Thread: Soldering

Does anyone here have any experience with having a jeweler or someone silver (or some alloy) solder a cracked blade? I see there are low melting point silver alloy solders available that would do there job long before affecting the temper of the metal. The blade is still very usable I just want to stabilize the crack.

Pelkey

Once a blade is cracked, it's finished as a shaver. If you try to hone or shave with it, the crack will worsen as the blade flexes, and that will lead to a nasty cut or worse. There are enough blades out there that there is no reason to even risk the danger. I'd say you best bet is to move on.

As Holli sad, its tie to move on, say your goodbyes to the blade and pitch it. Even if you stabilize the crack in the body of the blade it will still be there at the edge where it counts, a slight flex and it is going to bite!

Unfortunately, I would have to agree with the two above. Soldering's not going to fix the crack. And even assuming it would, you'd have to get the blade around the crack hot enough to ruin the temper in order to get the solder to flow. Just scrap that one and move on, or if you're able, grind away the blade past the crack to get back to good steel.

Thanks for the input guys. I guess I was hoping for a miracle, kind of like razor CPR. The crack is far enough out on the toe that it doesn't interfere with shaving. It's on an old school Dovo Perlex that I'm pretty fond of. I guess I'll just go ahead and use it and possibly one day think about shortening it.

Thanks again all.

Pelkey

I would really suggest you not use her with the crack in her; not worth the risk. You should put her aside until you have her shortened.

I'm in the same boat, cracked a WB 9/8" Barbers Use on the way home from the antique store I got it from for $20 or something. I was so upset and tried everything including asking jeweller. They all said they could fix it an make it look good but it would ruin the hardness. I did it myself and just kept it as a display piece, and gave it to my Dad who collects them also. It turned out good, because I heated the whole blade, to get a uniform colour and used similar metal rod to the razor. I tried JB Weld first, which held fine but obviously can't be shaved with and was somewhat noticeable. The crack I had was in the middle of the blade going straight up about 1/2".