Thread: Nicked blades

New to a straight razor and have a question. I have two razors that I have been extremely careful with but they both have a small nick on the edge. Can a rough beard cause nicks in the blade? If I'm not knocking it against anything, what can cause the small nicks? Thanks.

Phil

Anything can happen but small rust pits in the edge will break off as small semicircular chips.
You shouldn't see them easily unless thre rust is prominent tho.

Hi and welcome to the club! By that, I mean the "club" of classical shavers and the "club" of those who have chipped blades! We all, at least most of us, have done it. To answer your question, no, a beard will not nick an edge. What has likely happened is that in rinsing the razor under a faucet, you've inadvertently nicked the edge, and/or in stropping, you may have "rolled" it over and hit a piece of hardware on the strop. Also check how the razors close into the scales, ensure that the blade is centering well and not grabbing the edge of the scales. At any rate, you'll need to hone those nicks out, or better, have them honed out by a pro, so that yo don't scratch your face and your strop. Good Luck, it's all part of the learning curve in straight razor shaving.

I have seen some razors that can microchip from shaving. usually these are very hard and brittle steel and you need to alter the honing process a tad to minimize the tendency to microchip.

I've seen it happen after stropping a razor...FWIW

Originally Posted by Trimmy72

I've seen it happen after stropping a razor...FWIW

Under heavy pressure I would imagine ?

I check the edge after honing, and again after stropping. I've ran across it once or twice, but I don't believe from heavy stropping.
I guess I'm saying if I'm going to see chips it'll be after a honing session, then stropping.
But just general maintenance everyday stropping no I don't see chips at the edge.