Sad F'n Day

So I went to strop my razor tonight for a much needed shave (been about 5 days) and as I go to strop from the linen to the leather a small piece of something must have gotten on the edge of the blade or the strop because with the first pass, a nice scratch all the way down the strop (so there goes my one strop) and then I look at the blade and a nice chip in my one usable blade. Looks like I am going to the store tomorrow to pic up some cheapo disposable razors. And as if I didnt have enough stress from classes.

Let that be a lesson for you. No one should have just one razor!

Can you hone out the chip? How bad is it?
Is the scratch so bad in the strop that you actually consider it gone?

I am sure it can be honed out if I had a hone. I have two more razors, both in the middle of restoring, but no time to finish.

Strop, I dont know enough about it to make that call, personally I think it should be...

And my back up DE razor doesnt have any blades.

Bummer, man. I know it's a ways off, but bring the strop to the MN gathering if you can make it and we'll take a look at it. What kind of strop is it?

Heck, bring the razor with too. I'm sure Randy would look at it and maybe be able to use it as a demo razor for his honing demo.

Chris L

In your other thread, which is almost identical to this one, you make it sound like you have dinged the edge on something and then scratched your strop.

Unless you were using full force when stropping, I very much doubt you have done and damage that would affect future stropping. Why don't you post pics of the strop and razor and then you'll get some sound advice.

In the time being, why not invest in some blades for your DE, which should work out cheaper than buying disposables?

Man, that sucks!

Here are some pictures, they are the best I can do as I only have my phone. Now that I look at it more it doesnt seem chipped, but as if it just got pushed to the side.

Arkady,

The strop doesn't look bad at all. In fact, from here I'd say there is no real issue with it. If they are deeper than they look in the pictures (which I doubt), a very light sand or pumice (being careful to remove any grit afterwards) may be warranted. But really, I think just rubbing it with a little dressing is all that you need. You may be surprised how scratched up and nicked a strop can be and still be perfect. I'll show you one of mine sometime.

I'd say that you have perhaps a small ding in the razor and that it probably does need honing out. You could try, if you have it, some stropping on canvas or linen first to see if that helps. But if it is just a folded over piece of edge, it has probably been weakened, so... A thumb nail test will tell you where the problem area is, but the thumb nail test does effect the edge. A jeweller's loupe is fairly cheap, and could show you where the problem is too.

But if you don't have a hone, there is not a lot you can do to fix the problem yourself, I'm sorry to say. A cheaper second razor, like a Wapi, might be a good solution into the future. I would offer to hone your razor for you for free, but I am in Australia and the shipping and time would not make it worth your trouble.

James.

My strop looks a lot worse and it still performs great. So did my best razor look this summer, but I got her in trim pretty quickly.
This is only one of the hurdles on the way to shaving Nirvana. You just reached it earlier than most. :D

X

Picture #7 or the first picture of the razor shows an obvious chip. That needs to be honed out for sure. It would be great if you could bring it to the MN meet. We'll keep you posted on it. I agree on the strop. Rub your palm back and forth briskly over the strop about 50 times. I think it will be fine.

Chris L

Well I went a head and stroped it on the canvas for a long time today and then hit the leather and shaved with it avoiding the nick, no blood, but a little irritation so over all not too bad, still will need to be honed.