Thread: Cheap Ebay Razors for Honing Practice, Really??

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

Tom C, is that you?

John T

You have the right category of original source, however that doesn't negate the concept.

Originally Posted by mdarnton

Everyone has to learn somehow. You didn't pop from the womb able to do it, either.

That "somehow" can cost a lot of money you know, so why not go the well established and tested way instead of wasting dollar signs and neurons??

I love the way you razor guys try to increase the mystery rather than cutting through it. And I say that as someone who's probably (not certainly, of course--I don't know all of you) taught more beginners to sharpen things than anyone here.

Sharpening just ain't that hard. Sure it requires dexterity, as you say, but working slowly is a proven substitute for dexterity. The rest is just information and experience. Straight razors are by far the easiest things to sharpen well that I've ever worked with, and if someone happens to wreck a $10 ebay razor in the process of learning, what's it to you?

Originally Posted by mdarnton

I love the way you razor guys try to increase the mystery rather than cutting through it.

Straight razors are by far the easiest things to sharpen well that I've ever worked with, and if someone happens to wreck a $10 ebay razor in the process of learning, what's it to you?

Yet there is tons of information on how to do it correctly not much of a mystery, you just have to want to learn..

It is a loss of possible History, and being somebody that works with antiques I would have expected you to understand that.

Also after reading your other posts about Burrs and sharpening, I have doubts about the ease at which you think razors hone... As the sayng goes for every "Expert" of 3 months is a student at 6 months that begins to realize what they didn't understand, and a honer at 1 year that realizes they knew nothing... After that they understand how easy it really was, if they had just listened

Originally Posted by mdarnton

I love the way you razor guys try to increase the mystery rather than cutting through it. And I say that as someone who's probably (not certainly, of course--I don't know all of you) taught more beginners to sharpen things than anyone here.

Sharpening just ain't that hard. Sure it requires dexterity, as you say, but working slowly is a proven substitute for dexterity. The rest is just information and experience. Straight razors are by far the easiest things to sharpen well that I've ever worked with, and if someone happens to wreck a $10 ebay razor in the process of learning, what's it to you?

As an observer, I suspect the offensive comments are generalizations and not directed at those new to honing razors but experienced with related endeavors. At least that is how I avoid being offended here.

I do wonder where to find these cheap ebay razors. By the time I add shipping to Canada and filter out the obvious junk (and the conus only), I don't see anything under $50.

Originally Posted by mdarnton

Everyone has to learn somehow. You didn't pop from the womb able to do it, either.

I think that is the whole point of the forum and of this thread. We share our experience for the benefit of all who might get something from it.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

It is a loss of possible History, and being somebody that works with antiques I would have expected you to understand that.

I am reminded of the popularity of "refinishing" antiques some 25 years ago. So many valuable pieces stripped of the original finish and coated with glossy polyurethane.

Originally Posted by mdarnton

I love the way you razor guys try to increase the mystery rather than cutting through it. And I say that as someone who's probably (not certainly, of course--I don't know all of you) taught more beginners to sharpen things than anyone here.

Sharpening just ain't that hard. Sure it requires dexterity, as you say, but working slowly is a proven substitute for dexterity. The rest is just information and experience. Straight razors are by far the easiest things to sharpen well that I've ever worked with, and if someone happens to wreck a $10 ebay razor in the process of learning, what's it to you?

To drag back to the thread's origins, it would appear that some do not see the razors on eBay as "ebay razors", but potentially worthy candidates for restoration or preservation. That point of view may have merit, but I don't know.

I also think the goal is not to make honing mysterious, though there does seem to be quite a bit of that floating around; I think what Stefan was getting at is that folks get into honing before knowing even how to shave. This is simply a case of minimizing variables when trying to diagnose an uncomfortable shave.

Originally Posted by mdarnton

I love the way you razor guys try to increase the mystery rather than cutting through it. And I say that as someone who's probably (not certainly, of course--I don't know all of you) taught more beginners to sharpen things than anyone here.

Sharpening just ain't that hard. Sure it requires dexterity, as you say, but working slowly is a proven substitute for dexterity. The rest is just information and experience. Straight razors are by far the easiest things to sharpen well that I've ever worked with, and if someone happens to wreck a $10 ebay razor in the process of learning, what's it to you?

Where did any of us say honing was a mystery?

Here is your mystery- form a bevel on each side of the blade, make them meet and form an edge, polish to as high grit as you like, have fun shaving. That is it not mystery there. But there are some facts to consider, from the countless threads asking for help it looks like it is not that simple to execute. Reason very few razors are nice and straight and have no corrosion in the beveles, or have no frowns or have no warps or have no issues at all.

I see a lot of threads where a newbie will come and ask for advise because they could not hone their razor, it looks like there is an issue there.
No one was denied advise when it comes to honing their own razors, but the history shows there are far more newbies (to the SR shaving) having issues with honing than more experienced shavers.

Here is a good read

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...-question.html