Thread: Muting the tip.

I have a razor that has a tendency to cause nicks with it's square tip. None of my other square tip razors do. So, I thought I'd mute the tip. What's the technique for doing that? Do I just hone it off? Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by GeauxLSU

I have a razor that has a tendency to cause nicks with it's square tip. None of my other square tip razors do. So, I thought I'd mute the tip. What's the technique for doing that? Do I just hone it off? Thanks in advance.

keep it 45 degree angle and make small angle in the tip of the blade. hope this helps.

Put the blade on the side of a hone (so that you don't scratch the hone) and lift the heel so that only the tip is touching. Do 5 to 10 light circles on each side and you should be done.

The guys posting before are WAY more experienced than I & I take no issue at all with their solution. The only possible exception being some valuable old blades where you don't want to irrevocably alter the profile. Should you ever sell the blade, changing the toe profile eliminates the buyer who want the original form, or make use of the fine point to do precise work.

Lower level of protection - mute the end with no profile change. Run the last 1/32" over the rim of a drinking glass so it will not cut arm hair for that length. This won't protect you from a ham-handed touch-down, but will give early warning before diving. You can feel it before it cuts. This preserves the profile and functionality either yourself, as skill increase, or for those that might want to buy.

After that - profile change would be needed.

this pics may help better then my words.

Exactly as mentioned above, you have heard from a couple of the best.

If you are still uncomfortable doing it, you can send it to me and I will do it for you.

It doesn't take much at all as the steel there is very thin. If you do it, just start small until you get it to where you want it...

My approach is much less drastic, but in my opinion still manages to take the bite out of a spike.

I've done it to one that had an argument with my ear lobe and came out victorious. For me, it was not so much a matter of making it dull as making it not quite so sharp.

After blunting the tip, you shouldn't be able to notice any difference in the tip appearance. That is how small the area is that is being dulled.

The way I test is to drag the tip across the palm of my hand at the same angle shown in the picture above. (Of course, I start testing gingerly and carefully.) If it feels safe, and smooth, and there is no hint of cutting, it is fine.

I would use a method similar to Utopians. You just need the slightest rounding, so it should not alter the appearence/geometry of the razor at all. Either a few light heal up circles per side or an X/rolling X that lifts more than you should to get the same effect.

Larry, I would not have the guts to try your blunt-testing method. Maybe with my thumb pad as a normal TPT style, but not dragging across my palm.