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  1. #1
    50 year str. shaver mrsell63's Avatar
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    Question Honing - TRUE or FALSE

    I have noticed that some razors after having been stored for a year or two seem to have microchips on the edge. However, it seems that the better quality blades have fewer microchips than the less expensive blades.

    It would seem to make sense that the lesser quality blade edges would deteriorate more readily than top quality blades.

    Whenever I detect a microchip, I wonder if I should have bought the blade in the first place. I never hone a blade without first checking for microchips.

    Anyone have similar feelings or opinions regarding microchips?
    JERRY
    OOOPS! Pass the styptic please.

  2. #2
    The original Skolor and Gentileman. gugi's Avatar
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    if i see a microchip on a razor i've honed 3 years ago i'd probably attribute it on me being a 'neophite'

    i haven't really looked, but the first thing that comes to my mind is 'resting the razor'

  3. #3
    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
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    Have the razors been stored freshly honed or have they had use.? Microchips will happen over time with use.
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

  4. #4
    50 year str. shaver mrsell63's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gugi View Post
    if i see a microchip on a razor i've honed 3 years ago i'd probably attribute it on me being a 'neophite'

    i haven't really looked, but the first thing that comes to my mind is 'resting the razor'
    __________________________________________

    It seems that you are not grasping the concept of my thread. I am trying to elicit opinions as to the origin and/or cause of microchips in razors that have been idle for some length of time. Years or more.....

    Micropchipping is a phenoenon that does take place for whatever the reason and I would like to understand exactly why it happens. I put all my razors in temporary storage coated with Camelia Oil in a cabinet along with several large bags of silica gel. Upon removing some razors from storage, I occasionally find one with microchipping and am at a loss to know why it happens.

    I'm sure someone else will have some suggestions regarding this problem.
    Thanks in advance to anyone who might respond to this query.
    And does the quality of the razor have something to do with it?
    Last edited by mrsell63; 03-11-2011 at 08:24 AM.
    JERRY
    OOOPS! Pass the styptic please.

  5. #5
    Senior Member blabbermouth hi_bud_gl's Avatar
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    Jerry i haven't notice microchipping yet but i think i had couple blades got dull. After a good stropping with dovo white paste on linen side and lather edge come back again.
    As someone already mention it could happen you shave with the blade and microchipping formed before you put away the blade? you just didn't check the edge.
    when you pick up after couple years you first what you do? you check the edge and find out there is microchipping.this is just my guess.

  6. #6
    Master of insanity Scipio's Avatar
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    I had a blade once before I knew how to hone. It was an older W&B and a very nice looking one. I sent it to a pro to have honed and he told me some shocking news. He described it as 'black worms' which had formed at the edge, visible only under high magnification. This is basically where the steel has turned very bad and about 1/8'' of the edge would have to be taken off which I decided not to have done. I was told it may take a week, or it may take years, but it would simply microchip - the steel would simply crumble.

    Surely enough, a month later I had a great shave. I was stropping after and noticed a shallow white scratch in the leather. That was it, he was right.

    Anyway, I dont know how relevant this is, but this is my only experience of a micro chip that wasn't my fault. I left it for a couple of months and upon next inspection found 2 or 3 more.

  7. #7
    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
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    Scipio, I wonder if these are the black worms ? This kind of rust can travel unseen beneath the steel but we are assuming mrsell63's razors have no corrosion issues.
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    Last edited by onimaru55; 03-11-2011 at 10:39 AM.
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

  8. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to onimaru55 For This Useful Post:

    mrsell63 (03-11-2011), Scipio (03-11-2011)

  9. #8
    They call me Mr Bear. Stubear's Avatar
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    I've not had any of my blades microchip but they do go a bit dull if you dont use them for ages.

    I used my Edelweisse the other day after I hadnt used it for about 6 months or so and it had dulled so that'll need rehoning.

  10. #9
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
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    I'm with those who think it was caused by shaving and being put away without the microchips being noticed at the time. FWIW, I bought an FWE from a barbers son a couple of years ago. His father had retired in 1980 and the seller was an old man, his father long dead. He had decided to sell off the father's kit. That razor hadn't been honed since before the old man retired almost thirty years before and was as sharp as any I've shaved with following a linen/leather stropping.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  11. #10
    Senior Member MaritimeFanatic's Avatar
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    Could the micro chips possibly from light corrosion from sitting so long?

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