Thread: Is this microchipping...

I have a Union Cutlery Spike, which is one of my favorites. I got it from the classifieds and shaved about 20 times, before needed to touch it up, due to some dings (it was back when I first started shaving and trying honing). I was able to get it back to being comfortable to shave with and put it back into my rotation. I probably did 30-40 shaves with the razor, before it started to get a bit uncomfortable - pulling and increased irritation.

Now that I know a bit more on honing experience (did a minor restoration/honing of a JA Henckels with help from folks on the forum), I'd like to tackle "correctly" honing this razor to get it back to shave ready state.

Here are some really close up shots of the edge (the guide lines in the background are 1mm):



Is what I see on the very edge microchipping?

I see several other "issues" with the edge. One, is that at places, it looks like there parallel stria - but it is not very deep at all. Two, there are some places were deeper stria are going all the way to the edge. And three, there seems to be places, like in the first shot, where there is a rougher surface for part of the edge (maybe honing wasn't hitting all of the bevel?).

I was wondering what approach I should take at bringing this back to sharpness. I have a 1/4/8K Norton, and a 12K Naniwa SS to work with.

I was thinking, regardless of what hone I use, to ink the bevel and see how well the coverage (because of picture #1). I'd like to get rid of the deeper stria as well.

Should I go as far as setting the bevel, or is there some intermediate level I can drop to, for this razor (4K? 8K?).

The spine has moderate wear. The edge is not totally flat, but there is a high spot, about 1/3 of the way from the toe (one can see light under the edge at the toe and heel, when the blade is perpendicular to my dia-sharp diamond plate. Visually, you can see that the height (width?) of the blade is smaller at the heel than the toe.

Here's some shots showing the wear, just so that there is a clear picture of the blade:



Wondering what peoples' thoughts are.

At some point someone definitely used too much pressure on the heel. That first pic also shows what I view as microchips, and I've never seen parallel striations like those.

If it were me, I would drop back to 1k - maybe with a layer or 2 of electrical tape on the spine - and reset the bevel. Hopefully that would eliminate both the microchips and the excessive heel wear.

But that may be overkill, hopefully someone with more knowledge/experience will chime in soon. Just my thoughts, take them for what they're worth.

Hi PCM, I agree with Marshal, drop back to 1K, 2 layers of tape and re-set the bevel and at a 45* angle joint or breadknife the edge Lightly, you may have to do that a couple of times to get the nicks out of the blade and at the same time you are aligning and leveling the edge. Today I used the hard plastic rim on a disposable drinking glass, worked perfect in that application, it will also take off a wire edge better than wood, end or cross grain.
PCM, have you got together with a mentor or another honer in your area yet? It would really help you I think, it will all come together for you soon, stick to it and another thing I saw was you need to get the lower grit marks out completely before moving up to the next higher grit stone.
Hands on instruction would really help me sometimes but I have learned many things on my own and never regret a minute of it, the science of sharp has taught me a few things, read it close and study the pics, I did and had a couple small Ahh Ha moments. Maybe you will too.
https://scienceofsharp.wordpress.com/

So, all you see is probably correct, except the horizontal stria… it is most likely not stria at all and just dried swarf on the bevel. Wipe the blade with a damp microfiber towel and then repeatedly with a dry paper towel. You will probably find all the horizontal lines gone.

Yes, it need honing and full bevel set and when last honed was not honed to the edge.

First fix that heel or it will become a spur and cut you. With a small coin, penny or dime trace the heel corner with a sharpie and grind the shape to the coin radius.

Then put 2 layers of tape and set the bevel with a well lapped 4k, the edge will straighten out, though it will be narrower at the heel and bevels will join. Stay on the 4k until the bevels meet and all the deep stria is removed.

You have to remember that we are looking at the bevel at a very high magnification, probably at 4 or 500X. What appears to be major damage is really not that bad. The bevel is not set in some spots, but with some tape will come together nicely and fairly quickly.

Also Union blades are very thin and should hone easily.

The bevels are reasonably flat and very close to meeting. A 4k will easily re-set the bevel. The heel is the worst part of the job, but that can be corrected on the 1k.

Originally Posted by Marshal

At some point someone definitely used too much pressure on the heel. That first pic also shows what I view as microchips, and I've never seen parallel striations like those.

If it were me, I would drop back to 1k - maybe with a layer or 2 of electrical tape on the spine - and reset the bevel. Hopefully that would eliminate both the microchips and the excessive heel wear.

But that may be overkill, hopefully someone with more knowledge/experience will chime in soon. Just my thoughts, take them for what they're worth.

Yeah, likely me. When I tried correcting the dings, it was my first try at honing and I'm sure I did numerous things wrong. Months later I did another honing, with a bunch of advise from Euclid440, and it came out great, IMHO.

Looking to straighten out (sic) this razor now, but wanted advice so that I'd take a good approach, and went to the right level of stone.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

You have to remember that we are looking at the bevel at a very high magnification, probably at 4 or 500X. What appears to be major damage is really not that bad. The bevel is not set in some spots, but with some tape will come together nicely and fairly quickly.

Also Union blades are very thin and should hone easily.

The bevels are reasonably flat and very close to meeting. A 4k will easily re-set the bevel. The heel is the worst part of the job, but that can be corrected on the 1k.

So, do like we did on the other razor and round that heel, and then go to the 4K to bevel set? Should I do a leading heel X stroke for bevel set or use circles initially?

Will clean it better and see about the parallel lines.

Thanks!

Yes, you can see from the photos, where the heel is much of your problem. Because it is so square the back edge of the heel is far back and when you hone, you are hitting the stabilizer and ridding up on it, keeping the heel off the stone.

To compensate you are adding more pressure, (see excess hone ware on the spine and at the heel) and only exacerbating the heel spur.

So round the heel, that will bring the edge and corner of the heel, well forward and away from the stabilizer and solve a lot of issues for you.

You should be able to easily set the bevel and polish it on the 4k. Heel forward X stroke will hone the heel.

Hold on. There is no stabilizer on that blade and no drastic remodeling of the heel is necessary. I don't have time to write more yet but please don't do anything drastic to that blade in the next few hours.

Do you notice that the bevel is uneven only on one side of the blade?

Ok, so call it, the shoulder of the tang…

Either way, clearly you are riding up on it and keeping the heel off the stone. Reshaping the heel will prevent the forming of a sharp heel and keep the corner well away from the “shoulder”.

Reshaping the heel is not drastic, you will lose a millimeter or two of the edge in exchange of a safer shaving razor.