Thread: I have no experience with straight razors. Need help.

The razor my friend is sending me is a Boker (no handle). He chose this one because he knows I like projects like making handles for knives. After looking at the handle on the cheapo razor I just got it doesn't look like much of a problem so that's good. I looked at a few boker razors and they look like decent razors based on the $100 price tags and up I saw. I know you can't always go by price but is a $100 razor a price that would indicate a good or a GOOD razor? When I get the razor I'll post pictures as well. If you guys are like othere forums, you like pictures. In fact I don't even have the razor that came in the mail today until I post a picture of it. Already got pictures, just need to get to the pc to post them.

I'd like to get a look at it before I start grinding away at this one. I believe I can turn it into something usable though. So once I get it honed I'll send it to one of you to try. Or should MY face shed the first blood?


Jack

Jack

The geometry on your $19 razors is likely way off. Is it one of these Brands of Straight Razors to avoid - Straight Razor Place Wiki ? As far as I know, and that is not very far. the bevel angle on a straight is 18 degrees give or take a degree. There are some threads on here about that and someone more knowledgeable will be along shortlyto further explain that

Bokers are usually good straights depending on condition and the abuse they have suffered. Do not bet the house that brand new straights come shave ready from the factory. Just sort of shave ready may be closer to the truth.

Bob

My brand new razor is on the "no matter what else you may do, DO NOT buy a razor from this company" list.

My suggestion would be to learn shaving with a SR first and worry about learning the honing technique later on in the game. As it was previously suggested, you can get a shave ready SR at a very decent price from this site's classifieds or whippeddog.com. Not only it will help you to recognize what a "shave ready" blade is but you'll start practicing your shaves with an appropriate instrument.

Originally Posted by jackknifeh

My brand new razor is on the "no matter what else you may do, DO NOT buy a razor from this company" list.

I kinda thought so, sorry that was your first buying experience.

Bob

You are not the first and unfortunately you won't be the last - at least it was relatively cheap, I hope. Chalk it up to experience and try to use it to find yourself a nice razor that will serve you well for many years to come.

James.

As usual I am late to the party, welcome to the forum, somewhere in the workshop forum there is a post with a pdf of original razor scale shapes (original as in the shape that would have come with the razor) its about 11 pages if them.
I can't remember exactly where it is here, but I think I downloaded the pdf and I could probably email it to you.
If you were patient you could get the razor, rescale it (i would post good pics FIRST just in case it is too far gone), then send it out for honing, though there are a few guys here who have done the honing themselves. This would save you buying another razor. But obviously this requires patience.
All the best ed.

When starting a new hobby or whatever I tend to do just what I did this time. I try to get away with spending almost nothing ($19 this time) to get a good product. But when I"ve already seen prices of $100 and up I know what to expect. So, at least I know better than to spend $30-$60 for a first try without any specific recommendations. I can at least practice honing with this thing. Actually I'm going to have to treat this like a dull knife first, then start honing. This one is so dull I might let my 3 year old grandson play with it. That's not a joke. Well, joke on me maybe. I should get a Boker in the mail tomorrow or the next day so I should have something to judge by even if it isn't shave ready. I'm getting it from a friend with some experience and says he used to frequent this forum. Like me though he hasn't shaved for a few years.

One gentleman suggested I concentrate on getting a razor that is shave ready to work on my shaving skills and honing later. While probably good advise I'm as interested (excited) about the honing aspect of this shaving hobby (monster ) as shaving itself. I've been working on my knife sharpening skills for about 5 years and now the idea of jumping up to razors is like dangling the super bowl in front of any NFL player. I must say I bought a lot of knives in the past few years in search of the ONE KNIFE (yeah right ) that I wanted. Buying inferior products or knives that just weren't for me resulted in knowledge that you can hardly put a price on. Maybe I just don't want to think about the price (money I spent) I paid. That's for knives and sharpening tools both. I'm hoping I have the sharpening tools I need for razors but won't be too surprised if I decide to get something else. I have stones and strops with abrasives as low as .25 micron diamond (and other compounds) sprays and pastes. We'll see. I already hid the wallet with the plastic inside.

Oh yeah. I have an Edge Pro (Apex model). Does anyone use this for razors? I have a set of Shapton glass stones up to 8k for it. Also strops at very high grit. I hesitate to mention it because I've already conditioned myself to the fact that knives and razors are not the same. Even though I have a good background in sharpening I consider myself as starting over. So, anyone giving me advise please assume I know nothing because it's probably the truth.

Jack

Jack

You had to ask about the edge pro so this should enlighten you a bit http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...intensive.html .

Bob

The reason for getting a shave ready razor is as a control. I don't doubt your ability to get a peice of steel sharp- I do however suspect useless you have shaved with a straight before you have no idea honing a straight is as much about "smooth and polished" a as it is about being sharp.

I say this with all respect to your previous skill but when was the last time you were sharpening a knife and said man this bad boys sharp, now let make it smooth!

The whole thing is to have a baseline- honing a razor to silly sharp may not get you a great shave if your bevels not smooth.

Its kind of like saying I want the sky to be as blue as the ocean- but you live in the desert and never saw a picture of water in your life.... How do you know when your there if you don't know what to look for?

Btw good luck! Base on OP you have acquisition disorder- and RAD is a tough on to avoid.