Thread: sharpening straight razors

Originally Posted by maliveline

actually I'm totally feeling like spending money on this project today. If I was going to spend 150 dollars on just a straight razor which one would you guys recommend

After the $150 are you still going to have funds to spare on a strop, hone, shaving accessories?

My beginner tactic was for a shave-ready starter set for $50, then a nice strop. I know I'll eventually end up with a finishing hone and who knows what else. Ends up being close to $150. I'd hate to have spent the whole fund on a razor alone.

I'd strongly recommend that you pick up a less expensive razor as your first. That way you have $ left over for a second razor.

While not STRICTLY necessary to have 2, it does make it a lot easier to have another ready to go when your first is out being honed (When you roll the edge learning to strop for example.... Happens to most of us )

I have money comming out of the ass

All the more reason not to flush it...

Originally Posted by maliveline

I have money comming out of the ass

In that case , you may want to check out some Thiers Issard razors .

Originally Posted by osdset

If the steel your razor is made from is inferior, then no amount of honing and stropping will get it sharp enough. You have purchased a razor shaped object, it's maybe capable of opening envelopes

Is this just a quote that floats around SRP. I'm sure i've seen it before but can't remember LOL.

lol, Funny thread here. Go with what you think you will like man, Cuz in the end its all what you want. You can probably get 3-4 pages of peoples thoughts on what you should buy. But what they would buy might not be what you like. Check out the wiki on this site and do some reading. It will really help you out. keep us posted on what you end up doing. Goodluck

Originally Posted by dbala

Is this just a quote that floats around SRP. I'm sure i've seen it before but can't remember LOL.

You've seen it before , and you'll see it again . Unfortunetly , all too often a noob buys a piece of junk off ebay that looks like a straight razor . These are new razors that sell for $5-$20 , and the "damascus" ones usually cost $40-$100 . They all have one thing in common : The grind , heat treat , tempering , and steel are inferior for using as a razor . If by some miracle you do manage to put a shaving edge on one , it won't last long enough to finish the shave .