For the second time I have opened my Ti V2 Henson + and discovered that it has cracked my blade. The first time I thought it might be a fluke but this is the second time. Has anyone else had this issue? It seems like it could be dangerous. I’ve never seen anything like it. The crack is right along the line where the razor clamps the blade.
Ti Henson is cracking my blades
- Thread starter Tomo
- Start date
Not only Henson 
That looks like a stress fracture from bending the thin heat-treated steel too far. Does it make a difference which brand of blades you use?
- Thread starter
- #4
Hmmm another BiC. That’s a coincidence…
this makes me want to try cracking my Bic CP later!
- Thread starter
- #6
I only really use Feather and BiC blades. I can’t remember which one it was the first time. Probably BiC. The bend on the blade looks pretty mild. I just put a few blades in and removed them. All returned to their original shape on removal. They seem to be flexed within the elastic limit.
This razor is my shower razor. It lives in the shower and is not disassembled between uses. I change the blade weekly if it needs it or not. I have noticed a few rust spots from the blade on the inside of the razor. It could be that the blade is degrading during the week.
Iridian
Cool and slimy
I have seen blades broken in the center, turning them into half-DEs, but broken at the edge of the cap, that's a new thing for me.
This said, I use BIC Platinum a lot (and recently also the BIC Astor SS) and they didn't break yet in extremely nasty razors like Superslant L3++ OC and Wunderbar, even after non-usage for weeks and using them again.
The crack in the center, separating both halves, has often been reported, your kind of crack is unique so far indeed @Tomo .
Maybe you should try other blades indeed. This might indeed have been a rare incident. The usual cracked blades do usually get noticed after opening the head, they do not seem to be dangerous or affect the shave.
This said, I use BIC Platinum a lot (and recently also the BIC Astor SS) and they didn't break yet in extremely nasty razors like Superslant L3++ OC and Wunderbar, even after non-usage for weeks and using them again.
The crack in the center, separating both halves, has often been reported, your kind of crack is unique so far indeed @Tomo .
Maybe you should try other blades indeed. This might indeed have been a rare incident. The usual cracked blades do usually get noticed after opening the head, they do not seem to be dangerous or affect the shave.
- Thread starter
- #8
Yeah it’s a strange one. The last blade was broken in the same spot. Right at the clamping point. It’s the second one in a few months so it doesn’t happen all the time.
I have seen folks complaining about this before with Hensons.
I wonder if it is a combination of:
- fine tolerances
- blade stock
- the Henson design putting a lot of clamping force through a small area relative to more traditional designs
- the design also bends the blade in two very tight radii either side of the central line, rather than the more even parabola across the entire width of the blade that is found in traditional designs
- using the razor in the shower where the temperature is elevated for a longer period of time
- finally, maybe you have strong hands and are over-tightening a little?
There is no doubt that the Henson design puts significantly more torque on the blade than traditional designs, and focuses it more on specific parts of the blade. Maybe that's another reason they suggest unscrewing the razor between uses, to take the pressure off the blade so it doesn't fracture?
I wonder if it is a combination of:
- fine tolerances
- blade stock
- the Henson design putting a lot of clamping force through a small area relative to more traditional designs
- the design also bends the blade in two very tight radii either side of the central line, rather than the more even parabola across the entire width of the blade that is found in traditional designs
- using the razor in the shower where the temperature is elevated for a longer period of time
- finally, maybe you have strong hands and are over-tightening a little?
There is no doubt that the Henson design puts significantly more torque on the blade than traditional designs, and focuses it more on specific parts of the blade. Maybe that's another reason they suggest unscrewing the razor between uses, to take the pressure off the blade so it doesn't fracture?
Iridian
Cool and slimy
You might be onto something there!
I also have Henson.
I have never had problems with other razor blades.
Only with BIC, which I bought for testing.
They all broke like that.
They are perhaps more hardened.
I’ve never had that happen but I typically use it once or twice and move on to another razor so my blade doesn’t sit in it long. Have had my Henson Ti 22 for years and no issues. I’m thinking most likely a blade issue or else we’d be hearing a lot more folks having the same problem.
I’ve had it happen once or twice, I have owned a bunch of Hensons and still use one daily. I think it’s a blade issue combined with how the Henson bends the blade. Your razor is probably not defective or anything.
The OP mentioned this razor is used in the shower. Maybe that has something to do with it. I heard awhile back some metals can crack at lower than expected stress because of corrosion. The metal basically has to stay under tension with exposure to water and certain chemicals. Not sure if this could be similar.
THere is something called "stress-corrosion cracking", which affects stainless steel in salt-water environments, especially with stagnant water.
SS depends on oxygen in the water to form a protective chromium-oxide coating. No oxygen, the protective layer doesn't form, and the steel rusts.
. . . You're leaving a SS blade in continuous contact with an aluminum razor head, in a wet environment (inside the razor head).
It could certainly be that BIC blades are made of a SS alloy that's subject to that damage, and most other blades aren't.
. . . Does the razor have any corrosion, or deposits, on the line that clamps the blade?
If it does, you should assume that the blade is corroding.
My advice (FWIW):
. . . _Don't_ leave the blade tightly clamped into the razor head between uses.
I leave my blades in a Pearl Flexi, but I loosen and shake out the razor when I'm finished shaving. The next morning, the blade and inside of the razor are dry. That razor is chrome-plated brass, _not_ aluminum.
Scrupulous people would disassemble and dry the razor head, between shaves. Maybe that's a good idea for you.
. Charles
SS depends on oxygen in the water to form a protective chromium-oxide coating. No oxygen, the protective layer doesn't form, and the steel rusts.
. . . You're leaving a SS blade in continuous contact with an aluminum razor head, in a wet environment (inside the razor head).
It could certainly be that BIC blades are made of a SS alloy that's subject to that damage, and most other blades aren't.
. . . Does the razor have any corrosion, or deposits, on the line that clamps the blade?
If it does, you should assume that the blade is corroding.
My advice (FWIW):
. . . _Don't_ leave the blade tightly clamped into the razor head between uses.
I leave my blades in a Pearl Flexi, but I loosen and shake out the razor when I'm finished shaving. The next morning, the blade and inside of the razor are dry. That razor is chrome-plated brass, _not_ aluminum.
Scrupulous people would disassemble and dry the razor head, between shaves. Maybe that's a good idea for you.
. Charles
- Thread starter
- #16
You could be onto something. There is rust from the blade on the inside of the titanium razor head. I went with titanium in the shower for its corrosion resistance but it looks like the weak link could be the blade. Untightening between uses could be the fix. I’ll try that and maybe switch to a different blade on the next order.
My razor blades were new.
They were only in the razor for a few minutes.
They were only in the razor for a few minutes.
If Bics are harder (heat-treat), added to they feel thicker (to me at least; @helicopter would know, I bet) = I feel like if it's going to happen, it'd happen to a BCP first.
/Acey
I've never touched an Astor.
/Acey
I've never touched an Astor.
Maybe you could also put the razor somewhere with good air circulation to get rid of moisture trapped in the razor head.
Use a different brand of blade....see how that goes...
