Thread: Cheap Straight good for practice?

Just wondering... there are a good number of razors listed in the FAQ as not worth using...
However, they can be purchased very cheaply... would it be worth it to buy a few of these to practice honing? Or do you think they should be avoided altogether?

opinions?

Thanks

i do not think so.. the whole point of honing is to get a shave ready razor.

Originally Posted by Sean64

Just wondering... there are a good number of razors listed in the FAQ as not worth using...
However, they can be purchased very cheaply... would it be worth it to buy a few of these to practice honing? Or do you think they should be avoided altogether?

opinions?

Thanks

Avoid them. How are you going to rate your progress if you never stand a chance of getting it sharp? There's little point practising how to drag crap steel over a rock.
Get a shabby vintage if that's all you want it for. You'll not better the steel.

You better get yourself a cheap and cheerful vintage razor for practice. At least they will take an edge. At the end of the day the purpose of practicing is acquiring the skills to create a shave-ready edge.

++1 on the previous advice. At the end of the day, the reason for practicing honing is to perfect your skills to make a razor shave ready. If the razor you are honing won't hold an edge, then how will you be able to tell if you improved your skill?

jhenry makes a very good point and I agree with this way of thinking.

Thanks for the opinions... I guess I will try to find a good cheap one on ebay.

Sean64,

+1 on the previous advice.

You can find some vintage 'no-name' German (Solingen, Hamburg) razors form the 1930s for not a lot of money.

These are ideal for both honing and stropping practice as they are well made, of very good steel and take a wicked edge.

I have a 9/16 Solingen blade I use for this purpose, and I ended up shaving with it

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ