Thread: Repeated chips -- issue with steel quality?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I have honed several customs like that and One must 'sneak' up on the edge.
Not fun. I own none like that any more.
Quality vintage razors in good nick have never chipped during use or stropping. FME.
No sneaking around, either.

Yea, my two were customs from a very well respected maker and yea that's a good description of what you have to do with those edges. I sold mine too.

I too have seen the same issue with some custom razors. A few years ago, it was a common problem with one maker, I honed several of his razors all with microchips.

The problem is in the heat treat and or grind, aggressive grinding with aggressive belts can cause weakened steel, much like diamonds. The exact cause has never been figured out. Interestingly I recently read about the same issue with high end, hard, wazoo modern steels chisels.

The trick is to remove a bit of steel, either by honing and use or jointing and removing a bit of the edge, where the steel is thinnest, and any issue magnified.

I am talking about removing a minimum of steel a thousand or two. Sneaking up on the edge and ensure that you are removing all the previous stria from each grit. Spend more time on the 8k and once you have a nice edge, joint, and remove it, (one or two strokes) then bring it back with 20-30 lite laps.

Also, if you are using a Naniwa Super Stone to finish, they tend to load up which can easily chip or unevenly hone an edge. For your finish laps on each stone lap them flat and clean, then do your finish laps on a clean stone. Jointing and rebuilding the edge at the finishing laps on each stone is a good way to perfect the edge with hard steel. Make sure you stone edges are beveled or rounded.

Lapping film also works, the grit application is more uniform than stones, as do Arks and Jnats.

Not saying there is anything wrong with this razor, it could be just a honing issue, which either way the suggestions listed in the post and here will help with any razor.

When you have an issue, go back to basics. Lap you stones, fully set the bevel, remove the edge, (joint) and reset it and ensure you are removing each grits stria with each stone in the progression. You can feel the chips if you joint lightly. Use magnification, try adding a layer of tape for final laps for a micro bevel.

Lots of great tips here - thanks everyone!
Some day when I have a lot of patience I will take a stab at honing this one and will employ the wisdom of the group.