Thread: Starting out with a cheap straight

Ahh, well, in that case I guess it will make a fine butter knife I'll have to look for a different one.

Originally Posted by boogyman19946

Why does that mean it's not viable to use for shaving? Essentially, buying a better razor is something I'm going to do, but then I would like to keep this one to practice sharpening on or whatever other stuff there is before I get down to business with the better razor.

Hi,

Welcome to the SRP. Lot of info for you to find here.

I agree that you can easily take some advantage of this razor of yours by trying to sharpen it. It is good for practice, if nothing else. And yes, IMHO i believe you can make it a shaver for some time, but for what i've read, these Chinese cheap razors wont keep their edge for long.
If you are ok with your razor then stick with it. Keep practicing and you learn. Get the idea - at least until some point, how steel and hones behave. Hopefully some day you get your hands on some more 'respectful' razor and then you can easily see the difference. There is no need to hurry now if you are willing to try with what you have. Most people usually want more and more, but you seem to be happy with what you have. It is an attitude worth our respect specially from a young gentleman of your age.

Can't say nuthing about consoles. I should ask my son (same age as you are)

Originally Posted by Sailor

Hi,

Welcome to the SRP. Lot of info for you to find here.

I agree that you can easily take some advantage of this razor of yours by trying to sharpen it. It is good for practice, if nothing else. And yes, IMHO i believe you can make it a shaver for some time, but for what i've read, these Chinese cheap razors wont keep their edge for long.
If you are ok with your razor then stick with it. Keep practicing and you learn. Get the idea - at least until some point, how steel and hones behave. Hopefully some day you get your hands on some more 'respectful' razor and then you can easily see the difference. There is no need to hurry now if you are willing to try with what you have. Most people usually want more and more, but you seem to be happy with what you have. It is an attitude worth our respect specially from a young gentleman of your age.

Can't say nuthing about consoles. I should ask my son (same age as you are)

Hello Sailor!

I think that is what I'm going to do. I'm going to stick with this cheap razor for a bit of time and see how that turns out. The hones, strops, and other stuff are not bound to one razor so if this one does not work out too well, I'll just buy a better one, although I'm planning to do so either way. Maybe it'll turn out to be better for a beginner perhaps giving more frequent practice with the hones or something like that. I'm not especially picky about this as I'm sure that the right technique and preparation can compensate for some of the quality that a given tool is lacking; however, if it's not even possible to use it then the next logical thing is to get a better one. Also, thanks for the compliments, I appreciate that

P.S. To be honest, I don't really know that much about consoles either. I sometimes feel left out when my friends talk about it, but it just seems not to appeal to me >.> I lived in America for about 6 or so years now, and for the first 2 years I haven't had many friends who played their consoles frequently. People didn't really have consoles in Poland, so I didn't spend my childhood playing video games, therefore, I don't enjoy them as much as I probably "should" (that's debatable). I do love the older stuff however ^.^ The PlayStation One is my favorite, housing some of my favorite games such as (obviously) Final Fantasy VII Well, either way, the modern games that come out don't really improve anything and don't exactly add anything interesting.

I've only been wet shaving for about 4 months, so you may find better advice from the veterans out there. I started out with a Parker replaceable blade razor. It's similar to using a real straight, but I did still need to change what I was doing after I upgraded to get a good shave. It's something to think about, as it is a fairly cheap way to see if straight shaving is for you.

I'm going to ostresize myself here, and disagree with just about every comment that's been said about that razor of yours. I've been sharpening all kinds of things since I was a kid. If I could get a cheap, crappy, chinese made pocketknife shaving sharp (and I could and did), with a cheap, crappy, fine grit pocket stone, then, I don't see why you can't get that cheap, crappy, chinese razor to give you a decent shave with a bit of effort too. Maybe more effort than would have been needed, now that it's been used to cut guitar strings. You could get youself a piece of mild steel and sharpen it up enough to give you one good shave at least. Your razor has the advantage of being shaped like a razor, and not a piece of flat mild steel.
OK, so you might be having to go back to the hone after every few shaves instead of every few months, but you can look at that as extra practice honing. At least you're not having to knap yourself a flint or obsidion razor or sharpening up a sea shell like our ancestors of millennia past. I say go for it young man, it won't be an easy road, but on limited budget and with a little patience and ingenuity on your part, you CAN make it happen!


Mick

If Kamil, you wan't to use a straight, my advice is to spend 30 dollars or so and get a genuine one that has been forged by masters in Germany, Sweden, the UK or the USA. Japanese steel is also awesome, though quite dear.

This hobby can be hard enough to learn at times, don't make it even harder for yourself by a razor that may not take quite as keen an edge as most of us use.

Keep that as a junk razor to ameliorate and learn honing on; get a real shave ready straight from a member here in the Classifieds.

There are frequently many great, inexpensive and above all, shave ready razors to choose from, and no member here will ever sell you a garbage razor.

Trust me, as John Ruskin once said, it is unwise to pay too much for something; equally it is unwise to pay too little. When you pay to little, you bear the risk of correcting it, where as it would have been cheaper to buy the correct item in the first place.

Good luck and let us know of your decision.

Not meaning to sound offensive Scipio, but he hasn't spent a thing yet. This razor was a gift, so he'll have $10 more to spend on a decent razor once he's got the allowance money saved for better quality.


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

Not meaning to sound offensive Scipio, but he hasn't spent a thing yet. This razor was a gift, so he'll have $10 more to spend on a decent razor once he's got the allowance money saved for better quality.


Mick

Good point Mick and no offense taken. I still would advise Kamil to just buy a proper straight. If he were to spend 30-40 on a straight, and a similar amount on a cheap strop, he'd save money after about 6-8 months or so on cartridges anyway - or if he were planning on purchasing an electric razor, he'd benefit even sooner financially.

Besides, as to advising him on technique, few of us will know if it is him or the razor if he is experiencing problems, as we do not know how long or good the edges of such inconsistent low quality steel last, do we?

If it was a Shumate for instance, or a Genco honed by a member here, then we would have a far better idea or what may be wrong.

Another thing - you say get that Pakistani razor honed by a pro? Pros will not hone 'don't buy listed' razors, even Gold Dollars. Max certainly doesn't, don't know about the others.

Gentlemen:

For clarification not all razors on the "do not buy list" are there because of their ability or lack there of to take an edge..
There are various reasons that they go on there...

Some are way too expensive for the low quality that they are, some can take an edge but it doesn't last through the shave , some can't take and edge at all, some take an edge but require expert skill to get there, some require Restoration techniques to get to the edge...

If they are on the list it is because a VERY experienced member here has actually tested them, and found one of these to be true....
We put them on the list to keep unsuspecting Newbs from buying them and never trying straight razor shaving again because of the frustration involved....

There is no sense arguing whether or not that razor will ever take an edge unless somebody that actually knows what they are doing on a set of stones tries it or has tried it...

I honestly have never tried with a Tomahawk razor...

Tomahawk razor in fact is a crap.
it will not take edge . you can put edge by taping 5 layers of tape and honing.
you may be get lucky.

MickR Sorry to say You may not tried bad blades yet but in fact what people says is true.
OP check classified you may find something better could be free too.
have fun.