Oh No! Slight nick in a new blade...Please Help!

[RoyalKooparillo]

I have a Dovo 5/8 Silver Steel that I have shaved with five times and, to my dismay, I lightly tapped the edge on the faucet while rinsing the blade. A rookie move, I know. I closely inspected the blade, but couldn't see anything at first glance. However, when I resumed shaving I could feel an imperfection along the cutting edge. I took the blade to my strop and, lo and behold, it lightly scratched the strop! On second inspection in the right light, I could see a VERY small notch in the blade--not a huge deal, but I'm unsure what to do about it.

The blade was pre-honed by Lynn and and I have been keeping the edge in good shape with my TM strop...I'm worried that because the rest of the edge is still in excellent shape, any work on a hone will over-hone the blade--but I'm not sure if a pasted strop will take the nick out. Keep in mind, the nick is so slight that it doesn't evern show up in macro pictures with my older digital camera. Ideally I would not like to send the blade away, especially since I just received it. I know it's hard to say since I'm not able to post a picture, but the nick really is quite small. Any ideas?

[jlander]

That's terrible! You have my sympathies.

Unfortunatelysince it is chipped, it will have to be honed out. I guess you could do it on a 3 micron pasted strop if you took enough time, but would not ever attempt it. It is going to have to go to a honemeister for repair of the edge.

[mparker762]

I'm worried that because the rest of the edge is still in excellent shape, any work on a hone will over-hone the blade--but I'm not sure if a pasted strop will take the nick out. Keep in mind, the nick is so slight that it doesn't evern show up in macro pictures with my older digital camera.


I've taken very small dings out without honing. It depends on whether it's an actual chip or just a dent - without a microscope you may not be able to tell very easily. But if it's a dent and it's that small, you may be able to get it mostly out by stropping the razor on a linoleum countertop, which can bend the steel back into place. It likely won't get it all the way, but it may get it close enough that the linen side of your strop or a pasted paddle strop can finish the job.

If that doesn't work, though, you're looking at a honing job. Don't worry about overhoning - the first step of honing that chip out will be to put the razor on a really coarse hone that will knock off that nice sharp edge anyway.

[Thebigspendur]

yea, you would need at least a hand lens with maybe about 30x and you can better tell. If it was really small and way up on the toe or back on the heel you might be able to get away with it but if its scratchhing the strop its probably too big to use. You'll probably have to hone it out. If you don't have the skills send it out.