Cheap sharpening?

Hi guys,

I got myself a cheap straight razor made in China - one of those Golden Dollar deals. It didn't come sharp enough to cut the hair on my face, but it has proven to be fully capable of cutting hair everywhere else. So obviously I need to get a strop, but I probably need to get a stone or such to sharpen/bevel it first. The thing is, straight razors mainly interest me from a perspective of not being wasteful, and potentially being cheaper to shave with. I'm not going to buy a bunch of $80 stones, and I find it absolutely absurd that people are willing to pay that much.

I really don't care about making my razor as sharp and perfect as possible - I just want it to adequately cut the hair on my face.

So if I'm to buy one cheap stone along with using a strop, and nothing else, what might I want to buy?

Thanks.

I hate to say it Twindle, because you asked a fair question for a new-comer, but you should probably do a search here for 'GOLD DOLLAR RAZOR' and do a little reading before you waste a lot of time and effort and more money on even a cheap stone. Usually a cheap razor is exactly that, and when combined with even a cheap stone and strop it's just a more costly exercise in frustration.

Good Luck!

Welcome Twindle,,,,, before you buy anything in regards to wetshaving,,, read the "Library" section in regards to beginners, hones & razors. This will take a while, but put you on the right path.

The reviews on them on amazon were not that bad. Further, people posting on forums like this aren't that harsh on them either. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...-Dollar-Razors

There is no reason for a little bit of hardened steel to be very expensive. I do not regret purchasing a cheap razor. I just need to compliment it with a cheap stone, strop, and skill.

If your serious about your desire to continue, then please listen to the advice given to you on "Straight Razor Place" . Many good members here, started where you are now & learned by taking the advice.

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Originally Posted by twindle

The reviews on them on amazon were not that bad. Further, people posting on forums like this aren't that harsh on them either. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...-Dollar-Razors

There is no reason for a little bit of hardened steel to be very expensive. I do not regret purchasing a cheap razor. I just need to compliment it with a cheap stone, strop, and skill.

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Sometimes the more expensive option is the cheaper in the long run. Would you rather buy the 500 dollar beater car or a new car that will last alot longer. Sure you can fix up the cheap car but that's more money and time before you can finally enjoy and add to that the regular maintenance that it would still need. It is the same thing here. A well made razor and quality strop and stone well carry you longer and further then cheap stuff. Also a sharper edge will usually last longer than a hardly honed edge

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Originally Posted by cosperryan

Sometimes the more expensive option is the cheaper in the long run. Would you rather buy the 500 dollar beater car or a new car that will last alot longer. Sure you can fix up the cheap car but that's more money and time before you can finally enjoy and add to that the regular maintenance that it would still need. It is the same thing here. A well made razor and quality strop and stone well carry you longer and further then cheap stuff. Also a sharper edge will usually last longer than a hardly honed edge

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If the steel is the same, and the shape is the same, the difference is pomp. It's more like spending a lot of money on some absurdly expensive wine when some buck chuck defeated it in actual taste testing. There are people saying the particular cheap straight razor I got holds an edge well... infact better than their more expensive razors.

Twindle,,,, it's pretty clear now that you are not serious & you just want to waste everybody's time,,,,

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

Twindle,,,, it's pretty clear now that you are not serious & you just want to waste everybody's time,,,,

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No, I want someone to direct me to a cheap, but very usable stone, which exists. Further, my desire to only use one indicates that I'm fishing for a grit that's a compromise between honing and finishing.

Go to the "Library" section that we have & read about the various types of hones & how they perform. There are links attached in the sections that I refer to.

The gold dollar razors are hit and miss, sometimes you get a good one. If you don't want to spend too much, lapping film is a good option, and maybe a poor man's strop from whipped dog. Best of luck.

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Originally Posted by twindle

There are people saying the particular cheap straight razor I got holds an edge well... infact better than their more expensive razors.

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Maybe these people you are referring to can direct you to your cheap hone.

Talking down to those you are asking for advice is never a great idea.

,,,,,,,,,,very true

You want cheap?? I sharpen for free other than postage,takes 15 seconds to do with my advanced techniques.
Your satisfaction is NOT Gauranteed.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../sparks001.jpg

Depending if your definition of cheap is poor quality or inexpensive you might want to look into a Norton 4/8k combo hone. This can set a bevel VERY slowly on the 4k and a good shaving edge on the 8k. If the stone is not for you then try the previously suggested lapping films. For either one a strop is a must.

I am starting to think if the answers here are not satisfying then perhaps asking them on a forum where people have had great success with Gold Dollar razors might be a better idea. They or Amazon must know.

Bob

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Originally Posted by McBrautigam

Depending if your definition of cheap is poor quality or inexpensive you might want to look into a Norton 4/8k combo hone. This can set a bevel VERY slowly on the 4k and a good shaving edge on the 8k. If the stone is not for you then try the previously suggested lapping films. For either one a strop is a must.

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So a 1000/3000 then strop wouldn't be good enough? 4/8k is higher than the youtube videos I've been watching.

Thanks.

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Originally Posted by twindle

So a 1000/3000 then strop wouldn't be good enough? 4/8k is higher than the youtube videos I've been watching.

Thanks.

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1000/3000 would be good enough for an experienced honer, but not for someone who is using YouTube as their teacher,,,

The basic split on hone is that there are hones for setting the bevel, an intermediate hone for pre finish, and then finish hones. You can add any number of hones in the middle to shorten the process. Very skilled guys can go from a 1K bevel set and polish to a finish on a finish hone. Most people bevel set on a 1K move to a 3or4K then up to an 8K and either finish there or go on to a higher grit hone to finish on. If you have a previously honed razor and want only to maintain the edge you can do that quite inexpensively with pasted strops or a barbers hone and of course a leather strop. Some simply go back to a finish hone for a touch up. The most economical way to maintain your edge is with a strop and a barbers hone after it has been professionally sharpened. I think perhaps you should look for someone to hone your razor start to finish and take it from there. It is a tough go learning to hone and learning to shave at the same time.

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Originally Posted by twindle

So a 1000/3000 then strop wouldn't be good enough? 4/8k is higher than the youtube videos I've been watching.

Thanks.

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do not even consider honing until your 6 mos. into shaving.
I hate the word cheap,you cannot get a proper set of hones for cheap,you cannot get a master honemeister to hone your blades for cheap.
You cannot get a quality Razor for cheap.
BUT all of the above can be had enexpensively,is no such thing as cheap in this sport because you need quality items to get the full experiance.
go cheap, you will be gone in a month,never to be seen again,but if your frugal and make the right buys,you might just become a long time SRP member.

I am closing this thread before it deteriorates further.

twindle you have several options to pick from:
- Take the advise of those who have a lot of experience not only with honing but with successfully teaching others as well. Those who carry mentor badge on this site are in that category
- Follow the advise of those who tell you that you could sharpen your razor with a hone that doesn't cost more than the razor
- Be a man and just shave with that razor - you already said you don't need it very sharp, just adequate, and it already cuts hair. So lower your expectations to match the razor and be happy with the result.

But please do not waste the time of our experienced members by rejecting their good advise and instead insisting that they help you through somebody else's bad advise.

Most people here can shave off 1000 grit hone and you can find decent ones for 20-30 bucks and less. But I don't know anybody here who shaves off such hone - it's a starting point and then people progress to medium grit ~4000 and finishing ~8000 and up.
Possible is one thing, desirable another.