Thread: Scales snapped... almost took off a toe

My new razor that I got just over a week ago from straight razor designs had a major malfunction after my shave today (my second ever). I had just completed my shave, stropped the razor, and was just folding it to put it away and then *crack* the end of the scales just split and the razor dropped down onto my foot, luckily not on the sharp side... I either got a defective product, did something horribly wrong, or the universe doesn't want me shaving with a straight razor! I'm going to contact SRD but I have included a picture here in case anyone else has experienced this or is interested.

EDIT: Heard back from SRD and they're going to re-scale it for me. Have not figured out what the problem was, but possibly a combination of bad acrylic, pressure on the scales when stropping, and a stiff pivot.

I'm sorry to hear about your bad luck! But at least you had some good luck and avoided having to post pics of a dismembered tootsie on the "Cut Of The Day" thread!

Indeed! It's too bad, I was feeling great since I didn't cut myself this time..

I think I'd be more grateful (at least initially) that I didn't cut my foot off than I would be upset that my razor broke. After that, I guess I would be pretty dismayed that it did!

No offence but gotta ask. How heavy were you stropping ?

Wow, knowing you are ok - that's almost hilarious!! I doubt many can say that's happened to them before!!

It's not a sign. Stuff happens. Glad you are ok.

Bummer about your new blade though! Custom scales??

Originally Posted by onimaru55

No offence but gotta ask. How heavy were you stropping ?

Hey Onimaru, no offense taken! I watched all the stropping videos people here suggested and I don't think I'm stropping very hard. I have Lynn's DVD as well. I'm just letting the razor rest on the strop basically, making sure I don't get much sag to ensure I don't press too hard. I guess I really have no experience for comparison but I don't feel that I'm putting much pressure.

Originally Posted by earcutter

Wow, knowing you are ok - that's almost hilarious!! I doubt many can say that's happened to them before!!

It's not a sign. Stuff happens. Glad you are ok.

Bummer about your new blade though! Custom scales??

I was really surprised when it happened, definitely not something I expected! Scales are the standard ones that came with the blade. I'm gonna take the blade into work tomorrow and have a look under the microscope to see if it cracked or chipped from the fall.. hopefully I can just get the scales replaced.

Originally Posted by djlewis

I was really surprised when it happened, definitely not something I expected! Scales are the standard ones that came with the blade. I'm gonna take the blade into work tomorrow and have a look under the microscope to see if it cracked or chipped from the fall.. hopefully I can just get the scales replaced.

Seriously - i am glad you are ok. That does sound a bit freaky. Though you may not know it, re-scaling a blade is easy. Doing a good job of it is an art. Note to that you'll more than likely need to have it re-honed as well though.

I had a pair snap at the pivot during the shave but it was old bakelite that I had repinned. Brittle stuff.
Only thing I can think of is if you got some alcohol or AS on the scales & they were heat polished acrylic. I don't know what materials Dovo uses.