Thread: I Made A Bad Mistake.

First, I'm new to the forum and new to razors. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your community.

Four days ago I inherited my Grandfather(s) Wade & Butcher razor. It has been in the family since around 1825. I felt that it needed some cleaning and polishing. I damaged the edge and my heart fell on the ground. Many great men used this razor and it lasted 190 years or so. I managed to destroy it in only four days. I have been torn all day on this issue and deserve whatever you hit me with.

Please tell me if there is a professional anywhere in the United States that can repair my razor. Photos are below.

Thank you,
Hirlau

Well it's not pretty but the good news is it can probably be fixed
It'll need to be honed just past the chips. Check out the classifieds for honing services.

Mistakes happen. This is why I regularly recommend that beginners avoid learning to shave with or restore family heirlooms. Oh well, it happened. It's done and it's time to move on.

Fortunately the edge damage is relatively minimal. It CAN be honed out and brought back to being a shaver. Once you get it back from being repaired/honed, put it away until you have had a great deal of practice with other, less sentimentally valuable, razors.

I know you're feeling like poop about now. 'Very sorry.

There are good bladesmiths out there. It'll be okay. To continue, my perfect hindsight would be to buy from classifieds or preferably from some of the private guys/vendors. 'Sounds like sales pump, but it's actually the cheapest way to have a shot at quality that will satisfy. I have no dog in the fight - no financial interest at all. There are blades on the boards that are wonderful and super cheap - $30-60. Also, there's a link to a map of forum members in your area. I just finished a pm to a member in my area (Pacific North Wet), volunteering the use of my gear at my place. Tutoring for the less experienced, chance to try gear without going broke, learning what you like best before pulling out your wallet.

After a while, you'll take that lovely blade in hand and know you know how to treat it right.

I think it can be fixed, but its going to take a bit more work than just honing it out

it can be fix and we have a lot people will do so.
check classified member services and don't make same mistake again please.

She was shipped out today, to be fixed by one of our forum members. I will post an update when she returns.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

Its a very nice looking razor. Question how did you manage to chip it.

I hoped no one would ask; I was using a small dremel cotton polishing pad, I touched the edge briefly. The sharp edge bit into the cotton pad. I'm lucky that it did not go deeper.

Actually, you were lucky that you were not badly hurt. You could have lost an eye or worse. For you and anyone else using a dremel on a straight, PLEASE always remember to pause before you turn on the dremel and approach the blade and ask yourself this question:

Which way is the dremel turning?

The rotation should always be in the direction of spine to edge, and NEVER edge to spine.