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Having spent two days in fruitless search of ebay for a practice razor, not knowing which might be any good, I've decided to ask here.
Does anyone have a razor that would be good for learning to hone? Let know what you have and what you want for it.
Thanks,
Tom
Tom, I'm surprised no one has responded to your question. I received two razors to practice on by starting a thread here. Those same razors are now my best shavers. You really don't want to use inferior razors to practice with. Ideally, razors of good quality should be used since they can hold an edge well.
Wait a little while to see if anyone responds to you. If not, look around - buy a decent razor from Classicshaving.com or look in a local antique shop. They sometimes have old, but quality, razors. You can find good razors at classicshaving for under $100. Don't be afraid to start honing - jump right in. It's not brain surgery. Just assess what the razor needs, then hone accordingly. A new razor won't need too much honing.
Sorry I don't have any razors for you.
-Rob
When looking in an antique, how can you tell if a razor is a good one other than just its overall condition. convex edge, straight blade, etc.?
Tom
Tom,
You want to make sure the edge is not warped, bowed or crooked (like a snake). That's fairly uncommon though. The more important thing is to make sure that the edge is straight and has not been honed so much that it has a smile or a frown. Also make sure that there are no nicks or chips in the edge. Another thing to look for is if the spine has any hone wear. If a razor has been honed too much, the spine will also be worn down. These things can tell you if a razor has been used up or not. Many of the experts here like Lynn or Bill Ellis can correct some of these issues if they aren't too bad. Lastly there are the cosmetic things like scratches, dark spots, rust spots or pits, which, if not near the edge can usually be buffed out. I hope that helps.
Ed