Thread: pitting on bevel

I recently acquired a 20x jeweler's loupe with which to view the magnified edge of my razors and found that one of them has some pitting along the middle one inch or so of the bevel. Additionally, I can see what I will call micro chips along that portion of the edge where I've previously honed out some of the pits. This will account for the slight pulling I sometimes experience from that part of the edge.

I've learned to avoid most of the pulling by using the toe or heel of the edge to shave my chin. It doesn't seem to bother me elsewhere on my face.

So, what are my options? I would like to avoid removing a lot of metal, if possible. Is there some relatively simple way of killiing the rust without removing a lot of metal?

Pitting is a really bad sign, especially when it has pitted along the shaving edge.

The edge can be very difficult to maintain. Cutting back and cutting back will eventually reduce the feel of the razor. Pits in the edge are dangerous.

Pits will hold water and tend to continue rusting unless you dry the blade with extra caution and cover in oil after every shave. Even then, you can trap water in the pit under the oil.

I could go on and on. But basically a pitted razors is on its last legs and is not a pleasure to own.

You are best to steer away from them if possible. Sorry for this bad news.

Yes, pitting and rust is really cancer for metal. if left alone it will only get worse.If you are going to use the razor for shaving you really have no choice but to hone it out.

If they are too deep the edge will chip as you hone through the pits. If the pits are numerous in the area of the edge it may be a futile effort. Depends on the severity of the pitting.

I would "breadknife" it to get back to sound metal, then tape the spine and hone it to minimise wear on the spine, then take the tape off and finish honing. Takes a bit of doing though, and some experience is called for.

Regards,
Neil.

It will take a lot of honing to get rid of the bad metal, but it can be done, depends on how much blade is left after it quits crumbling, to determine if its still usable. I have saved a number of razors this way.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I would "breadknife" it to get back to sound metal, then tape the spine and hone it to minimise wear on the spine, then take the tape off and finish honing. Takes a bit of doing though, and some experience is called for.

Regards,
Neil.

+1 on that, you need to get medieavalwith it (but leave the tape on to hone it.) If it's just pitting the hone will take care of it but if you have got black worm extending from the pit - bin it.

When there is a lot of pitting on the edge, you really have spider veins of rust in there that usually will not stop. You can do what you can to get out the visible pits only to find more and more and more as you go. Alot of times you can actually see little black lines running all around these unless the razor has been polished and all that is visible is the pitting. A small area or a couple of pits can be repaired, but if extensive or across much of the edge, tis painful, but that razor is in the trash. Hate when that happens.........

Lynn