Thread: Starting out with a cheap straight

Hello all,

Firstly, I'm new to this forum so I'll take a brief time to introduce myself. My name is Kamil, and I will be 17 this January. I personally find liking in older things and methods as opposed to the modern stuff that's just produced so cheaply and uniformly nowadays it doesn't really carry any particular value anymore. To say the least, I'm the kind of person who would ask for a 50+ dollar fountain pen for his birthday rather than an Xbox 360 (which I don't have anyway because I think it's a waste of money and space).

Recently, I've been gifted a fairly cheap (and I mean cheap) straight razor from a friend who said it is fairly new; he bought the razor on ebay for maybe 10$ dollars about 1 or 2 weeks ago (supposedly it was new when he bought it). The razor is fairly dull and when put up to the light I can see the light reflect randomly all over the edge, although the edge is bowed so it's hard to say. The razor hasn't been used for anything, except for my idiot friend trying to cut his steel strings on the guitar >.>

I thought that just maybe I can somehow resharpen the edge of the razor and make it reusable while still staying within a reasonable (for a 17 year old on allowance ^.^) cost. I've been looking around for hones and I find some for 10 bucks with grits of 120/240 or something like that which I believe are the ones used for restoring edges and whatnot. I am wondering, however, if it would be possible to actually use a higher grit hone like a 4000 maybe to do pretty much the same thing with a bit more time and saving myself having to buy so many hones.

I can't really take any pictures because I'm lacking a quality camera and all of them come out shady and unfocused. The razor says XL 1028 Stainless China; made by Tomahawk. It looks fairly nice and whatnot, so I'm actually somewhat interested in keeping it. Can anything be done about it? Please keep in mind how tight on money I am XD

Thanks for the help in advance!
Cheers!

Originally Posted by boogyman19946

The razor says XL 1028 Stainless China; made by Tomahawk.

This means that the razor is not made for shaving...it's a 'razor-shaped-object'. It will never be able to hold an edge worthy of shaving...sorry to break the bad news. If you're looking for something to shave with, check the classifieds, you can get razors completely worthy of a great shave for about $30-$40 at times. You can also check out whippeddog.com for more entry level razors.

Yup, I'm sorry to say that I second that. A crap razor made of poor steel is simply a waste of time and money. It won't hold an edge and a poor quality razor won't shave you well, yet is more likely to cut you. Though this seems counterintuitive, you end up using more pressure to compensate for the relatively dull edge and you will end up with either a cut or razor burn, or both.

86 that thing and, if you really are interested in str8 shaving, start reading up on the wisdom within this forum, especially the sticky notes on the beginners forum. As far as not liking the XBOX, are you serious???

I repectfully beg to differ with my coleages on this forum. I have run the name past yahoo and come back with a store called Rockland Knives that re-sells these things to the general public and yes they are made for shaving. They are ment for men who like to get abck to basics when the go camping they are referred to by Rockland as "wilderness straight razors" and I think that its worth an attempt to make it "shave ready". I would recommend sending it to someone like Lynn Abrams to get it done right while you learn the art of sharpening a straight.

Zeepks are made for shaving too, but that doesn't mean they are any good at it. The Tomahawks are on SRPs do not buy list. If you want to risk spending the money to hone it, go for it, but I strongly suspect you will be wasting your money.

HERE is the Rockland Knives link. Judge for yourself.

Originally Posted by boogyman19946

Hello all,

Firstly, I'm new to this forum so I'll take a brief time to introduce myself. My name is Kamil, and I will be 17 this January. I personally find liking in older things and methods as opposed to the modern stuff that's just produced so cheaply and uniformly nowadays it doesn't really carry any particular value anymore.

I liek that part.

Originally Posted by boogyman19946

To say the least, I'm the kind of person who would ask for a 50+ dollar fountain pen for his birthday rather than an Xbox 360 (which I don't have anyway because I think it's a waste of money and space).

I don't like that part. however, PS3 > XBox 360. IMHO.

Originally Posted by boogyman19946

Recently, I've been gifted a fairly cheap (and I mean cheap) straight razor from a friend who said it is fairly new; he bought the razor on ebay for maybe 10$ dollars about 1 or 2 weeks ago (supposedly it was new when he bought it). The razor is fairly dull and when put up to the light I can see the light reflect randomly all over the edge, although the edge is bowed so it's hard to say.

That gives me a cold shiver on my back.

Originally Posted by boogyman19946

The razor hasn't been used for anything, except for my idiot friend trying to cut his steel strings on the guitar >.>

OLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Originally Posted by boogyman19946

I thought that just maybe I can somehow resharpen the edge of the razor and make it reusable while still staying within a reasonable (for a 17 year old on allowance ^.^) cost. I've been looking around for hones and I find some for 10 bucks with grits of 120/240 or something like that which I believe are the ones used for restoring edges and whatnot. I am wondering, however, if it would be possible to actually use a higher grit hone like a 4000 maybe to do pretty much the same thing with a bit more time and saving myself having to buy so many hones.

I can't really take any pictures because I'm lacking a quality camera and all of them come out shady and unfocused. The razor says XL 1028 Stainless China; made by Tomahawk. It looks fairly nice and whatnot, so I'm actually somewhat interested in keeping it. Can anything be done about it? Please keep in mind how tight on money I am XD

Thanks for the help in advance!
Cheers!

Don't even bother with that razor, You might want to buy one off the forums. There are some really good ones with very acceptable prices, even for a 17 year old.

Or you might get really lucky, as I did, when I bought an excellent straight razor for ten bucks off a swiss auction site. A few strokes on the hone and voilà.

But if you like old, classic stuff and have objections against the (extremely unecological) disposable cartridge razors, then straight razor shaving might be something for you.

/EDIT: If the edge is bowed and the razor had been used for actually cutting guitar strings, then it's definitely ruined. Don't bother with a broken china razor. Hate to say this, it might make me sound a like a racist, which i am not, but true quality artisanry can only be found in western europe. when it comes to steel stuff, the japanese are probably just as skilled.

Originally Posted by red96ta

This means that the razor is not made for shaving...it's a 'razor-shaped-object'. It will never be able to hold an edge worthy of shaving...sorry to break the bad news. If you're looking for something to shave with, check the classifieds, you can get razors completely worthy of a great shave for about $30-$40 at times. You can also check out whippeddog.com for more entry level razors.

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.

Originally Posted by flyman

86 that thing and, if you really are interested in str8 shaving, start reading up on the wisdom within this forum, especially the sticky notes on the beginners forum. As far as not liking the XBOX, are you serious???

Well, the original Xbox is a fine console once modded. The xbox360 does not appeal to me in the least bit. Don't get me wrong, neither does the PS3. It would seem that nowadays companies put so much effort into making everything look and sound nice, which I guess is ok for the companies producing those consoles, but the games that come out are only nice to look at (majority anyway).

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I repectfully beg to differ with my coleages on this forum. I have run the name past yahoo and come back with a store called Rockland Knives that re-sells these things to the general public and yes they are made for shaving. They are ment for men who like to get abck to basics when the go camping they are referred to by Rockland as "wilderness straight razors" and I think that its worth an attempt to make it "shave ready". I would recommend sending it to someone like Lynn Abrams to get it done right while you learn the art of sharpening a straight.

I've seen some "respectable" reviews on Amazon and whatnot, but there is plenty of idiots posting on the internet, so I wanted a little more interactive (detailed) opinion from the forum XD

Originally Posted by shiznix

But if you like old, classic stuff and have objections against the (extremely unecological) disposable cartridge razors, then straight razor shaving might be something for you.

/EDIT: If the edge is bowed and the razor had been used for actually cutting guitar strings, then it's definitely ruined. Don't bother with a broken china razor. Hate to say this, it might make me sound a like a racist, which i am not, but true quality artisanry can only be found in western europe. when it comes to steel stuff, the japanese are probably just as skilled.

Well, as far as the old, classic stuff goes, I really have no objection to the modern ways. They're a convenience which is widely available and seems to be the norm. I just like to put more effort or sentiment (for lack of a better word) into whatever it is that I'm currently referring to (ie. manual transmission in cars). Disposable isn't really my thing, not because I'm polluting the environment and whatnot, I just don't get too much "fun" if I have to replace a vital part of my tool all the time.

Speaking of Japanese steel... talk about shaving with a katana >.> There's just something about having a giant atom-splicing sword around your face, freshly in the morning, cutting off facial hair ;D

Thanks for all replies guys

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.

Well, There is nothing wrong with practice. The problem is similar to the "Timber Rattler" razor that I bought. Learning to hone requires a final test called the "Shave" test. Your razor and my timber rattler will never pass because the edge required for shaving is very delicate and needs a quality steel of which those razors do not possess. So you will never know if you are doing it correctly!!

I chucked my Timber Rattler into the trash and never looked back!!

.

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.


Speaking of Japanese steel... talk about shaving with a katana >.> There's just something about having a giant atom-splicing sword around your face, freshly in the morning, cutting off facial hair ;D

Speaking of katana would you like to try shaving with a false-edged replica?

Before you get a real straight it can be used to getting familiar with holding a blade and stropping.
When you start shaving with a straight you can probably use it to mock a stroke that your not sure about so you hesitate with the dull blade not the real one

You still seem to need the rest of the equipment so a usable straight should not be a problem