Thread: newbie: microscopic chip

Originally Posted by schatz

I used the 4k side with a piece of masking tape (is scotch tape better?) starting with circles and ending with normal honing. At various intervals I checked the 100power scope for my progress. Worked like a charm. Thanks so much.

A previous post asked if I was sure the cuts were from my razor and not from my technique. As I have been using a se for only about 2 weeks, I certainly do not have the history to be sure of this issue. I'll defer to the better judgement of your collective experience if you guys think a microchip is not capable of causing cuts. In any event, the cuts were very minor and part of my learning curve. As an aside, Moma bear had sent me a healing stick with my last soap order which works quite well.

Let me conclude with another related newbie question. The last reply said to work up a slurry. Isn't the slurry the result of the honing. If not, how does one work up the slurry before the honing is initiated?

A light slurry is, in fact, the result of honing. A heavier slurry to start with will just cut a bit faster, lessening the amount of time it takes to work the nick out. The best way I've found to build the slurry is to use a nagura stone ($6.95 from Lee Valley Tools). And yes, IMO, scotch tape is much better than masking tape. It's plastic, as opposed to the paper masking tape. It clogs your stone less, and is easier to wash off. Plus in 1 or 2 layers, it's much thinner, so you change your honing angle less, while still protecting the spine from excess wear. You can actually use electrical tape, which is great for really heavy work. It takes forever to wear through on the stone, but puts lots of black crap on your stone you'll need to clean off. With the slurry (for the heavy work only, like removing nicks and chips) the black stuff doesn't really embed in the stone, and is very easy to clean off.

That is a very small nick. If it is not causing you irritation while shaving then just ignore it. If you must get rid of it then go back to the 4K stone and hone it out. I avoid using the circular honing stroke unless it is a larger nick.

Just my two cents,

Originally Posted by Joe Chandler

I'd probably work up a slurry on the 4k to get a nick out. Tape the spine w/2 layers of scotch tape.

THis chip is only 15% of the bevel (.004"). I don't think you really need to tape for one this small. In fact, you may even save some material because you don't need to correect the bevel angles.