Thread: new razor, new gear, new hone

Hello everyone. I have read lots and lots of posts and messages and even watched a few videos and well for the past 8 hours I have been trying to make an informed decision on a course of action... which I feel I'm going to undertake. I bought a crap razor - which I knew was crap from the start... there is no need to bring that point up. I am and have been interested in using straight razors and well buying crap to mess around with and ruin isnt a bad idea for me.

My search for a cheap razor was a zeepk which everyone swears by as being horrible... sure, I'll take your word for it. I also got a Norton 4000/8000 on its way. the 'set' I got was actually 2 zeepks and a strop and a brush. I dont expect much from them - they were cheap, but I want to learn to hone with them.

My question arises from the fact that everyone says they are junk but with NO real conclusion of them, they are just 'bad.' Now what I'd like to know is is it that they are extremely difficult to hone or do they just not keep an edge or do they just give a poor shave or what? I really really looked and never found someone say exactly what things I should expect from these razors. I want to be able to be 'good enough' to get a fairly sharp edge on them and then try working on getting it more and more sharp.. eventually if I can get it to be sharp enough to shave with I'll invest in a real blade, but first I want to be informed on what difficulties I should expect.

I have a week before my stuff comes in so I have time to do a little more research and learn some more.

I'm open to learn - I've read the whole badger and blade de vs straight all the sections - if you dont know what I'm talking about
The Interactive Guide to Straight Razor Shaving - Badger & Blade
that article and other posts and info put me on the track to try and hone these blades and hopefully make them usable or at least to a 'partial' degree.

I could have gotten a $100 presharpened blade, but I felt that I would only have to buy the stones eventually anyway... why not buy something cheap, get it to work, then buy something worthy of preserving. Now I know what to look out for in pawn shops and other antique places.

so... I have read a lot, but I know nothing. Please help me know what is really in front of me... getting a zeepk to usable form.

Now what I'd like to know is is it that they are extremely difficult to hone or do they just not keep an edge or do they just give a poor shave or what?


Add poor steel if it really is steel to the above and you start to get the idea.

As you will never get a good edge from a Zeepk you better not even use them as practice razors for honing. Just use them as letter openers. If you leave one on your desk they can act as conversation starters on straight razor shaving.

I'm interested in trying out straight razor shaving - and eventually if it's possible to get them sharp, for even one shave, it'd be an experience. I didnt want to spend a lot of money on a razor that I wasnt sure I'd want to keep... plus the fact that i'd also want a brush and soap... and strop (I found the kit rather attractive). I dont expect much from it - and I dont expect to pick it up and shave with it for a while... but I would like to try and hone it and see if I can get a edge on it that would even be marginal... or better. I know this isnt the best type of situation for a 'first shave' but I'm willing to give it a shot... if I like the feel of the method I think I'd invest in some real steel... anyway, on to the real questions.

What exactly are their issues? If it's the holding of an edge... how sharp can they get? sharp enough for my intended purpose? what makes their metal poor - is it to soft or too hard or is it full of impurities? I havent really heard any real explination as to why their blades are so horrible.

Nearly all of the steel cutting tools coming out of that area of the world, are designed to be cheap and disposable. The steel that they use is very soft, and most likely contains MUCH more impurities because they only care about mass production (I think they supply America with a lot of surgical tools, scalpels etc.). I've also heard of them being poorly shaped as well. I mean, the grind was uneven and twisted slightly along the length of the blade.

I heard one account of a guy trying to send a hunting knife to a "knife maker" in Pakistan to have the blade and bolsters engraved, they sent the knife back with a note that the steel was too hard to be worked with! Which is nonsense, thousands of bladesmiths in America/Europe/Japan work with much more exotic steels on a daily basis with no problems. It's just one account, but to me it summarizes the issue; low quality tools and materials and poorly skilled workers trying to earn a buck as fast as possible.

That said, I've never tried them, so a grain of salt is in order.

But if the steel is anything softer than the standard straight razor, you can expect the edge to last less than half as long, if you can, in fact, put a good edge on the item.

Why not try aWapi they are cheap but in my experience theyare made of very good steel.Paul

Originally Posted by Tuskin

I'm interested in trying out straight razor shaving - and eventually if it's possible to get them sharp, for even one shave, it'd be an experience.

My suggestion, as I'm sure you've seen on here already, would be to get a shave ready razor on the BST here. I'll bet you can find a decent one for less than $50. Then, buy a less expensive non-shave ready razor to practice your honing.

Keep in mind that shaving with a straight and really getting the experience of it takes some time and perseverance. Take your time and be patient with yourself and enjoy the whole process.

Jordan

I say take your Norton stone and hone the pee out of that razor. Start by looking as closely as you can at the edge of the razor. Use some optics to look. If it will sharpen up you can shave with it. If you cant shave with it you will have some good experience.

Well when I get the stuff in I'll let you guys know about my attempts and then when I start running into problems :-) as will happen. I'll let you guys know. You've been a great help. Right now I'm just going to keep an eye out for straight razors in pawn shops and other similar markets. If I find something with a quality steel I'll get it professionally sharpened to enjoy the shave... but I'm trying to keep the cost low on my first attempts

Alright, well I have a lot to learn still so I'm off to read.

Several years ago I tried honing a few of the z's. The grind of the blade was very poor. The thickness of the spine varied so it would not lay flat on the hone. I continued honing and eventually the edge became sharp. The shave felt like I was shaving with sandpaper, coarse feeling compared to other vintage razors that I had. Others at that time reported that the edge did not last long and needed stropping in mid shave.

There was a document in the help files that reported that Pakistan purchased most of the steel from old Army tanks and such to use for re-smelting.In short, they were not careful about their steel.

In the knife making world a steel of unknown origins is referred to as a Mystery steel and the problem is one of determining the proper heat treatment. Str8 razors are really picky about what steel is used.

There, that is what we have done and learned. Poor grinding that makes it difficult to hone and an edge that is both coarse feeling and will not stand up to repeated use.

Hope this helps,