Thread: Scale strike . . . what's your play?

You're closing a now-shave ready straight, but fail to notice slight scale warping. Your freshly-honed edge strikes the scale. What's your play?

Swear a few times and put it aside to try to unwarp the scales and hit the barber's hone before it's shaved with agaion

What are the scales made of?
M

Definitely depends how hard you nicked it, too. If it's gently enough so as to not leave a visible mark on either the blade or the scales, I personally wouldn't worry about it too much. A tiny dulled area in the edge of an otherwise sharp blade isn't likely to cause discomfort while shaving - especially if stropped well.

After having the same thing happen to me once or twice, I now make sure to guide the blade closed on every razor, every time.

Originally Posted by northpaw

After having the same thing happen to me once or twice, I now make sure to guide the blade closed on every razor, every time.

+1
Especially on older razors whose pivot can be too large.

Originally Posted by Kingfish

What are the scales made of?
M

Plastic scales.

Not a big whack or anything, but just contact after closing it fairly slowly. Just didn't know of stropping would take care of it, or if going to a hone (Barber's or Nani 12k) was the standard call.

First i'd heat the scales with a hair dryer, straighten them , then plunge into cold water to resolve the issue that caused the problem.
Once that was done i'd strop well & shave test it. It may be fine.
If not i'd run it over a finishing hone, your choice, barbers, coticule, thuringian, whatever.
It shouldn't have done much damage & may be fine.

Originally Posted by Basset

Plastic scales.

Not a big whack or anything, but just contact after closing it fairly slowly. Just didn't know of stropping would take care of it, or if going to a hone (Barber's or Nani 12k) was the standard call.

Hmmmmm Sounds like an excuse to go hone shopping to me....

Come on admit it you, were hoping we all said get out the hone huh????

This has happened to me once and I really couldn't tell the difference. I didn't whack it perse but it definitely dug into the scales.