Comes now the grasshopper seeking wisdom

I recently got a new Hart Steel razor which has been a joy to shave with. I have been recently smitten with the dreaded HAD, and am awaiting a new Jnat, so in anticipation of that use, I have been led to compare edges of the Hart vs. some of my other favorites. I used a 30x loupe this A.M. to look at the Hart and then a Maestro Livi that I love, but it is not quite as smooth as the Hart. Lo and behold, I find that the Livi, which I have been using in rotation for about a year, has a few very small chips in the bevel near the toe. These are not noticeable to the naked eye, but are at 30x.

The blade on the Livi is Bergamo damascus (in case that is an issue). Would I need to take the blade back to the 1000 grit stone to reset the bevel, or should I start at 4-5k? Thoughts?

It might not be necessary but I'm a great believer in removing variables so I would go back to 1000 and start over.

I should probably add that I have not touched either of these razors to a stone. I have only refreshed the Livi on the back of a leather strop pasted with CROx.

I would go back no further than I had to and would start at 4K to preserve steel, especially if it is Damascus. You can always go back to 1K. If you find that 4K doesn't work, then go to 1K. It is important to remember that you don't shave under 30X, and sometimes a blade can look pretty rough at 30X and still shave fine. I chipped a blade on the faucet months ago and completed the shave with it without an issue. I personally use only a 10X loupe and have gotten great shaves with blades that had micro-chipping apparent at 10X.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ace

I would go back no further than I had to and would start at 4K to preserve steel, especially if it is Damascus. You can always go back to 1K. If you find that 4K doesn't work, then go to 1K. It is important to remember that you don't shave under 30X, and sometimes a blade can look pretty rough at 30X and still shave fine. I chipped a blade on the faucet months ago and completed the shave with it without an issue. I personally use only a 10X loupe and have gotten great shaves with blades that had micro-chipping apparent at 10X.

---

Good answer! I have no complaints about the quality of shave, but think it could be stepped up just a bit. I may try some additional polishing before I go down to a sharpening process.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DBurnette

I should probably add that I have not touched either of these razors to a stone. I have only refreshed the Livi on the back of a leather strop pasted with CROx.

---

If the Livi has been shaving well, I'm not sure I would do anything at all. I have one as well and have seen the same thing. I had to stop looking at it under 10X because it was still shaving nicely.

I concur with Jeltz, you have been shaving with it a while & a bevel-set would be my first option.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DBurnette

I should probably add that I have not touched either of these razors to a stone. I have only refreshed the Livi on the back of a leather strop pasted with CROx.

---

Crox is great, I love the edge it gives, but it will end up altering the bevel (concave or convex) and another reason I would reset the bevel. That can be done at 4k, its just a lot quicker and easier at 1k.

You have no choice but to reset the bevel if you've been shaving with it for a year with a pasted strop.

If you go back to the 1k level, I would do only a couple passes at a time, wipe the blade and check the edge.

The reason to avoid 1K unless absolutely necessary is that "Damascus steel is a terrible thing to waste".

I'll try the minimal approach with the bevel. Even though I said I've used the razor for about a year, I only use it on average a couple of times a week, and have only run it on the crox a few times. My point was that I have not done much to effect the bevel except the normal before shave leather stropping.

At my age, I'm unlikely to waste much of the precious steel, my bigger fear is that when I can no longer find my way to the bathroom sink, my wife will likely sell all my coveted straights at a garage sale for a quarter each. But I can't possibly tell her what they're worth! Now, about the rocks....