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

I'm not sure if the title to this thread will get my thoughts across, but here it goes;

I see a lot of threads in the honing section referring to cheap Ebay razors acquired for honing practice. Members, usually new members, acquiring straights from Ebay with the intent to use them in practicing their honing skills. When I read this, two concerns come to my mind immediately.
The first is concern for the razor.

Many of the fine restorations that are completed daily by members of SRP began their rebirth as cheap Ebay purchases. I feel that most of these cheap Ebay purchases are diamonds in the rough. I would like to hope that members purchasing these razors, would look more closely at the razor itself ie. manufacturer, model, overall condition with regard to future restoration and approximate date of manufacture; with price of purchase being second. I realize that not everyone wants to restore every razor they purchase; I would just like to see more of these cheap Ebayers get a second look over. I for one, enjoy seeing the restored razors put back on the line for us all to enjoy.

The second concern, is for the member trying to learn honing on his cheap Ebay purchase.

I feel that a member learning to hone, on a razor in questionable condition (pitted,rusty, chipped, excessive frown/smile) puts himself at a disadvantage to begin with. I read many posts where a member experiences frustration with his honing progress. I feel it has a lot to do with the razor he chose to learn on. In most all of the courses of instruction that I have had in my life, I was given adequate, sometimes top of the line, equipment to learn on. As the course progressed, often the equipment was compromised in some manner or other to make the course more difficult. This tested our ability to apply our new found knowledge. I'm not suggesting that a member who wants to learn honing, needs to purchase a new Dovo to learn on; just consider the condition of the razor a bit more prior to putting it to stone. Putting $20 or $30 more into your starter razor might speed your learning along.

As stated by many, the true test of a honed razor is the shave itsself.
Several of my razors were antique store rescues under $20. If they passed the shave test, they went into the rotation along side the razors that cost hundreds.

Just my thoughts for a nickel.

Couldn't agree more, the biggest problem being rust on shaving edge. Hone wear i don't see as a problem, in fact probably a sign of a good razor in some ways.

Yes, someone shaved with it for quite a while.

Glad you posted it again John, I cringe everytime I read "Cheap e-bay Practice razor" whether for Honing or Restore.. They are after all still antiques and should be treated with respect...


Rant over

Some interesting thoughts here. I definitely see where you're coming from, learning a skill on/with inferior equipment is surely more difficult. I'd liken the experience to when I first learned how to skate on inline rollerblades (I played roller hockey for many years). At the time, I was 8 years-old and had cheap plastic skates that had little to no ankle support (important) and plastic wheels. The points of failure were too numerous to name here. Point is, eventually it became necessary to upgrade and I was given proper hockey skates and the rest is history.

If I can play devil's advocate (as I've recently myself both purchased "cheap ebay razors" and made a post about their use in the honing forum) I'll offer one hypothetical. If at the age of 8 I had expressed my desire to learn how use inline skates to my parents and demanded the best possible skates on which to learn, they'd have delicately explained the lunacy of such a demand. What if I didn't like it? What if I learned but never used them after the first month? How could they reason spending six or seven hundred dollars on a hobby I, as a fickle child, could become bored with sooner than the change of the seasons? There was no guarantee the expense would prove worthwhile. That's just logic. This line of thought applies to, I think, with learning to hone a straight razor. I'll be learning to hone soon, through watching videos, experimentation, and a question or four on the forums. No one is going to teach me in person, no one is going to be there to correct improper from, technique, or whatever else I might mess up out of the gate.

Why risk a perfectly decent razor with clumsy hands and a complete lack of experience? One wouldn't toss the keys to a car worth $100k to a 15 year old and tell him/her to learn to drive without anyone there in the car with him/her. I agree that in the right hands an abandoned razor found on the internet or an antique shop could be restored to it's former glory, but those hands aren't mine. The auctions I won aren't relics from a hundred years ago, they aren't sentimental pieces filled with history, they're dime-a-dozen pieces and were probably such even when they were new. If they are worth something and I'm simply not aware of it, then by all rights I should have been outbid by those who knew better, to keep a perfectly good relic from falling into the hands of an inexperienced novice who will surely do them harm. As it stands, that didn't happen. To quote Pawn Stars, "Just because something is old, doesn't mean it has value."

As you said, just my thoughts for a nickel.

The point I was making doesn't have anything to do with the "cost" in fact that is the point, I can't even count the number of SWEET blades I have snagged off e-bay for less then $20 that were in perfect shape, my point was that if you could see some of the damage that is done to perfectly good razors by newb honers you would cry..

The idea of a razor being called "Cheap" because of the cost is actually my issue...


A perfect example

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...tml#post736914

All of my real steel is eBay, antique store rescues.

I bought two that would never be daily shavers but could become serviceable to experiment restoring and honing with.

I may one day try something new but I have an affinity for the pieces with history behind them.

I also tend to not over “restore” them, just enough love to clean them up nice and put them back into service.

It is a bit of a catch 22, you need one that is in good enough shape to bring into use and all of those would be savable by a halfway skilled restorer.

Getting one that is shave ready and learning by doing your touch up’s first as you learn to strop is probably the way to go.

I on the other hand was hard headed and my first needed work although very little

(polish and hone with a light bevel reset) to be serviceable.

Originally Posted by Vicious

Some interesting thoughts here. I definitely see where you're coming from, learning a skill on/with inferior equipment is surely more difficult. I'd liken the experience to when I first learned how to skate on inline rollerblades (I played roller hockey for many years). At the time, I was 8 years-old and had cheap plastic skates that had little to no ankle support (important) and plastic wheels. The points of failure were too numerous to name here. Point is, eventually it became necessary to upgrade and I was given proper hockey skates and the rest is history.

If I can play devil's advocate (as I've recently myself both purchased "cheap ebay razors" and made a post about their use in the honing forum) I'll offer one hypothetical. If at the age of 8 I had expressed my desire to learn how use inline skates to my parents and demanded the best possible skates on which to learn, they'd have delicately explained the lunacy of such a demand. What if I didn't like it? What if I learned but never used them after the first month? How could they reason spending six or seven hundred dollars on a hobby I, as a fickle child, could become bored with sooner than the change of the seasons? There was no guarantee the expense would prove worthwhile. That's just logic. This line of thought applies to, I think, with learning to hone a straight razor. I'll be learning to hone soon, through watching videos, experimentation, and a question or four on the forums. No one is going to teach me in person, no one is going to be there to correct improper from, technique, or whatever else I might mess up out of the gate.

Why risk a perfectly decent razor with clumsy hands and a complete lack of experience? One wouldn't toss the keys to a car worth $100k to a 15 year old and tell him/her to learn to drive without anyone there in the car with him/her. I agree that in the right hands an abandoned razor found on the internet or an antique shop could be restored to it's former glory, but those hands aren't mine. The auctions I won aren't relics from a hundred years ago, they aren't sentimental pieces filled with history, they're dime-a-dozen pieces and were probably such even when they were new. If they are worth something and I'm simply not aware of it, then by all rights I should have been outbid by those who knew better, to keep a perfectly good relic from falling into the hands of an inexperienced novice who will surely do them harm. As it stands, that didn't happen. To quote Pawn Stars, "Just because something is old, doesn't mean it has value."

As you said, just my thoughts for a nickel.

I'm glad you responded Vicious. It was your recent posting that led me start this thread, though I have been wanting to say this 2 years ago.
Don't take this personal, but if you read my post, I did not compare razors in such value; as you countered my post with skates costing hundreds & cars worth 100k not quite fair, nor a valid comparison.

My son learned to shot on a Marlin costing a $100.00 .22 caliber, I'm sure that he wanted to learn on an H&K MP5 like the one his daddy used on the job; he told me so, but he was given what was appropriate. Your parents did the right thing. But we are adults here, where the difference of $20 to $30 hopefully will not put us in the poor house & it could possibly make your honing lessons a little easier. Your price comparisons are so high that the "logic" cannot apply.

Unless you are dead set against it, I would not rule out someone teaching you honing in person. There are many qualified members in California that can do the job, seminars quite often you can attend.

No one is asking you to restore your razors, just pick the best ones you can , at a price you want, so the process of honing is a more enjoyable for you, that's all. I would say, chose one that you think will be a "shaver" for you, not just a practice honer.

Just because you won it, does not mean it was of lesser value. Many of the people bidding with & against you, knew as little or less about razors , than you do.

You may be an inexperienced novice now (your words, not mine), but one thing is for sure, if you stay in this hobby, you will become experienced, the addiction for this hobby/skill will hit you & in 2 years you will be giving advice on honing to new members here.

Pawn Stars, one of my favorite shows; I don't think I have missed a episode. I've got 4 recorded I need to watch. I know the pawn business, a little, maybe a lot. Don't forget that 95 % of the people entering that pawn shop NEED to get rid of that item, they NEED money now. I like the show, but hate to think of what NEED pushes them to release their family items; at a price that is far below fare.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The point I was making doesn't have anything to do with the "cost" in fact that is the point, I can't even count the number of SWEET blades I have snagged off e-bay for less then $20 that were in perfect shape, my point was that if you could see some of the damage that is done to perfectly good razors by newb honers you would cry..

The idea of a razor being called "Cheap" because of the cost is actually my issue...


A perfect example

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...tml#post736914

I see what you're saying, gssixgun. Monetary value vs. intrinsic value are not the same thing. In my case, I used the term "cheap" to convey price rather than quality, though I will freely admit the value I placed on my purchases was based on $$ alone, not on anything related to the quality/craftsmanship/restore-ability of the pieces, as in if they broke in half tomorrow I wouldn't cry over it simply because I haven't had the chance to "get to know" them yet, as it were. That's not to say that I don't have any respect for the razors themselves just because they were inexpensive, only that at the time I was looking only for what I could get for relatively little money. Point of fact, I found two razors fully restored from the mid-1800's on sale for a song and I was more than sad I didn't win either one because they were absolutely SWEET, so I understand that some good razors are out there for next to nothing. I'm new to straight razors as a whole and I leave open the possibility of getting into restoring them, making my own brushes, even throwing some clay around for scuttles and bowls since I just like working with my hands. Maybe one day I'll learn enough to do a full and proper restoration on my ebay stuff, if not maybe I'll sell/give them to someone who does.

From now on I'll delete "cheap" from the vernacular I use as it can be misconstrued and is ultimately inaccurate.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I'm glad you responded Vicious. It was your recent posting that led me start this thread, though I have been wanting to say this 2 years ago.
Don't take this personal, but if you read my post, I did not compare razors in such value; as you countered my post with skates costing hundreds & cars worth 100k not quite fair, nor a valid comparison.

My son learned to shot on a Marlin costing a $100.00 .22 caliber, I'm sure that he wanted to learn on an H&K MP5 like the one his daddy used on the job; he told me so, but he was given what was appropriate. Your parents did the right thing. But we are adults here, where the difference of $20 to $30 hopefully will not put us in the poor house & it could possibly make your honing lessons a little easier. Your price comparisons are so high that the "logic" cannot apply.

Unless you are dead set against it, I would not rule out someone teaching you honing in person. There are many qualified members in California that can do the job, seminars quite often you can attend.

No one is asking you to restore your razors, just pick the best ones you can , at a price you want, so the process of honing is a more enjoyable for you, that's all. I would say, chose one that you think will be a "shaver" for you, not just a practice honer.

Just because you won it, does not mean it was of lesser value. Many of the people bidding with & against you, knew as little or less about razors , than you do.

You may be an inexperienced novice now (your words, not mine), but one thing is for sure, if you stay in this hobby, you will become experienced, the addiction for this hobby/skill will hit you & in 2 years you will be giving advice on honing to new members here.

Pawn Stars, one of my favorite shows; I don't think I have missed a episode. I've got 4 recorded I need to watch. I know the pawn business, a little, maybe a lot. Don't forget that 95 % of the people entering that pawn shop NEED to get rid of that item, they NEED money now. I like the show, but hate to think of what NEED pushes them to release their family items; at a price that is far below fare.

No offense taken sir, I'm not one to take a general observation as a personal attack and I welcome honest and intelligent discussion. I know there is much I've yet to learn in the world of straight razors and I'm not ashamed of that, "The wise man knows he knows nothing, the fool thinks he knows all." As for my price comparisons and the numbers I used, those were purposefully exaggerated since prices are relative to the thing you are talking about. A razor sold for $1000 is a very nice razor, a car sold for the same amount is likely best used for parts. People are just as varied; to me $5 for a pack of Marlboro is expensive whereas in NY they'd kill to pay only five bucks for smokes (last I checked I think they pay upwards of $10 a pack). When I decided to buy some razors on ebay I said to myself, "Self, we can't spend too much on these, after all, you don't NEED these razors, you just want another razor or two to try this honing thing on so that if it goes horribly terribly wrong (like you fear it will) you'll still have a razor with which to shave. So just get something for under twenty with little shipping so we don't feel like we wasted our money." (I tend to hesitate a LOT when it comes to spending money on myself).

As I said in my response to gssixgun, these aren't "bad" razors, they're just wanting some TLC and it's entirely possible I'll eventually turn them back into shavers.

I'd be open to learning first hand from a person in CA, just a matter of finding both said person and the time.

Pawn Stars is very entertaining for me, especially the "educational" aspect. It is pretty sad sometimes to see people go in to sell grandma's prized "X" to get rent or gamblin money (it is Vegas, after all) but I find the show Hardcore Pawn even worse for that because it's in Detroit and everyone that's on that show is trying to get rent money or drugs (surely due to the magic of TV editing cause according to TV, human suffering is entertainment); it just ends up being depressing. At least Pawn Stars breaks it up with mild comic relief and people who just bring interesting items. And man do some of those people get TAKEN, it's obvious those guys undercut everything they buy; they try to double their money on everything, that's a bigger profit margin than the oil companies. INSANE!

P.S. I also learned to shoot on .22