over bit.
I don't have a loupe with me as I don't do more than touch up this razor when it loses its keenness. I just spent about 10 minutes with the hones I have and a few hundred laps on my leather strop, it seems to have come up OK. I did a dry ATG test on my cheek and it feels.smooth with little irritation (bear in mind the dry shave factor).
Here is a pic of where I got it to.

Is it possible to clap with only one hand?

No I don't think you can have a chip visible on only one side, but its visibility can vary if it is folded over. In general, if I deal with a fold over, I prefer to do a little back honing first in the hope of bending back the chip a bit. You probably still are going to have to reduce some steel but this may reduce it a little.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Is it possible to clap with only one hand?

No I don't think you can have a chip visible on only one side, but its visibility can vary if it is folded over. In general, if I deal with a fold over, I prefer to do a little back honing first in the hope of bending back the chip a bit. You probably still are going to have to reduce some steel but this may reduce it a little.

Technically yes, I could clap my hand against my leg, or use my feet .
I see what you are saying though Ron, without magnification or good lighting it was hard to see if anything was going on on the reverse of the bevel.
In hindsight back honing might have been a good idea. Though as proof that with fairly rudimentary equipment minor damage can be fixed fairly easily it was a nice experiment. The proof of course will be in the next full shave.

After tonight's full shave (2 pass) the razor gave quite a good shave if a little harsh. I went back over the hones with lather this time and will give it a good stropping again and see how I go next time.

I have seen that more than once. I do not think it is a chip more like a ding on the edge to deform it in a way that on the opposide side it does not show due to how the light hits it. May be there is a better explanation to this

Originally Posted by mainaman

I have seen that more than once. I do not think it is a chip more like a ding on the edge to deform it in a way that on the opposide side it does not show due to how the light hits it. May be there is a better explanation to this

That makes sense, I think there may have been a weird reflection on the back of the bevel, though with the light I have it was a bit hard to see.

Originally Posted by mainaman

I have seen that more than once. I do not think it is a chip more like a ding on the edge to deform it in a way that on the opposide side it does not show due to how the light hits it. May be there is a better explanation to this

Yes. That was what I meant by a fold over but ding is more accurate.

Originally Posted by mainaman

I have seen that more than once. I do not think it is a chip more like a ding on the edge to deform it in a way that on the opposide side it does not show due to how the light hits it. May be there is a better explanation to this

Originally Posted by edhewitt

That makes sense, I think there may have been a weird reflection on the back of the bevel, though with the light I have it was a bit hard to see.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Yes. That was what I meant by a fold over but ding is more accurate.

Yep,, quite common in the shave world,,, it's referred to as a "unilateral ding" ,,, it most often occurs from the excessive use of dulled slurry.