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The amazon razor is from 'Ayat Precision Instruments', (here). I think I'll use it to practice on the barber hone, to try to get my strokes smooth and level, and then maybe use it for chopping garlic, like in "Goodfellas". :)
If the Ator is basically shaving OK, which it seems to be, does that mean that the bevel is set OK, and it only needs a go on the polishing stone?
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Back when I started I bought a "Kentucky rattler" off ebay. It was worthless for shaving so I pitched it in the trash....
Live and learn.
:boohoo:
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20 GBP for a razor and strop is too cheap. Use it to practice honing and cut butter.
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I had a look at both blades with a geologist's hand lens (about x20 or x30, I think) and the difference is huge - on the Ator the cutting edge is nearly smooth, with very fine scratches from a very high grit or paste. The cheap razor's edge is made up of rows of distinct grooves and was obviously finished with a much coarser abrasive. I don't think that'll be going near my face again.
I used the cheap one for a practice hone, and when I thought I was getting the action right with the blade flat on the stone, I gave the Ator 10 very gentle laps. It made it noticeably sharper, I think. I stropped it and had a shave and it was the closest yet, and that was only 2 passes WTG. Unfortunately it was also the bloodiest so far - I caught my chin and needed the styptic. Not too bad, but I clearly need to work on the chin area. I think a contributory factor was that I was more than a little nervous about the sharpness of the blade.