Thread: Rating razor quality poll

This has just recently crossed my mind. There have been certain brands that every (or close to) time I hone a razor of theirs it is nearly dead on. They seem to hone themselves. Then there are other brands from the same country and time period that just about every razor I hone has a warped spine uneven bevels or some other geometry problem. Hell They have so many issues they make a GD look like a high quality razor.

Yes, for sure there is a difference between getting a good shave and if a razor is perfect as built. You can have one without the other as in the example Glen gave. That is where I misinterpreted the original question. It is easy to tell you have a razor on the hones that is not perfect and in that sense not a quality razor build wise. I thought the question was can you tell how it will shave from the way it feels on the hones. For me that answer is still no not really.

Bob

I see in the original post it is directed at honers. Certainly a honer is not going to like a razor as much that pushes their skill level to overcome any defect in the design or quality of a blade.

If you are an end user or a low volume honer the the thought of using twice as much time to get that blade to shave ready is of less importance.

In that case you might want to qualify "honers" with professional as they do it as part of making a living. The rest of us are just "honers". Yes, in that case us non pros that hone for ourselves are less concerned with how long it takes to get a good edge on a blade for whatever reason.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

In that case you might want to qualify "honers" with professional as they do it as part of making a living. The rest of us are just "honers". Yes, in that case us non pros that hone for ourselves are less concerned with how long it takes to get a good edge on a blade for whatever reason.

Bob

I hesitate to use the word professional because to be a professional that would have to be your main, not part of a way you make a living. Unless you have a very low cost of living I cannot see in this day and age making honing straight razors your sole source of income. This brings up a good point although off topic...

How many people hone straight razors as their main source of income and don't depend on other sources such as,razor and related sales, their day job, spouse's income retirement income, etc.

Time is simply not the issue,,, doesn't really matter whether you are honing your razor or somebody else's it takes what it takes to get it right ..

I was more thinking Quality Build vs Sloppy Build..


A well designed, well ground, and tempered razor is a pleasure to hone and shave, where as an abortion on the hones might shave well, but it is still a sloppy build...

Note: that I am not saying anything about bad honing in the past, as that is not the razor's fault that was the loose nut behind the stone

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Time is simply not the issue,,, doesn't really matter whether you are honing your razor or somebody else's it takes what it takes to get it right ..

I was more thinking Quality Build vs Sloppy Build..


A well designed, well ground, and tempered razor is a pleasure to hone and shave, where as an abortion on the hones might shave well, but it is still a sloppy build...

Note: that I am not saying anything about bad honing in the past, as that is not the razor's fault that was the loose nut behind the stone

All this makes me even more amazed when you find a 19th century razor in your hand that has not been infected by a zombie honer or limped out of the factory with some issues. The improbably level seems high. Further, I wonder how the 'professional' (barbers and surgeons) handled the task of honing in the past, not to mention the Average Joe who tended his own blades.

Originally Posted by 32t

I hesitate to use the word professional because to be a professional that would have to be your main, not part of a way you make a living. Unless you have a very low cost of living I cannot see in this day and age making honing straight razors your sole source of income. This brings up a good point although off topic...

How many people hone straight razors as their main source of income and don't depend on other sources such as,razor and related sales, their day job, spouse's income retirement income, etc.

Simple solution if you have a problem with using the word pro.

Anyone who derives some income/supplements their income from honing razors for others on more than just an occasional basis. It does not have to be a sole source of income. There are many examples on this forum of members who do this and are recommended as people to send razors to for a pro honing. I think most get the idea of what professional means in relation to a person honing razors. It is a matter of money received for services rendered and likely at a far greater volume of work compared to those who hone for themselves.

Bob