Thread: A problem? A Solution?

I am leaning towards the beginning of a wire edge idea. On the other hand out of curiosity, what type of stone are you using to finish with? Do you refresh the edge with a barber hone? Is it possible that you have deposits in one? Personally, amongst my finishers, I have an old swaty that I never use because somewhere along the line something must have happened to it that it always seems gritty no matter how smooth I lap it. Also, I've heard of magnesium deposits in natural stones that change the cutting at that point.
Not trying to give an answer because I'm sure you know better than I do, just thinking.

I'm dying to know whats going on, TBS? Smarty pants MODs? anyone lol

OK the smarty pants mods can chime in now.

Just to start this off these problems can happen a few ways. When you close your razor and you hit the scales with the blade, you strike the edge against really any surface but think you did it so gently you lucked out but really didn't, normal shaving over time and of course bad honing and probably stropping too. When I said parts of the blade seem torn or folded over I didn't mean huge parts of the blade but areas less than 1mm in length and extending into the edge so shallow it needs at least 30x or so to really see it.

I'm intrigued....because this is EXACTLY what is happening to me right now, and I found this thread while searching for the answer. I honed my razor nicely and it is very sharp, but upon staring at the very edge in bright light I swear I have microchips (the razor is only a year old). I gave up and re-honed from 1k up this morning and now have a beautiful edge that is hht 4. Stropped it for a shave, looked at the edge one more time, and I swear that I have microchiping again....and three very tiny (1mm) spots that look like flat broken spots on the blade. I stropped extremely lightly and KNOW that i didn't apply too much pressure or lift the spine. Still shaved nice (one of the best I've had) but I'm at a loss........so whenever someone wants to answer...... i give up!

The only thing that comes to mind is a cupped strop.

What would be great, is if one of the guys that has the 100x -300x USB microscopes could take some pics of just normal wear and tear on the edge from just plain shaving...

I think that many people would be surprised at just how much "Microscopic" damage is caused to the the very fine edge.. How that is smoothed back out each time by the Linen and Leather burnishing from the strop, before the edge starts to degrade into needing a Touch-up... I am just talking normal wear and tear here not actual edge damage from touching/dinging things....

Anyone wanna take a daily series of shots?????

I think most folks would be very surprised to know how little it takes to cause this minor damage to an edge. Not just normal shaving but handling too.