Thread: Nicked my blade

Hello SRP members. Yesterday I nicked my blade on the faucet while shaving and got two nick/dents on towards the toe of the cutting edge. I figured a honing would get it back into shape.

I was thinking of taking it to a local barber who uses straights to try and get it fixed. Has anyone else taken there razor to a local barber? I am somewhat cautious of doing this. I know having someone do it from the SRP forums would be a safe bet, but figured taking it somewhere here in Tallahassee would be a lot quicker. I only have my one razor so getting it done ASAP is a priority... I just don't want to take it to someone who doesn't know how to do it properly...

Thanks,

-amt

Could you post pics of the damage?
I would avoid barbers for two reasons:
1) Most barbers have not touched a true straight for a good number of years and while they did hone them regularly and used them daily, they are not in regular use today.
2) Many barbers did not take edges to the level that we do on a daily basis. While they had access to coticules and eschers they did not have the dedication to compare and contrast edges from all over the world thus reaching the epitome of razor sharpness. besides they didn't have Lynn or Glen when learning.

While this isn't going to be the case for every barber, I would not want to be the person to test their edges.
There are a couple of good members in Florida and maybe they will pipe up to help you out; if not I would definitely use a know honer especially at the early junction you are currently at.

This is a picture of it:

Ya, that's not too bad. Any good honer could remove those from what I can see.

Yup, what deighaingeal said.

I got in the habit of keeping a folded hand towel on top of the sink area so I could lay the razor down when I had to. When I heard about one member sending a costly custom off the counter and onto the tile floor, I cringed.

Some people keep a sponge or washcloth on the counter also - for wiping off cranky lather. This is to avoid just what you described.

Its a learning experience, and those nicks aren't bad. Having to shorten or trash a blade is bad with a capital 'B'.

Sounds good. Thanks for the advice.

Pinky - thanks for the sponge/towel tip... will definitely use it in the future.

-amt

That will hone out easy enough. Use the sponge/towel trick, it will save on heartache.

I take it that you don't have the equipment or experience to hone it yourself? (not a dig, just a question)
Plus, you didn't say whether the barber was going to charge you for the honing....

Personally, I'd give the barber a chance first (especially if he's an old timer), you may be pleasantly surprised. Remember, not all competent honers are SRP members. And if the edge isn't up to par you're not any further behind, so go ahead and seek out an SRP member as a backup plan. Let us know how it goes.....

I almost always have 3 towels out while shaving... 1 hand towel for laying the razor on, if I need to, one hand towel draped over my shoulder (because it's nice to have handy even though I never use it until I'm totally done), and one so I'm no shining my bare bum and unnecessarily exposing delicate features to possible hazards of dropped razors

During the shave I just wipe the lather on my palm, and rinse my hands between passes. I'm not thinking I'm making a huge impact, but trying to use as little water as possible is appealing. Plus, I don't introduce my razors to many faucets that way

Just like me! I have three towels too: one to sop up the blood, a long one that I use as a tourniquet and a small one to wipe the blood of the blade.

Kidding aside, I'm just starting to wipe the lather from the blade with my finger and shaking it in the sink - I picked up this tidbit while watching some woman shave her legs with a straight and it has worked well for me. I used to have running water and rinsed it as needed. The sponge thing didn't work for me and in no time at all was a shredded mess. I didn't think it would be good for the blade either so I discontinued that particular method. I have a shelf where I lay down the razor while I lather.

As far as the original blade, Glen removed worse from my very first razor. The local barbers I have access to use shavettes (we're talking NYC.) The last one to use a straight on me was an old man that smelled of cigarettes and old spice on 13th Ave in Brooklyn, but last time I drove by the shop was gone. If you have an old timer he may do right by you; even a youngun may do right... just look at what he's using to shave others!