While cleaning the straights I picked up along with a slew of other stuff in a box, look what happened. I'm just sick. I'm also just learning about collecting and restoring, so I know I have a lot to learn. But this is one lesson I fear I've paid dearly for. I had the blade braced on a toothbrush to protect the table surface. I had no idea blades were this fragile. From now on I'll use an old cutting board and keep the blades flat against it while cleaning. Anyway, I thought I might as well share this mini-tragedy with other newbies. It seems the edge of a straight razor is just as easily damaged as a safety razor. Maybe even more so. And if any seasoned straight razor afficionados out there have any advice for me you can believe my ears are wide open.
Heartbreak.
- Thread starter Rick Sparks
- Start date
Tis a shame for sure.
But, not all is lost.
You can, if the mood suits you, cut it down, and just have a shorter razor.
Would be very useful for an XTG(ear to chin) neck pass, or as a cootchie razor
But, not all is lost.
You can, if the mood suits you, cut it down, and just have a shorter razor.
Would be very useful for an XTG(ear to chin) neck pass, or as a cootchie razor
Sorry about your loss.
They are brittle for sure. Dropping one on the floor tends to shatter them but catching them can be much worse, so if you drop one just get out of the way and let it fall. Sometimes you get lucky and it won't break. Stainless razors tend to be somewhat less brittle fwiw.
They are brittle for sure. Dropping one on the floor tends to shatter them but catching them can be much worse, so if you drop one just get out of the way and let it fall. Sometimes you get lucky and it won't break. Stainless razors tend to be somewhat less brittle fwiw.
Oh, and as for advice, using an old cutting board is what I do, or I support the blade with my index finger in the hollow.
BillEllis also sells a magnetic Jig, just for this sort of thing.
BillEllis also sells a magnetic Jig, just for this sort of thing.
Oh man! This post just scared me...I don't even want to use my nice razors anymore for fear of them shattering! 
Sorry to see that man.
That's a tough loss.
That's a tough loss.
Wow, that's a shame.
I'd do what the others suggest, grind it down into a shorter blade.
Be sure to keep the blade wet the whole time and only grind for a second or two in between dipping it in water. It will take ages to do it this way but you can practically eliminate the risk of damaging heat buildup. Be especially careful where the steel is at its thinnest, it heats up real fast.
Shorten the blade, shorten the scales to balance it out and I reckon you'll have a nice curio for your collection.
I'd do what the others suggest, grind it down into a shorter blade.
Be sure to keep the blade wet the whole time and only grind for a second or two in between dipping it in water. It will take ages to do it this way but you can practically eliminate the risk of damaging heat buildup. Be especially careful where the steel is at its thinnest, it heats up real fast.
Shorten the blade, shorten the scales to balance it out and I reckon you'll have a nice curio for your collection.
I can relate to your loss. Just two nights ago I dropped my Le Grelot on the tile floor and broke the blade in half. I cursed myself for the next couple of hours until I was finally able to get to sleep.
It's a little foolish to get so attached to a possession, but I really liked that razor. There's also that small matter of having paid so much money for something that just went into the trash.
It's a little foolish to get so attached to a possession, but I really liked that razor. There's also that small matter of having paid so much money for something that just went into the trash.
Ouch man. Poor Le Grelot 
I dropped mine once and was swearing, but I got lucky, it stayed in the scales and was protected
I dropped mine once and was swearing, but I got lucky, it stayed in the scales and was protected
Oh man! This post just scared me...I don't even want to use my nice razors anymore for fear of them shattering!
I'm afraid to start with a straight for fear of trying to catch it!
I instinctively tried to catch a brandy glass that slipped out of my hand one night. I was promptly on the way to the hospital.
Ouch man. Poor Le Grelot
I dropped mine once and was swearing, but I got lucky, it stayed in the scales and was protected
Lucky dog! With mine I had just finished stropping, and caught it on the edge of the wall before I could fold the blade into the scales. It WON'T happen again with other razors.
Also, had to at least be proud of the fact that I didn't try to catch it on the way down. You never know whether a reflex might kick in and a finger be lost to the cause.
- Thread starter
- #14
I really appreciate the support of everyone who's posted in this thread, but I feel like I need to clear up a thing here. I'm not a straight razor shaver. I'm a DE guy. But I love the look of straights. To me, they're wonderful pieces of craftsmanship and art and history. I got a few straights in a recent buy I made of a big box full of all kinds of stuff and after cleaning up the DEs and SEs I'd started in on the straights when this accident happened. I still felt like a clumsy, ignorant jerk for having damaged a fine blade I'd hoped to pass on to some other B&B member who could use it and treasure it. Hopefully that's what I'll be able to do with the two good razors I have left and others I'll find in future treasure hunts. And you can bet I will be as careful as a surgeon with these fine old blades from now on.
You can always send that broken blade to me, I can fix it up, and shave with it.
Ouch.
Why don't you have a competition of some sort and the winner gets the razor, on the proviso that they promise to do something creative with it and post photos?
- Thread starter
- #18
The contest is a great idea. How exactly would I run such a contest? Is it kosher to just post a contest, making up my own rules and guidelines and deadline? I'm pretty new to B&B and don't want to break any rules. Advice please.
- Thread starter
- #20
I can't bear the thought of this once fine razor just sitting around wounded. But I also don't have any idea what might be entailed in running a contest, so I think I'm just going to offer it as a PIF on the BST. Today is, I'm pretty sure, the 45th day of my B&B membership, so if you're interested in saving this razor look for it tomorrow. Happy shaving!
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