Thread: Boker Edelweiss

Originally Posted by simplerbydesign

Can anyone confirm or deny that Hart Steel Razors are truly shave ready out of the box? I know that a lot of people say that no new production razor is truly shave ready but from what I have heard about Hart Steel they don't seem to do things the same way as other companies and I really want to support them because they are American and I respect what they are doing. I was thinking of buying one and when I get it (if it comes shave ready), I was going to send my Edelweiss to a professional honer (I don't know who yet) so that I wouldn't have to put my straight shaving on hold while I wait for my Edelweiss to get back from the Honer. Any thoughts or information that would help me with this? I have a shavet to practice with but it is cheap and doesn't get the best shave to say the least.

I would go this route but since I have RAD, if I were you try a honed Edelweiss ( now you have two!!) so you can compare. And after you shave with your honed one, rotate to the first one and if it's miles different, get it honed. If not, work on your technique. Good luck and have fun!

Is the new Edelweiss from Hart? Just checking! One thing is certain, as the vintage Edelwiess Bokers were made, the Masters were still at the bench! I thought the new ones are Dovos?

Originally Posted by simplerbydesign

Can anyone confirm or deny that Hart Steel Razors are truly shave ready out of the box? I know that a lot of people say that no new production razor is truly shave ready but from what I have heard about Hart Steel they don't seem to do things the same way as other companies and I really want to support them because they are American and I respect what they are doing. I was thinking of buying one and when I get it (if it comes shave ready), I was going to send my Edelweiss to a professional honer (I don't know who yet) so that I wouldn't have to put my straight shaving on hold while I wait for my Edelweiss to get back from the Honer. Any thoughts or information that would help me with this? I have a shavet to practice with but it is cheap and doesn't get the best shave to say the least.

Judging by the last line about the shavette being cheap and not giving the best shave I would still think it is your technique more than blade sharpness/shave readiness. They may be cheap but they can shave as barbers use them.

Bob

Just to be clear, I am not saying your Boker is shave ready if it has a factory edge just that shavettes should be more than capable of giving a good shave.

Just a little update... I have read what everyone here has written and I appreciate all of it. Thank you all for taking the time. I agree 100% with the fact that my technique is lacking. I am learning as last nights shave was still only the 3rd, I have done with a Straight Razor. However I do seem to have the first pass down as far as how I am holding the razor as the razor doesn't seem to pull or hurt. The only part of the first pass that I am still struggling with is under the nose but I am sure that I will figure it out. Now to my decision.... I think as of this second, my plan is to call up Hart Steel and see what they say about whether or not their razors are professionaly honed and stropped. If they say that they are 100% shave ready I will probably buy one of those because I just plain want one lol. If they are (and maybe if they are anyway lol) I will buy another edelweiss that is professionally sharpened. I like the idea of having two that are the same model to compare. This will allow me to learn how to hone abe able to compare it to a perfectly sharp razor of the same make and model! BTW do you usually tape the spine of the razor up before you hone so that the spine of the razor doesn't get scratched up? Thanks again everyone!

You could also consider some local-made vintage steel from Elmira by finding a nice-condition Carrier cutlery razor and sending out to be properly honed. You would not be disappointed!

Wow! I didn't know that there was a Straight Razor Manufacture in Elmira, NY.

Originally Posted by simplerbydesign

Just a little update... I have read what everyone here has written and I appreciate all of it. Thank you all for taking the time. I agree 100% with the fact that my technique is lacking. I am learning as last nights shave was still only the 3rd, I have done with a Straight Razor. However I do seem to have the first pass down as far as how I am holding the razor as the razor doesn't seem to pull or hurt. The only part of the first pass that I am still struggling with is under the nose but I am sure that I will figure it out. Now to my decision.... I think as of this second, my plan is to call up Hart Steel and see what they say about whether or not their razors are professionaly honed and stropped. If they say that they are 100% shave ready I will probably buy one of those because I just plain want one lol. If they are (and maybe if they are anyway lol) I will buy another edelweiss that is professionally sharpened. I like the idea of having two that are the same model to compare. This will allow me to learn how to hone abe able to compare it to a perfectly sharp razor of the same make and model! BTW do you usually tape the spine of the razor up before you hone so that the spine of the razor doesn't get scratched up? Thanks again everyone!

Do a search on this forum (up in the right hand corner google custom search) for "tape or no tape" and you will get many posts on this subject. It is a matter of preference. Some tape all razors. Some only tape those with damascus steel or gold overlays. The biggest argument for taping is cosmetics. The argument for not taping is that the angle of the bevel is less likely to change as the thickness of the spine decreases with the width of the blade after many hones. One thing to remember is if you set a bevel with tape, you need to tape that razor the next time you hone it or you will need to reset the bevel.

FYI, HART recomends taping the spines of their razors.

Another small bit of advice and that is not to worry too much about honing or learning to do so right away. It is usually more than enough work to get everything dialed in to get a really good shave and can take 6 months to get that far. Honing is just as time consuming to learn to do well and usually best left till later. OTH you can jump right in if you like, nothing says you can't.

Bob

Well I don't know exactly what I am going to do yet but I did have an interesting phone conversation that I though some people might like to hear about. I went on Hart Steel's website because I wanted to get there phone number. I called the number they gave me on their site and apparently it was classic shavings number (I knew that they were linked with classic shaving but I figured that they would at least have different phone numbers). I talked to a lady there and I accidentally said that I had a question about there safety razors and she said how do you know we are working on making a safety razor. At that point I said I am sorry I miss-spoke. I meant Straight Razor. So it at least looks like Hart Steel is looking into making a safety razor to expand their line-up. Anyway the lady that I spoke to on the phone told me that these razors are 100% shave ready. No need to even strop them before you shave for the first time with them. She said that the "ATs" that make these razors had hone and strop every razor and they are checked for sharpness before they are shipped.

You might find this thread http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ave-ready.html interesting and there may be others.

Bob