Thread: Choices for beginners-your equipment.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

To quote from the Star Shaving Website: "The edge that the manufacturer has put on this straight razor is not a ready to shave edge."

If you think it is close to shave ready I suggest this seller is honing the razors pror to despatch. Obviosly they are not honed to your satisfaction tho.

I would say the G&F will probably stay on our "avoid" list for a while yet.

Oz, no one was more surprised than me that the razor that arrived today was in such exceptional conditional. They enclose a multilingual essay on the razor and claim unreservedly that this is a shave ready razor. Like most I sort of thought, yeah right, lets go to the hones. I was actually expecting a tough challenge, thinking, if I can get this ready, I can conquer anything! lol. Fact for me is that as you point out, this has seen a hone, and a strop. I can't explain it mate, but it's brother, I bought a year ago, was horrible and took forever to hone, as you rightly say. This razor has been treated differently, I've no idea why, but it is a balanced full hollow Hamburg Ring Timor 6/8 with a horn scales. Maybe I got lucky, but in all seriousness I can't fault it out of the box. One thing for sure though is it won't take a week and several hours to get ready. I'll let you know tomorrow when it will get a shave test.

Yours, amazed
Bob

Originally Posted by bobski

Oz, no one was more surprised than me that the razor that arrived today was in such exceptional conditional. They enclose a multilingual essay on the razor and claim unreservedly that this is a shave ready razor. Like most I sort of thought, yeah right, lets go to the hones. I was actually expecting a tough challenge, thinking, if I can get this ready, I can conquer anything! lol. Fact for me is that as you point out, this has seen a hone, and a strop. I can't explain it mate, but it's brother, I bought a year ago, was horrible and took forever to hone, as you rightly say. This razor has been treated differently, I've no idea why, but it is a balanced full hollow Hamburg Ring Timor 6/8 with a horn scales. Maybe I got lucky, but in all seriousness I can't fault it out of the box. One thing for sure though is it won't take a week and several hours to get ready. I'll let you know tomorrow when it will get a shave test.

Yours, amazed
Bob

Just a note re the 571 G & F 6/8 Hamburg Ring. From it's arrival yesterday, it took a little longer than I would have thought.I patiently nurtured it. Put it this way, had a better than average shave this arvo. As a fellow member Havachat45 told me once they were tough to get an edge on, but once you got it, it's a fine shaver. Agree with him. Now lets face reality, this is not an easy to hone razor, so even though I like it, I'd say to fellas looking for the bargain, I'd echo what onimaru55 says. Be careful. Always remember it is on the 'razors to avoid' list, for a reason. Be guided by your observations, but consult a bloke like Oz (Onimaru55), Remember, your 1st razor, importantly needs to be honed by a professional honer, it opens many doors to learn the ways of the 'Force'.
What a top day I've had taming the dreaded G & F, thanks guys for indulging me in my pursuits.

Cheers Bob

It seems that way with not only what I have read here, but my experience with new shavers also. All the ones I have successfully honed so far have been way older than me. My first honing success was one from the 1930s. I bought a Timor 'night lights' razor, and putting it through the same method as the old razors did not yield the same result. They must be a lot harder steel these days, so perhaps they hold a better edge once they get one.

Originally Posted by Robbied

It seems that way with not only what I have read here, but my experience with new shavers also. All the ones I have successfully honed so far have been way older than me. My first honing success was one from the 1930s. I bought a Timor 'night lights' razor, and putting it through the same method as the old razors did not yield the same result. They must be a lot harder steel these days, so perhaps they hold a better edge once they get one.

Some vintages are hard & some are tempered softer. Really depends on many factors.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Some vintages are hard & some are tempered softer. Really depends on many factors.

Agree with both posts. The steel in the two razors I have is undoubtedly harder than any of my full hollow grounds, and as such are very inflexible, unlike say a dovo extra hollow, that you have to be aware of flexing the blade. These G & F's are seriously hard, BUT, the one I bought a year ago has retained the edge well, compare it to say the edge on a stainless blade, I haven't had a chance yet to use the latest one, but is going to be tested tomorrow. As we know it is a hard razor to get right, but patience will give you a nice shave. Not a razor however, as you Oz pointed out correctly, for a 1st razor, in fact to be accurate, unless you are able to hone it yourself, then it would cost more for the honing to be done for you.

Thanks Gentlemen

Bob

Originally Posted by bobski

Agree with both posts. The steel in the two razors I have is undoubtedly harder than any of my full hollow grounds, and as such are very inflexible, unlike say a dovo extra hollow, that you have to be aware of flexing the blade. These G & F's are seriously hard, BUT, the one I bought a year ago has retained the edge well, compare it to say the edge on a stainless blade, I haven't had a chance yet to use the latest one, but is going to be tested tomorrow. As we know it is a hard razor to get right, but patience will give you a nice shave. Not a razor however, as you Oz pointed out correctly, for a 1st razor, in fact to be accurate, unless you are able to hone it yourself, then it would cost more for the honing to be done for you.

Thanks Gentlemen

Bob

Just semantics but a razor can be not 'hard' temper wise but very stiff due to it's grind eg wedges & half hollows. G&F's fall more into that category being half hollowish. 58-59HRC is not that hard compared to say at the extreme end, an Iwasaki western @ 65-67HRC.

Most stainless razors are 'tough' & abrasion resistant but again in the G&F hardness range.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Just semantics but a razor can be not 'hard' temper wise but very stiff due to it's grind eg wedges & half hollows. G&F's fall more into that category being half hollowish. 58-59HRC is not that hard compared to say at the extreme end, an Iwasaki western @ 65-67HRC.

Most stainless razors are 'tough' & abrasion resistant but again in the G&F hardness range.

Gentlemen,
We all agree that these razors can be difficult to hone to shave readiness. However this can be achieved, with patience, persistence, and a fair bit of faith in your skills. point 1. I honed my 1st 571 G & F a year ago, and it is a lovely shave, and from a longevity point of view, seems fine. Point 2,Two days ago, I received as posted a 2nd identical 571 G & F, horn scales, lovely presentation, it arrived very close to ready. To be truthful, it wasn't as simple a task as I had believed it would be, but finishing it off on the Suehiro 20 k after some coaxing on an Icebear 10k (No more than a dozen super light slurry strokes, five more clear), Now after what is no more than two short sessions, it has popped sharp. I can't speak to more experienced shavers/honers opinions, but I simply show that, these razors aren't a lemon, and offer a different honing experience for members. Many don't like them, fair enough. But I get lovely shaves, and I like the stiffness of the blade and it's weight at more like 13/16 in length gives an indication of what you are in for. 3rd point is it, is at a delivered price/exchange rate in Australia of $121.75 makes this razor a feasible purchase. Whatever works for the individual, honing skills and patience gets you across the line. Good luck.

Regards Bob