Broken Hart

I'm pretty upset with my hart steel razor right now. When i got it i noticed the bevel was pretty uneven. Almost like a double hour glass. I didn't think much of it since it shaved ok. But then i tried to hone it, and that's where the problems started. No matter what i couldn't get it even. And today when i shaved with it, it chipped. I didn't hit it on anything, it just chipped on my whiskers.

Now I'm left extremely frustrated with an uneven bevel that's really wide and I'm questioning my investment in it. I'd expect if i paid $300 dollars for something they'd at last make sure the bevel was even. Idk...I'm probably just overreacting.

I have had mine for well over a year now and shaved with it just the other day. I got a perfect shave, but only after hours and hours of work to even out the spine to achieve a somewhat even bevel. Atrer many settings with the hones I finally have a razor I can use. I contacted the manufacturer and got no reply. Everyone seems enamored with them but my razor looked like it was sold in a far from completed state.

So should i send it out? I feel like I'm doing more harm by doing it myself.

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Originally Posted by 25609289

I have had mine for well over a year now and shaved with it just the other day. I got a perfect shave, but only after hours and hours of work to even out the spine to achieve a somewhat even bevel. Atrer many settings with the hones I finally have a razor I can use. I contacted the manufacturer and got no reply. Everyone seems enamored with them but my razor looked like it was sold in a far from completed state.

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Just out of curiosity, what are the initials on your razor?

Oh my!

This is interesting because it really reflects none of the experiences I have had. I have 2 Harts and had only a tiny problem with one (the pivot would loosen constantly). I found them very responsive.

I'm not trying to be a fan boy, or rub anything in. I just want to subscribe to this thread so I can see how it works out.

I have never heard of any blade of any sort chip on some ones face. I would certainly recommend contacting the maker. They have greatest ability to help you (all I can do is offer suggestions and hunches).

Good luck.

Never thought hart razors were worth the price,nada more to say JMO

My best advice would be to find someone who's got a good reputation in the forums as knowledgeable and able to hone. Send them the razor, and ask them to evaluate it for you. Since you tried to hone it, I doubt Hart will take it back. I'm not real sure what to say about the notion that it chipped on your whiskers. It could be that I just don't know about it, or it could be that at my current level, I think it's impossible. :p I mean you could also send it back to Hart and have them look it over again. They are the most invested in keeping you happy after all. I really don't think they're gonna blow you off unless you really come at them like some kind of petulant child. Once again, could be wrong I suppose. I'm not making any assumptions about anyone else who says they had a problem with Hart. It's just hard to imagine that they'd deliberately ignore anyone...Bad for business.

Just out of curiosity did you use tape when you honed the blade?
Eric

First thing I would do is contact Hart, or the vendor that sold the razor to you. My guess is, given a fair chance, they would prefer a satisfied customer.

I still can't get past the butt ugly scales. I mean, really, can't they give them some curves?

I've had it for over a month and it's used so i doubt hart or classic shaving can do anything about. it even says on hart's website.

Well the worst thing that can happen is they tell you no. The best thing to happen is they find out there really is a problem with your razor that you couldn't have caused. And provide the service for free as a result. But it's your money man. If you don't want to at least try to get satisfaction from the vendor, then pay someone else to do it I guess.

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Originally Posted by regularjoe

Well the worst thing that can happen is they tell you no. The best thing to happen is they find out there really is a problem with your razor that you couldn't have caused. And provide the service for free as a result. But it's your money man. If you don't want to at least try to get satisfaction from the vendor, then pay someone else to do it I guess.

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Good point. Do you think I should contract the vendor (classic shaving) out hart steel directly?

I'd talk to the vendor first. If they don't give you any help, then you go to Hart. The other worst case scenario is you have to pay for a rehone. Which isn't really a total loss.

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I still can't get past the butt ugly scales. I mean, really, can't they give them some curves?

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And I wanted to take this opportunity to vote this as the most helpful post of the thread. :rofl2:

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Originally Posted by regularjoe

I'd talk to the vendor first. If they don't give you any help, then you go to Hart. The other worst case scenario is you have to pay for a rehone. Which isn't really a total loss.

And I wanted to take this opportunity to vote this as the most helpful post of the thread. :rofl2:

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Thanks, that's the homebrew talkin'

A month ain't that long for something to develop. OTOH, you've honed it yourself so that may make it impossible for them to take it back, but you won't lose anything by trying and they might offer to hone it for free. I only have one Hart and no complaints after 6 months or so. I do agree that the scales are ugly though. Matter of taste I guess. Someone probably likes them fine. :shrug:

I'd take Jimmy's advice. If Hart is unable to help you, then it's worth shipping to one of the guys here that do restoration/honing & have them evaluate it.

I would definitely contact Hart and give them a fair chance to sort your problem out. That said I am sure that if I paid that kind of money for an artisan built razor and it arrived with the kind of bevel you described it would have been immediately returned without use. I hope you are able to resolve this issue with Hart to your satisfaction as they have gained an almost cult like reputation in the quality of their product and likely wish to maintain it.

Bob

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Originally Posted by Estesnoah

Good point. Do you think I should contract the vendor (classic shaving) out hart steel directly?

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Classic owns Hart. Either should work.

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Originally Posted by Estesnoah

But then i tried to hone it, and that's where the problems started. No matter what i couldn't get it even. And today when i shaved with it, it chipped. I didn't hit it on anything, it just chipped on my whiskers.

Now I'm left extremely frustrated with an uneven bevel that's really wide

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An uneven bevel isn't that uncommon. It can be from a warped blade, but probably more from an uneven grind. As long as the bevel is set across the edge some unevenness shouldn't be a problem, except for the aesthetics.

It kind of sounds like you may have mis-honed it a bit. If the bevel got really wide, as you describe, it sounds like you may have used a little too much pressure, or honed without tape, which I think should be used when learning, and put some excessive wear on the spine. Either could account for a wider bevel which also equates to a thinner/wider edge which can get very fragile, especially with harder steels.

A picture of the blade would be helpful.

Here's a link to a thread discussing over honing, or better called mis-honing, as Glen calls it. He explains it pretty well in the thread. http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...e-too-far.html

:gl:

Howard :)

classic owns hart? that is very interesting,never knew that.

I bought a Hart about a month ago. The only problem that I had with it is that it did not come as shave ready as what I would have liked. The only razors I have as a standard to hold it to are Lynn's and it wasn't near as sharp. It took me a little time on the stone but I finally got an even bevel and it shaves like a dream. Really like the balance of the blade and the feel in my hand. I agree about the scales though. Overall I am glad I have one in my collection.

I own 7 and never had any problems with any of then this is just me everyone idea of shave ready seem to differ.

Another thing I have learned about the Hart I have is that it doesnt respind to the testing very well. Mine barely passed the tpt and hht and did not treetop hairs as well as other razors I have honed. When it came down to shaving though.it is every bit as good or better than any other razor in my collection. I have noticed this with a couple of other razors as well. Certain razors just test differently.