Thread: finally got the razor...

...and, as everyone told me, it wasn't shave-ready, so i eagerly await the hone that should arrive in a couple of days. in the mean time, i figured, i'll give it a shot just to get the feel of the movements, and maybe better to do it at a time when it isn't so sharp that a small mistake could remove my head. so i showered, prepped (boar's brush worked beautifully, by the way. glad i didn't blow 60 bucks on badger), stropped it VERY carefully and lightly, and shaved.

it didn't shave very close, but, like i said, it wasn't sharp, and i didn't cut myself.

i did get a feel for the process, and that seems important. i wish i could've thrown my mach 3 out the window right then, but i needed it to finish the job, so i shaved again with that and put everything away carefully.

i'm excited to get a good edge on it, since it felt good just to be shaving with such a dignified instrument; i think this will suit me just fine.

also, i really didn't expect the plastic handle to feel as cheap and light as it does. can anyone recommend a material that feels a little more solid but doesn't cost 300 dollars?

sure, have Bill, or Vladsch, or Joe make you a set of scales and replace the ones you got. If you're a do it yourselfer Vladsch has some premade kits he'll sell.

Hey Fud
Does Vladsch have a catalog, or images online where you can see these scales. I'm in the market for a replacement for one of my straights myself.
Cheers,
David.

Originally Posted by drsch3

Hey Fud
Does Vladsch have a catalog, or images online where you can see these scales. I'm in the market for a replacement for one of my straights myself.
Cheers,
David.

Start in the "straight razor restoration" section of the board and start looking for threads started by vladsch. Here's a good one to start with... a beautiful W&B that I (sadly) lost out on when he put it on eBay: http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=6325

There's plenty more in there. He does amazing work.

-- Gary F.

Thanks Gary,
They look pretty amaising. I might PM vladsch when I'm ready to get serious about it.

David,

I've been known to make the odd set of scales and I live just across the pond in NZ.

Gary

Hey Gary,

I'm pretty new to all this. My story so far....
Started shaving with a shavette
*Bought 2 ebay dublducks
*Removed one set of scales because they were buckled
*Bought strop from Tony Miller
*Bought norton 4000/8000
*Am in the process of learing to hone.
*Have managed to get the straight with the scales still attached to 'shave' although still pulls a bit on the chin and upper lip.
*Now looking at trying to replace the scales on the buckled one.

As far as the scales go, what options do I have? I know this is probably a question with unlimited answers as I have seen a razor on this site with miniature violins as scales.
BTW. I really appreciated the honing offer as well from the 'Honmeister in Australia' post and am still seriously still considering it.

i'm not sure how i would even get the old scales off. they're not fastened with screws, they look more like they are held together by rivets, but i can't see any means of removing them without simply pulling apart the two ends, hoping i don't break something, and then hoping i can get them back together. maybe since it's a more basic razor it wasn't made to be taken apart?

Originally Posted by cyrano138

i'm not sure how i would even get the old scales off.

The scales are held on by a set of "Pins". You can compare it to rivets if you like, not exactly the same thing but similar.

If you're going to pay for a set of scales maybe you want to ask urleebird (bill) or Vladsch, or Joe Chandler or whomever else does this for consideration how much they'd charge to slap you a new set of scales on it. That would be the fastest thing in the short run. then you can study the help files and all about how to make and replace scales