Forever a beginner!

In the past couple years I have started a bunch of new hobbies: Learning to play the harmonica, Smoking a pipe, and the one i'm the most exciting for me is a shaving with a straight razor. I have naturally coarse hair and everything I've tried to shave with gets dull so fast that there is no difference between a off brand disposable or a Gillette that coast upwards of 12 dollars a pop. My love for straight edge razors started young when I would watch westerns with the inevitable barber scene with the good guy getting a shave and the badguy ambushes him only to get pumped full of lead. This always harbored an interested for me and last year I went to a barber and got a straight edge shave for the first time where I fell in love with it instantly. I really never did have a shave as good as that one and recently bought one hoping to forever never buy a store brand razor.

At this point is where it seems everything goes wrong. Back in October I visited an antiques store to buy a Strop and a Straight edge razor for my birthday and having watched YouTube videos, I try to get the dull edge in shaving order, but no go. I even paid out to get the blade professionally sharpened but even that didn't make it sharp enough to shave with. (Note: Some of the video tutorials I have watched said that razors are shave ready when they can take hair from your arm dry) So I looked online and found a new shaver from Kriegar for 14 bucks and it came being just as dull at the used one I bought. I tried to sharpen it with a strop as well and again, to no avail. Here are the stats for the razor:


KRIEGAR PEARL FANTASY STRAIGHT EDGE SHAVING RAZOR .

One of the most popular, nostalgic tools of all time. The straight razor has been around for centuries and continues to be a worldwide favorite. This stylish folding razor offers a solid stainless steel 3" blade with a mirror finish. The pearl handle is contoured to fit perfectly into your palm. Includes custom embroidered velvet bag.

• 3" Laser Etched Stainless Steel Blade
• 9 5/8" Overall Length

So...am I doing something wrong, or did I shoot my self in the foot not buying a 200 dollar quality razor that has 'ready to shave' in the discription?

Kriegar razors are known to be terrible shavers. They are razor shaped but that is all. You might want to look into a good vintage blade or if you have the money a new one.

Razors to Avoid
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...azors_to_avoid



There are deals to be had out there and sometimes, as far as the vintage blade, it might have been due to technique or something else. This is not an easy hobby to venture into. Take your time.

Kriegar razors are good to cut butter and nothing harder. They are clunky, and do not hold a good edge. You would be better off buying one in the classified.

If you click this 6/8 you should be able to find something you like...just be sure to subtract 19% and convert to local currency for accurate prices...you can also email them for a quote and to order. They also have a fantastic selection of vintage NOS blades.

Ouch. I guess i got burned by buying first and asking questions later. Sadly, because my financial situation is tight it might be a while before I can get another one.

Also, if you just found this place I'd immediately question where you got it professionally honed.
I'm not familiar with the razors you have but I'd suggest contacting some of the vendors listed on the site who specialize in razor honing. They may be able to bring one of your blades back to life for a minimal cost.
Check the vendors here...they are pre-vetted.
If you are open to a suggestion on which one/ones, please PM me.

Don't give up!

Buy a $28 sight unseen flawed razor from Larry at Whipped Dog...it may not be pretty but it will be sharp and will be good to learn with. Watch videos on stropping so that you can handle it right when it arrives. Cut your teeth on that and upgrade when you have the funds.

Alternatively, hang around on eBay and ask for advice here when something that catches your eye comes up. The helpful guys on this forum steered me away from two razors until I landed my Case Adoration razor for$27. I then sent it away for honing and educated myself in the meantime. Just be patient,it sucks losing an auction but there are many razors available for sale that won't set you buck $100

A local place called Bitterroot cutlery that sells show katanas and kitchenware, self defense knives, and paintball stuff. Give him some credit, it's after I bought the first one from the antique store that I found out it was made in china. Twice burned is when I started to ask questions.

If you think either of these china made blades can hold an edge then i'll take you up on that and send you a pm. (BTW: The first razor I bought is branded as 'Zuny' if that helps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jmchugh

Don't give up!

Buy a $28 sight unseen flawed razor from Larry at Whipped Dog...it may not be pretty but it will be sharp and will be good to learn with. Watch videos on stropping so that you can handle it right when it arrives. Cut your teeth on that and upgrade when you have the funds.

Alternatively, hang around on eBay and ask for advice here when something that catches your eye comes up. The helpful guys on this forum steered me away from two razors until I landed my Case Adoration razor for$27. I then sent it away for honing and educated myself in the meantime. Just be patient,it sucks losing an auction but there are many razors available for sale that won't set you buck $100

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Will do! I didn't give up when i took up pipe smoking and my first pipe was a P.O.S. My subsequent pipes and tobacco choices have been top shelf.

Great attitude, I think the learning process is half the fun...it's cool to see your technique develop and your process/products change.

This hobby has turned a mindless daily task into a quiet part of the day I look forward to. I'm confident you will feel the same

I wouldn't worry too much about having picked up an RSO (razor shaped object). Most of the people that have started in the past couple of years have been caught out. Myself included.

Whipped dog is your best bet, You'll get something that shaves, will hold an edge, and most important it'll shave right out of the box. Don't even bother to strop it.


My first was an el cheapo RSO, It actually had a use outside of shaving. Once I had a razor that could shave I used the RSO to learn the basics of honing on. That razor is now useless, but it taught me more than it's money's worth. I'm now happily buying cheap vintage blades from ebay, Honing, stropping and shaving with them. Without the RSO I think I would have ruined a few blades and gotten very frustrated.

So for the first one I bought that I thought was called a 'zury' but that is only because of a really odd font. it's actually called a 'Fury'. Does any one know anything about this brand? It's allegedly an antique since that is the store I bought it from but I eel like they ripped me off. (Note: I'm not asking for pricing info or anything against the rules, i'd just like to know more about the company and if they make good razors.)

$14 bucks for a razor doesn't cut it. Btw, neither does them selling it as "shave ready". It takes quite a bit of time to learn the ins and outs of SR shaving.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MrRoccapalumbo

Ouch. I guess i got burned by buying first and asking questions later. Sadly, because my financial situation is tight it might be a while before I can get another one.

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Yes, unfortunately you got one of the RSOs, razor shaped objects, and the Kreigar's are really out there, and really terrible. You'd stand a better chance of getting a shave from a clam shell than one of those, but stuff happens, and now you know.

Check out Larry at Whipped Dog as others have mentioned, you get a blade, sight unseen, at a great cost, but it is shave ready and allows you to see if this is something you'd like to do. You can even get a neat starter kit from Larry for a little extra.

Also, you can check the members, Classifieds section here and be assured you'll be getting a great, shave ready blade.

Good luck!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MrRoccapalumbo

So for the first one I bought that I thought was called a 'zury' but that is only because of a really odd font. it's actually called a 'Fury'. Does any one know anything about this brand? It's allegedly an antique since that is the store I bought it from but I eel like they ripped me off. (Note: I'm not asking for pricing info or anything against the rules, i'd just like to know more about the company and if they make good razors.)

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Fury is another brand of razor's to avoid, there a list available on the sites Wiki, that lists all brands of blades to avoid.

Whipped Dog all the way if you're starting out on a budget. $28 and you have a shave ready razor that will require no faffing around, aside from stropping.

My suggestion is to do some reading on the site and you will come away with a lot more of an idea of what you want and where to get it. If unsure use the search at the top and you will generally be able to find some info on what your looking at.