Thread: Small chips on 2 razors - why?

Today I was going to refresh my Dovo Bismarck and Nate's Straight on a 12k Naniwa, as I noticed I seem to have been experiencing some small nicks from the Dovo when using my left hand. I looked at the edge with a low-power loupe and saw a small chip, which is more visible from one side than the other. It is about an inch from the toe. I was able to get rid of it with a little work with my 8k Naniwa and followed up with the 12k. If I look hard I can see this defect with the naked eye. I have been using the Dovo as my honing training razor, and feel like I've been getting a pretty decent edge.

Then I decided to look at the Nate's Straight with the loupe, and found a small chip on the edge of that razor too! It is almost exactly at the halfway point on the edge. Not visible with the naked eye. I have never touched this razor with a hone myself, only CrOx.

So -- I am pretty confident I haven't hit the edge of either razor on the faucet or any other hard thing. Just wondering how I might have acquired these problems?

Is there anything on the surface of your 12k that could be imbeded and causing these issues?
Maybe try lapping the 12k and seeing if that changes your outcome.
Apoligies, I just reread the post. Do you use the crox on both razors?

You could be unknowingly over working that part of the blade with pressure.
Try a lighter touch and fewer laps..

It sounds to me like you might have an abundance of CrOx in one place on your strop. Or something else that is causing the chip. If they appear in roughly the same spot on both razors I think this is the most likely cause.

I hope that you can get it out with the stones. These are both great razors, I have a Nate's myself and love it so I really hope that you can get it back to good condition. I know that Nathan offers lifetime free honing to the original owner so you could send it back to him. At least that way you would have a comparison for the Dovo too.

Good luck.

I would check the strops. Something stuck in the paste maybe. You should be able to feel it as you drag your razor over it though I would think. Maybe the way you close your razors too. Do you carefully guide them in or just .........

Great replies!
I have been using my fairly new Mastro Livi loom strop, primarily the CrOx side about weekly, so I will need to take a look at it.