Thread: New razor has a chip - suggested response?

Sad face here. As I looked over my new Ralf Aust after my second use and stropping, I noticed a very definite chip. Pic attached. Right in the area that would presumably get use in facial hollows although I haven't used it for shaving yet.

I wasn't going to do any honing with this razor for a long while as I was learning how to shave with it. But this is a pretty real nick. So ... what do you think? Ignore it while using the flat to shave or will it inevitably lead to skin catchage and blood flowage and demands immediate honing. I've got the hones and perhaps could work it so as to not involve the straight edge during repair.

Crowden

Sorry to hear about your razor. You will have to have the chip removed before trying it out I'm afraid.. If you don't it can lead to very uncomfortable shaves or even cuts depends on what type of chip it is.....

You just got it brand new, ya haven't even used it and the edge is chipped? How do u think that happend?

I wouldn't take a chance shaving with a razor with a chip in the edge as you are just asking for trouble as in razor burn, irritation at the least but depending on size of chip could end up with serious cuts and bleeding.

I just bought a nice looking Joseph Rodgers & Sons that has a small crack in the blade.........its going back to seller in the morning.

What a goof - didn't attach the pic. Here it is:

Sorry can't see any photo. So after your second attempt at shaving using the Ralph Aust razor for both attempts you have found a chip in the heal, correct? First question would be are you rinsing the razor under the tap while shaving? That can lead to a chip fairly easily with light contact to the tap.

I would go along with Joe and say you should get the razor honed to get the chip out as you really can't hone out the chip and leave the rest of the blade untouched. Chip removal involves removing steel evenly along the whole length of the blade until the chip is gone. On a brand new razor with no real honing experience I would not recommend trying it yourself. If your razor came with a free second honing from the vendor I would go that route.

Bob

OK the photo just popped up and the chip is at the toe. Nothing changes, don't use it send it out.

Originally Posted by JoeLowett

Sorry to hear about your razor. You will have to have the chip removed before trying it out I'm afraid.. If you don't it can lead to very uncomfortable shaves or even cuts depends on what type of chip it is.....

You just got it brand new, ya haven't even used it and the edge is chipped? How do u think that happend?

Got it brand new from SRP and am quite confident the fault is mine. I'd have noticed it if it had come chipped, I'm pretty sure. And I've shaved twice with it and stropped twice. So, somewhere along the way, I must have managed it.

Originally Posted by BobH

Sorry can't see any photo. So after your second attempt at shaving using the Ralph Aust razor for both attempts you have found a chip in the heal, correct? First question would be are you rinsing the razor under the tap while shaving? That can lead to a chip fairly easily with light contact to the tap.

I would go along with Joe and say you should get the razor honed to get the chip out as you really can't hone out the chip and leave the rest of the blade untouched. Chip removal involves removing steel evenly along the whole length of the blade until the chip is gone. On a brand new razor with no real honing experience I would not recommend trying it yourself. If your razor came with a free second honing from the vendor I would go that route.

Bob

Pic is up now. Chip is in the toe, not the heel, if I've got my body parts right.
Yep, it has a free second hone. But that means putting off my SE razoring for weeks ...

As you can (now) see from the pic, the chip is up on the curvature of the rounded tip. So I was thinking I could hone a new radius up there and leave the straight edge part alone. There'd likely be a small transition region for taking it slow and checking with a loupe makes me hopeful I could repair without having to pull back the entire leading edge of the blade.

A couple of thoughts here. I am presuming that you are new to straight razor shaving and honing. If that is in fact true your razor may be down for longer if you try to fix it yourself. That is a guess and may be way off base. Honing is a little tricky, some people pick it up easier than others. I'm not sure you want to learn on a brand new razor, although you do want one that is free of geometry issues. It is a personal choice. Do you have a second razor?

+1 to sending it in.