-Faulty Fillie-Keep at it or give it up?

I have a fillie #13 Inox. I got it in a lot and it wasn't at Fillie prices, so I thought I got lucky. I was wrong.

The blade had a small chip in it, near the center. No big deal, small chips can be honed out. Then I noticed that for a length of about 1/4 inche cenetered around the chip, the edge was kind of jagged and broken...kind of like a meteor crater: Hole in the middle, rubble around the outside.

So anyway, I taped the spine and hit the 400 diamond plate. Before too long, the chip was gone...but the jagged, broken part wasnt.

Weird, right? So I gave it a few more passes, and the bevel was STILL broken there. I checked under magnification, and it was completely borked at that spot.

Back to the hones...and it just continued. I ran into Lynn in chat, got some honing advice, and tried it. I got the edge th where it wasn't too bad, thinking I had beat it, when I checked under the scope again--this time, I held the razor at a lot of different angles...and there it was. Around that spot with the crumbling edge, the steel was all speckled and sparkly--like it was breaking off roughly instead of wearing smoothly on the hone. Behond that spot, on the surface of the blade, it's all scratched form the steel bits coming loose and going crazy in the water.

A defective blade.
So I figured, I have two choices--pitch it, or hone past it. I chose hone past it. So all day, I7ve been honing at that razor. The spot has gotten smaller--it's down to about 1/8 an inch now, but it's still there. It's weak enough that when I press the bevel with my thumbnail, the steel just pops out like a cookie cutter. I've taken at least 1/8 off the blade so far...

So should I keep at it? Is it worth it? Do you think I'll get past it?

If it's a case of chuck it, or drastic honing, i'd hone. Don't get frustrated. You got it for a good price so you've got little to lose but time. Get it done!

I would look at it as a challenge, and hone. It will feel extra good when you get to shave with it :)

Good luck.

I realize that having a beer and eating some chips sounds good right now, after having been at it all day long, and you will most likely be :aargh: at this stage but:
Never surrender!! You'll get past it eventually and will have a very unique (read: slim) Fillie and one with which you have a strong bond!
Keep us posted. Once you are done with it, i'll toast to it down here on my little island..

Keep honing. What do you have to loose? You can't use it as it is and your not going to sell it as it is.

I've had some that would get chipped a bit by the diamond plate and that being a 1200. Are you still on the 400 ? Maybe switching to a gentler abrasive ? When I run into chipping with the DMT 1200 I would go to the Shapton 1k pro and that would solve the problem. Dunno in this situation. :gl:

I say cut it down to make a coochie razor, sell it, and put the money towards another razor.

Thanks guys...yeah, I guess there's no real choice.

Jimmy, I remembered you posting something about that before so I tried it on both the Diamond and my Naniwa 1K--there's no doubt, the blade is defective at that one point. Maybe bad tempering? :shrug:

But I'm feeling encouraged, after a few more breadknifes/bevels, I'm seeing the spot shrinking...I think there should still be something left of the blade when I'm done!

Jim what about trying to return it? If that's not an option I'd sure keep going until I beat that challenge!!!
I would think since it's defective whoever you got it from should replace it if you got it retail of course.

I say hone it Jim! You will get it I am sure.

Well guys, I got past the defect. took between 1 and 2mm off the blade...not a huge change, but noticeable.

Problem is...the bevel is falling apart on me now. Took me AGES to get one set, then when I got to the 5K, chips started appearing. :banghead::banghead::banghead:

Y'know Jim looking at the original trouble spot I wondered if some fool didn't take that blade and cut something like a piece of electrical wire at that spot.

My thinking being that the force applied to the one area could have accounted for the chip and the 'falling apart' of the surrounding area with the hardened steel being sort of shattered on a micro level in that spot.

As far as the bevel, maybe do light circles on the 5k and see if you can get past the chipping ?

Jim where did that razor come from if you don't mind my asking?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gunner777

Jim where did that razor come from if you don't mind my asking?

---

I got it in a lot off an auction site. There were 9 razors in all, 3 of them fillies. It was not expensive, and I can't return it...so it's more a matter of frustration, than expense.

Jim That's good I'm glad your not out the usual money for one. Man it sounds like somebody really whacked it hard in that spot to make it that brittle.
I'd only try so long before I'd call it done since it seems to be as brittle as when you started. That has to be very frustrating!!!!

OK, So let's keep tabs on this baby.

I'll be posting step by step updates for the rehoning process, please take a look and see if you notice anything I'm doing wrong and and advice you might have to make it go smoothly.

I took it back down to the Naniwa 1K. Smooth, even strokes, slow and careful. Constant checking under the scope for new chips. Marker test to make sure I'm hitting the bevel evenly. I was careful to rotate the hone and wash it well every 20 laps. I gave a total of 200 laps (there was a LOT of chipping...)
The results? I have now got a smooth, unbroken bevel across the whole length of the razor, it shaves arm hair easily at every point. Under 100x magnification, I can see no chips, irregularities or signs of weakness.

Next step, up to the 2K to smooth the bevel and gap the jump to the 5K.

Jim I haven't heard anything in a little bit how the razor coming along?

Jim,

While this is frustrating, just imagine the satisfaction you will get when you get that baby just right. Let us know how it's going. :gl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gunner777

Jim I haven't heard anything in a little bit how the razor coming along?

---

I'm taking it slow--I had a little residual chipping show up on the 2K, so I went back down to 1K...no progress yet.

Jim,

I had a WapiII that was like that; it looked like the blade had been over-heated.
I would get the edge sorted, shave with it and further edge chips would start appearing - repeat x 5 !; in the end I retired it :(

Best regards

Russ