New Boker - stropping issue - Do I need to restore edge ? How ?

Hi,

I am a newbie. I bought a new razor Boker edelweiss from SRD a couple of weeks ago. I had some good shaving with it and stropping the razor I could get it very sharp (popping hairs). I had a nice bevel/edge when looking in the microscope.

Unfortunately, experiencing stropping, I think that I screwed up my edge/bevel? on one side of the razor :(. Looking in the microscope, I can see a good edge at the end of the razor (Toe ?) but not much of an edge (bevel) on the other side (Heel). - I also see a small nick in the blade edge.

DO I need to reset the bevel ? Or can I restore the edge just with pasted strop / Naniwa 12000 ? I am also trying to decide if it is something I can try myself or if I should send it back to Lynn (At some point I will have to jump in anyway because I cannot send my razor back every 2 weeks :))

Thanks for your advice / experience.
Yves

Any chance you could get a clear picture of the edge for us? It really depends on how uneven the bevel is, and how big the nick might be.

Thanks

On a picture you cannot see anything. Looks good when I look at it, looks like when I received it. Only under 20X micriscope do you see anything.

When I say nick, you cannot see like that. It is very small (smaller than the edge bevel) and you can only see it under 20X microscope.

Thanks
Yves

QUOTE=Lynn;15566]What I always try to look for through the microscope is to see if the edge is even in distribution across the razor. Next I want to make sure that the striations are tight and in most cases they do look darker through the microscope. I also try to make sure no shading up toward the edge and no micro chips near the edge. These usually indicate overhoning and the chips indicate that even if the razor is shaving sharp, it usually won't be as comfy as it should be. I don't try to compare my feather because even though the feather is a super shaver, I find it less for giving and a totally different experience than my regular straight razors. Keep us posted on your progress. Lynn[/QUOTE]

Just found this post from Lynn. I think it is what I have a micro chip near the edge. Could it be that I have over stropped that part ? (I don't remember hitting the razor)

Yves

You have two simple options for sure. PM Utopian and ask him to rehone it ( usually for free ) or send it back to Lynn for a rehone. Problem solved..... Jerry

From your description, believe it can be honed out within a few strokes on a high grit hone.
However bear in mind chips do develop on a razor's edge during normal usage, sometimes after a single use, but good stropping will restore the edge well enough to shave comfortably.

As you are new to straight shaving and stropping, don't expect to be an expert over night... even the best of us make mistakes while stropping so don't sweat it.

And don't worry about honing it your self just yet, give your self some time to get to know your razor and improve your stropping technique first.

For now, send it back to be honed.

Yves,

With full hollowed razors and a tough beard, it is possible to cause micro-chips on the edge if you shave with the spine too far from your face.

I have done this :(

Best regards

Russ

It says on the SRD website that, "You will receive a certificate good for your first Re-honing of the razor. Free of Charge." If you have that available to you, I'd use it.
Kent

Thanks to all of you.

This forum and you guys are great. I got so much imformation / help from you. There is no way that without this forum and its members I could have even started str8 shaving (even DE shaving which I do now very well). Thanks again.

I am not to concerned with the micro chip. I am more concerned about my edge that is now uneven. Still sharp at the toe but pretty dull at the heel. Doesn't shave well anymore and I can see why when I look through the microscope.

I will follow your advice and send it back to Lynn (Yes I have a re-honing certificate, I was just considering having a try at honing myself and also trying to avoid loosing my razor for a week or so:))

I will send it back and buy a pasted strop from SRD and focus my energy/budget on stropping/shaving for now. I will then try to keep a good edge with stropping (pasted strop + leather) for a while (hopefully longer than 2 weeks this time :confused:).

Then I will have a good reference and next time my razor is dull, I guess I will have to take the plunge.

Thanks again to all of you. Very helpful to me. I wish I can return the favor someday (actually I might post some experience about AS in the corresponding section).

Yves