Anyone ever heard of a Vorax?

Hello everyone

This will be my first post after lurking for a couple of weeks. I've learnt a lot thanks to all of you.

I sill haven't got my first razor yet. I haven't been fast enough to buy any of the ready to shave ones that I've seen come up and don't want to risk getting one off ebay. But I seen a really nice looking Vorax at a flea market today. It almost looks brand new, The owner wants $39 for it. I almost bought it on the spot but having never heard of Vorax I wanted to look them up on-line, well can't find anything about it. Any of you heard about or use one?

I still plan on just buying a starter set with a ready to shave razor, but if this is a good buy i want to pick it up to.

Thanks again for the help you all have already givin me. :bow

Welcome Witmen. I've never heard of Vorax, but that doesn't mean anything. Maybe some of our more expert members will chime in. Does the blade have any markings stamped on the tang? Any place of manufacture? Does it look
"vintage"? or does it look new and maybe made in say Pakistan?

Jordan

Thanks Jordan

The seller had a tag on it that said vintage Vorax Solingen and the tang had Vorax on it. I don't think it was a Paki special cause it seemed really high quality, not that I really know what to look for but the blade opened smoothly and shut straight.

If it is really from solengen, it is most likely a good razor. But unfortunately, I've never heard of a Vorax

I've heard of a thorax. Does that help?:D

Fred

I went back today to see this Vorax to make sure it didn't have a "made in" on it some where. Nothing but vorax on it seems weird. but yea I wont be buying it the seller got really pushy about it being german made too.

So I was wondering who sells good starter kits here?

Welcome, witmen! Good starter kits - check with "The Topher". I believe there was a thread just recently...use the search and type in "starter kits". You should get some good info.

Good luck!
~Chris

I am making kits but I have a bit of a wait and am way behind due to a family member comming down with Pancreatic Cancer. What can I say this last 6 months has been one crisis after another. SO I would suggest you go look at www.vintagebladesllc.com for a kit unless you want to take your time and wait for a vintage one. I also think Kenrup was making some low cost kits with just the most basic starter stuff.

Hey thanks Topher I will try those out. I just got a F.W. engels special from ebay for 15 bucks so when I get it I will get ahold of lynn or some one here about getting it shave ready. But I'll still need everything else. I'll figure it out. I'm still in read everything I can find mode while waiting for my razor to get here. Its kinda bad I'm hooked and havent even got y first razor yet.

:roflmao Me too!

Mine's with Lynn getting honed and I have a strop coming from Tony Miller too. Oh the anticipation!

Well if you need everything else, what is your budget and I will make a recommendation.

Well the wife said I could use $200 to get everything started. But she isn't gonna count the razor I got and having it honed, so I should still have around $200 to play with. I was hopeing to get one more razor and the normal required items.

Sure. That's the little whirlpool in the sink, after you pull the plug from the drain, right?

If the razor is in as good a shape as you say, I'd see if I could get him down a little cheaper, and buy it.
Vorax is not one of the names I've learned to avoid, if that's any help, and it doesn't sound like a brand new razor, which most of the poor quality ones are.
If you are competent at honing, you can give it a shot (or make it comparable to one you have that IS ready to shave) if not, there are plenty of people who do this for a small fee on the forum.
Enjoy your razor if you buy it, and post some pics!

John P.

I think Dr, Suess wrote about a Vorax.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by icedog

I think Dr, Suess wrote about a Vorax.

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Close... it was the lorax... i think

Quote:

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Originally Posted by syslight

Close... it was the lorax... i think

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Okay then a vorax may be some sort of small antelope.

OK so $200... Well I would say try some of these

Brushes:
http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vsho...cat=154&page=1

http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vsho...cat=149&page=1

if you want a small brush
http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vsho...cat=153&page=1

Strop:
Made by Tony Miller
http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vsho...cat=102&page=1

Soap/ Creme

Any Soap or creme Jim carries other than Colonel Conk.

It does not have to be the most expensive.
http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vsho...me.php?cat=137
http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vsho...me.php?cat=136

Also you can visit our soap mistresses at
http://www.bear-haven.com/
www.thegentlemansquarter.com

everything they have is great.
You do not need preshave oil.

Go get a stiptic from the local walgreens. Also get this aftershave balm. It is unscented but it is medicated to help with the razor burn and is a life saver.
http://www.drugstore.com/products/pr...ELAID=61243108

Only vorax I could find was a gecko. The scientific name of it is Gehyra vorax and it is a large gecko which can change color from a light tan to a dark chocolate brown, depending on his environment. Nothing at all on Vorax razors. I started shaving with a straight razor when I was thirteen and continued until college when time just became too important to me. I'm 65 and retired now and went back to my old ivory handled Wostenholm and a Case that my dad bequeathed me. You'll do o. k. with almost any Sheffield razor in good condition. When they were made, Sheffield craftsmen knew what they were doing. I particularly like the John Barber razor with the square and compass emblem stamped in the steel. R. Sutcliffe's of Sheffield made some razors with many Masonic symbols on the blade. I have one and it took a fine shaving edge without too much work, just a vintage Norton razor hone with shaving lather for lubricant and finished the edge with my great-grandad's old natural stone razor hone and shaving lather. After stropping with a "Pike" shell horsehide strop it came up to the edge I wanted and shaves great. You might try using a good plain soap lather for a hone lubricant I would avoid those with oils or greases in them. I use soap in a mug and a badger brush for an applicator on the stone. An old time barber told me to try it and it does a great job of floating the grindings out of the stone pores. Keep a big bowl of water handy and frequently submerge and wash the stone and then reapply lather and hone. Don't get in a hurry with it and don't apply too much pressure to the razor. When you are near the edge you want reduce pressure to almost nothing. This effectively reduces the grit of the cutting stone. Some razors I have to finish hone on a hard surgical Arkansas oilstone with "Marvel Mystery Oil" for lubricant. I also use Marvel Mystery Oil as a cleaner and light lubricant on guns that I work on. I've never used hone paste however I may try it in the future. Good luck on your journey.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by icedog

I think Dr, Suess wrote about a Vorax.

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I was thinking along the same line, but it was the Lorax.

Back to the OP, I think beginners should stay away from antique store/ flea market razors until they've handled enough good quality razors to know what to look for. Otherwise there is a great risk of getting ripped off.



Scott

I've never seen a Vorax razor but I've looked at a few fixed blade knifes with that brand name. They were well made, nice looking, and VERY expensive ($300+) fixed blade knifes of a decent variety of stainless steel. If the razor was made by the same outfit I might take a chance but I probably wouldn't risk more than $25. Hopefully one of the more experienced collectors will be able to ID this brand for you.