Thread: Stabilizer correction

monster chip in my eyes. Not that I can see it very well but I'd never shave with that chip.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Steve, That Stria in the pic with the chip is ugly! Whatever caused that stria could have caused a chip. But I'd say more like it was a weak piece of steel and it plucked it out of the edge. You are dealing with a razor that some would call an RSO. I have never had one of those in my hands but... I've had other razors (not counting gold dollars as those are junk IMO!) that would not hold an edge through a full shave. It would just lose its cutting ability. And not be chipped. Some razors are just junk and being a bit new to this, in my opinion, you should not be playing with them. They will cause heartache and make you wonder about your ability.

So put it aside. Or put it in the trash. You didn't pay much for it. Get some more vintage razors and play with them. Remember that is you buy vintage for 20 bucks and get a nice edge on it. Shave a couple of times, there is nothing wrong with killing the edge and rehoning for practice. Or change the bevel angle and try again. It's all practice and you will be doing this for years to come. It doesn't come overnight or in a few months. You get lucky sometimes after a few months but you really only got lucky. For me, it didn't come for a couple of years as I spend so much time in the truck I could put as much time into practicing. I thought I knew how to hone after a couple of months but I really didn't.
Even to this day, some near wedge razors will kick my backside. I will have to set them down and go at them a few times before I finally get them right. But I know when to stop is the thing.

Keep at it or trash it. It's your choice. But remember that vintage will be much better for you when learning to hone. Vintage USA razors are best for learning in my opinion.

On a side note... I still have my Gold Dollar. I won it so it didn't cost me anything. Not even 6 bucks as they sell for. But I customized it so it's cool looking. It still won't hold an edge but for a few shaves! I don't recommend them for anything. But that's my opinion.

My feelings aren't hurt Jerry, much

Seriously though, you are right, that is one ugly scratch pattern, I'm quite proud of it actually, bet you can't make one that bad

I do agree that it should be put aside for a while, it is a bit of a challenge and i need more experience before i try again.

I have got some cheap vintage razors, in fact most of them are but they shave so well and as they were honed by the guys that sold them to me, I am really reluctant to mess about with them.

Every cheap vintage I buy I intend to practice on but then fall in love and have a change of heart when it arrives.

I do have a beater that doesn't have any scales yet and I am really looking forward to polishing, scaling and trying to make a killer edge on, I can't do it until the spring because i can't spend time in my workshop yet but I will show you all how it looks when it gets done regardless of whether if it's good bad or ugly.

Originally Posted by Gasman

monster chip in my eyes. Not that I can see it very well but I'd never shave with that chip.

Nor me although it is very hard to see with the naked eye.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

I see it now. Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you said it was near the heel.

It might look like the toe but both chips are in about the first 3/4" of the heel

I thought you said it was at the heel but I see what Bluesman is talking about. Maybe it's lighting but it looks like there's one near the toe also.
Looking at that pic again that is some pretty wicked magnification. Based on how high the magnification looks it should probably hone out fairly easily. But first FIX THAT UGLY ASS HEEL. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. It's easy to be shy of taking that much off of the blade because you can't put it back on but that is nowhere near trimmed enough.
Make it look something like this:

See how much more appealing that looks? AND the stabilizer is out of the way.

Thatz a nice looking heal sweep. Id think I did it myself.

That your work Jerry?

Text book, nice work.

No actually I did that believe it or not. But I'll give credit where credit is due. I learned it from your post about heel correction Marty.

To be honest I thought I had gone too far. It seemed like I was getting carried away but I trusted.the method and that's how it came out. Hey, even a busted clock is right twice a day.

See, this is what I'm saying Steve. It seems wrong to cut it back that much. It is counterintuitive, like letting off the brakes when you're skidding but if you trust the method it will actually improve it and maybe fix some of the problems you've been having with honing that blade. If I can do it I KNOW you can do it..