Thread: Banned from Badger and Blade

But does an essential have a pretty gold sticker :P

OK guys, probably no one has borne more of Joel's attempted character assassination tactics than I have, so I am going to ask you folks to stop any further name calling type responses. There are many good guys over at B&B who are also members here. It is unlikely that Joel as the owner of that group will be banning himself for his behavior, so we really need to take the high road and show the straight razor population that we are gentlemen over here.

I really appreciate you help on this.

Thanks,

Lynn

Originally Posted by bjrn

Oh, you could be right, I'm not afraid to admit that.

And while I'm posting in this thread, I might as well say that irregardless of what you think of Joel there are still a whole bunch of nice people over at B&B, and there is a lot of good content there as well. Sure it has it flaws, but overall it's (in my opinion) still a nice place. YMMV and all that of course

You are right if Joel did not ban me I would still be visiting there

Folks I deleted some post here that were not appropriate if I missed one or to it is by accident. Talk about the situation but like Lynn said lets be the Gentlemen that we are. I was banned there due to my partnership with Lynn and those that talked to is inconsistencies in his reviews are true if you do not do what we wants look out. But please stop the name calling and insults that is not who we are.

Originally Posted by Don

Folks I deleted some post here that were not appropriate if I missed one or to it is by accident. Talk about the situation but like Lynn said lets be the Gentlemen that we are. I was banned there due to my partnership with Lynn and those that talked to is inconsistencies in his reviews are true if you do not do what we wants look out. But please stop the name calling and insults that is not who we are.

That's so weird. I had wondered why you stopped posting. That's just crazy.

This is probably just one more whack on a _very_ dead horse, but after reading what's left of the disaster over there and the pages and pages of this thread I'd like to share why I have spent most of my time here (I have accounts at both places).

Joel's sticky/guide on straight razor shaving was very helpful to me in deciding what to buy since when I started out about a month ago my funds were quite limited (thanks to the addition of RAD to my life now they're even more limited).

On one of his honing pages I asked whether I would be ok just buying a new, untouched razor and learning to hone myself. I mentioned that I've spent my whole life sharpening knives and, more relevantly to the idea of shaving, the old-school bowhunting broad-heads that were basically razorblades that you sharpen yourself. I stated that I knew very well (in part due to his guide, and in part due to my broad-head sharpening) the importance of a straight, even bevel and how to make it so. I stated that I was well aware that knives and straight razors are in entirely different worlds as far as sharpness is concerned, but that I felt somewhat confident that given my previous experience and the amount of information available that I could pull it off eventually. I asked that since I could only afford one hone, was his glowing review of the DMT D8EE an endorsement worthy of my investment.

His reply was that knives and broad-heads were way different than razors and that he recommended _every_ newbie get their first razor through a honemeister, and that learning to hone wasn't an immediate need.

I replied back that I was aware that straight razors were in a league of their own, but that I felt confident that given a good hone and patience I could get it down eventually. Since my question had been whether or not I could start with only a D8EE, set a clean bevel, then a good shaving edge, I was still interested in hearing if he thought that it was possible. (He had given _very_ high praise to the D8EE in his guide).

His final response was that it seemed like I had my mind made up, and that it was highly unlikely that I could "get it right" any time soon starting from scratch with my first razor. (I never did get an answer as to whether he thought the D8EE was a good "only hone")

I'm happy to report that, despite the DOVO I ordered having a warped blade which I didn't notice until after I knew what I was doing a little bit, and with much thanks to the useful information in the honing forum here, I have 2 razors now that give a very close, very comfortable shave. My DOVO, which I salvaged a shaving edge from even though there's still some warpage, and a Simmons Royal Hardware that I bought on Ebay, cleaned up, and honed.

This has been quite a long post, but I'd like to say thank you to all you regulars here for three things:
1- I have never had a question go unanswered here.
2- I have never been told "you won't be able to do that" here
3- I have learned _a lot_ here.

I am a member of b&B but trying to get to the straight razor shaving... just went to b&b and added your old profile to my buddy list....just to spite them...

Originally Posted by the wanderer

1- I have never had a question go unanswered here.
2- I have never been told "you won't be able to do that" here
3- I have learned _a lot_ here.

that sums it up nicely

I hate to pull up sleeping threads, especially as a new member but...

I was really, really disappointed with the business on Badger & Brush. I am not a member there and after reading that rubbish I never will be. Even the review section, that many of you are diplomatic towards, didn't impress me.

The whole thing just turned me off. For example, the thread "Why are Zowada's so expensive?" and the attitudes displayed therein. I don't know Mr. Zowada, he must be a very swell man, but one can't help but feel some resentment towards him because of Mr. Joel's post. The way the latter praised Mr. Zowada's work and then pissed all over so many others... if the primary market for your wares are men who fancy themselves gentleman, why do you let yourself be associated with such childish behaviour? Especially childish behaviour from somebody with such an audience? This is coming from me, somebody who is not just a new member here but also a newcomer to traditional shaving methods. Imagine, had I not known about Mr. Zowada's work from this forum, I'd probably refuse to let that pattern-welded steel touch my face.

Of course, if I let the Badger & Brush influence me like that I'd never use a straight razor either. No, I'd just keep using a safety razor.

Yeah, a safety-razor. Not a "double-edge" razor. That makes them sound far, far more dangerous than they really are even if it is technically correct. Don't take a young punks word for it either: my Grandpa was, "... given this safety razor by King George VI himself." Part of the kit, I guess. It was the Mach III of their time.

Just my two cents.

And plz, stop calling it a "str8", k, thx!

There is a lot of very good information available at Badger and Blade, just because some of us have had personal issues with it's owner doesn't negate that.
And although they may lack in the department of political correctness, doesn't mean you shouldn't visit a forum. That is a decision you have to make for yourself, and no one here would look down upon you for being a member there.

As for the post about why Zowadas are worth so much... I may disagree with Joel's reviews of other makers, but I can't deny that Tim Zowada puts out some of the best work available today. I don't think his prices are outrageous, and hope to someday have a custom made by him. He is also a very helpful, open minded, and friendly gentleman.

I sincerely hope you don't let our opinions or Joels sway you too much in either direction. Do your own research, There are many good people on all of the shaving forums who are more than happy to help you, but you still have to make your own path.


And as far as custom makers go, don't feel intimidated, have fun, I don't think there is a custom maker around that wouldn't buy back his razor if it wasn't right.