Thread: Cheap razor good for sharpening practice?

It strikes me as a good strategy to buy a cheap brand new straight razor for ~$10 from ebay and try to keep it sharp and in shape when honing it.

I wouldn't mind going through 2 or 3 before investing in a good razor because I'm guessing I'll mess up at least the first razor I get.

Is this strategy flawed from something I haven't thought of (example: (making this up) cheap straights use softer metal that will promote bad honing habits))

Most likely you'd be better off with an OLD ebay razor. This might not make sense at the moment but let me explain.

The cheap e-bay razors (like Zeepk and related brands) are just that. CHEAP. They're made with cheap techniques with cheap materials and as little craftmanship as possible. The low quality materials means low quality steel. Low quality steel is very hard to get a good edge on. The problem is that they didn't buy the best steel for a razor but simply the cheapest steel available whether it's the right kind or not.

Old e-bay razors in general are very old but at one time were sold at full price. They are pieces of craftmanship and made with a lot of attention and the knowledge that people would be putting them to their face. They're usually easier to get an edge on and even the scale construction is often better.

My first razor was a cheap ebay one that was brand new. It sucked! I never got a good shave out of it. Instead I went to a local secondhand goods shop where I found an old razor It's a 6/8 Sheffield Worldmaster razor complete with box and one of my 2 favorite razors. I'll most likely never get rid of that one. Believe me, antique razors are the way to go if you don't have a lot of cash to spend.

I agree w/LX's recommendation against buying a cheap razor. Most of the cheap (new) razors on ebay won't hold an edge long enough to get even one good shave.

Like LX, I too started with one and nearly drove myself nuts honing and stropping... all the time thinking there was something wrong with my technique. In reality, it was the poor steel quality in the razor that was defeating me! I'd hone that baby until it passed the HHT, strop it up, and take a few strokes on my face ... it would suddenly be as if I'd never sharpened it.

There are many usable "old" razor's on eBay that will cost you less than $20 incl shipping... so long as it isn't a rust bucket and doesn't have chips in it's edge. Granted, you may have to bid on a few until one slips under the radar and you win it, but they're there. You'll be fine with almost any brand... they all had steel quality good enough to practice with.

On the other hand, you could spend maybe twice that and get a shave-ready no-frills razor from one the the members here. Then you'd know what a properly sharpened razor feels like when you shave... and thus, when you start practicing, you'll have a reference point to aim for -- you'll know what sharp "feels" like. Why do you feel you'll "mess up" the first couple? Razors don't take well to being dropped, banged against faucets, etc. But otherwise, they're pretty tough. So you hone it and it doesn't turn out well... that doesn't mean you ruined it. It just means that you get to re-hone it. Okay, so maybe you accelerate the spine wear a little... this probably isn't the only razor you plan on using for the rest of your life, so who cares?

You have some good advice here. I really can't add anything to it. An inexpensive Eboy. Look for the smaller razors like 4/8s or 5/8s they seem to command lower prices.

It is a good idea. Additionally, getting a cheap razor already honed is a good idea too. For like $30 you can get a blade from someone that has already been honed. Not only do you know what its like to have a sharp edge but honing them is easier than starting over with an Ebay special. A new razor is usually beveled better than an old Ebay razor.