Thread: What's the Difference?

Even if I'm learning with a better razor than I realized, my question stands: what makes a Col. Conk or any other razor a better tool for shaving than a Zeepk? Before I succumb to the initial symptoms of razor addiction and start trading up, I want to know I'm getting something useful for my money.

Col. Conk straight razors are rebranded Dovos.

Scott

And ZEEPK razors are just rebranded butter knives.

If your Conk is a rebranded Dovo, then it's not a bad razor at all. You shouldn't need to hone it that much, once every two months is plenty. If it's going dull that often you're probably not stropping it right. To answer your original question, a quality razor uses a high carbon content, fine grained steel that's been ground to a very thin edge, then hardened and tempered so it can take and hold a very sharp edge. Quality steel isn't cheap, and neither is the equipment and most importantly the skill needed to put the whole thing together. So what you're paying for when you buy a good razor is quality materials and the labor of a skilled worker, just like anything else of quality. A Zeepk or other cheap razor won't take or hold that fine edge your Conk will, and so won't shave comfortably or closely.

Originally Posted by NeitherMightier

Even if I'm learning with a better razor than I realized, my question stands: what makes a Col. Conk or any other razor a better tool for shaving than a Zeepk? Before I succumb to the initial symptoms of razor addiction and start trading up, I want to know I'm getting something useful for my money.

I am still very new to the game so any thing I say may be corrected by others with more experience. However, my understanding is that zee razors an other no name razors are not hardened properly. This means that they will not hold an edge. I have been told that some will be good long enough to shave one cheek, then need to be re honed.

I as reading on another sight (sorry I an not find the link) that ne problem with "no name " blades ( razor or other) is that you can easily find what grade steel is used, but there is no reliable way to tell the process used to harden the blade( temperature difference in quenching). also depending on the company it may not be consitant.

All of this being said if you have a blade that is holding an edge and giving you a good shave there is no reason to trade up. once you are more comfortable with razors you may want to try a second razor, but I would not get rid of the one you have unless you already had one you liked better in hand.

I thought they were all the same too, until I had a truly smooth razor. I did nothing different with this particular razor than I do with any of my other ones, it just feels smoother. So, the short answer is, if you are happy with the razor you have, great. Don't worry about what anybody else says. Dont read any more on here either, because if you do, you will buy more razors.

If your razor is giving you good shaves, it is a good razor.
Oh and just to reiterate for everyone else here, Conk razors are not bad razors. Just Dovo's restamped and given a huge markup. Since you got yours on Craigslist, there's no worries, you did well I think.
If you were considering a *new* Conk razor, I would quietly steer you to the exact same razor for considerably less, from the original maker (Dovo)....
I might add, quite a colorful post. I've used similar wording to describe other things, thanks for the laugh.

John P.