Thread: Old razor, any hope of using it?

After reading here and watching youtube I got inspired to shave with straghts. So now my gf are mad at me for shaving with the kitchen knives, so I wanted too get a proper one...
Money are tight so got a damaged one for free.

Its sollingen(morning star), but has a piece missing in the middle, also not mutch steel left. Are the steel good for shaving all the way into the spine?

Tryed too upload pic but tapatalk says its disabled?

Great forum btw

Greetings from Norway

Welcome to SRP Einar!
a missing piece is usually a bad thing without a picture hard to tell.

in theory you should be able to hone out any chip but the end result might not be good for shaving.

jim

The missing piece er too deep too remove, but if I just make 2 strokes it may work? Mb round of the "hole" so it doesen't cut my skin?

Einar- shave ready used razors often come up in the classifieds here for very reasonble prices - would probably save you a lot of heartache so you don't get discouraged. You'll see them for 30-50 USD.
And shaving with the kitchen knives?! And I thought I was a man!! Your gf should be impressed! Haha.

Problem are that I live in norway, all used razors here are not cheap, and if I order from america the tax and shipping are also expensive

My gf hates my constant sharpening of knives... She is also the reason I realy can't spend alot on a razor. If we part ways I will use 500dollars on one, but not likely too happen

As always,wellcome to SRP.This is a funny thread.

Originally Posted by Einar

Problem are that I live in norway, all used razors here are not cheap, and if I order from america the tax and shipping are also expensive

My gf hates my constant sharpening of knives... She is also the reason I realy can't spend alot on a razor. If we part ways I will use 500dollars on one, but not likely too happen

To answer your questions, first, the steel may not be uniform as you move from edge to spine, as a result of the tempering process. It could be fine, but it could also get softer as you move into the spine area.

Second, it is not generally adviseable, but if you were to hone it, it would still be functional with a chip out of the middle, but the likelihood of cutting yourself increases a lot. If you are deadset on this razor, you could probably take steel off of the back half of the blade and dull it, and hone the front half to use.

This week I started working on a Gold Dollar 66 I got off of eBay ~ 10$us including the shipping. No. it was not shave ready but with basic hones and pasted strop and about 2hr it's not that bad of a shaver. BBS after 3 passes, no. But after 5 passes its a respectable shave.
It was fun doing and if I can, you should be able to do it too.

Einar,
Find something that gf likes about you and do a lot of it, then gf will soften up and let you be the man that you are. There are many gf's here that think their boyfriends are crazy for the time and money spent on shaving so you are among brothers, not alone, well, maybe you are alone shaving with your kitchen knives. Welcome to SRP!

Hello Einar!

Welcome to the most friendly, helpful and informative site on the web!!

You will find members here of all different backgrounds, ages and occupations from all corners of the world and all with a quest for more knowledge about using and maintaining a straight razor!

If you take the time to search, 99.9% of your questions can be found in the Library (WIKI) however feel free to ask us about whatever it is that you are wondering about or having a problem with. It does help if you’ve done some research before hand so it narrows the problem down a bit.

You are not alone in your area!!! Please Check out this!

Nordic region

As far as your description of your razor that was 'free' without pictures I can't be sure, but it sounds like you probably have a nice unique letter opener! I wouldn't advice trying to shave with it!!

Now! If you can't find any help from the Nordic members, give me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you as to finding you a nice inexpensive beginner's razor! The price would be very reasonable! I won't be the one selling you a razor, it would come from one of my friends! They are very trustworthy! Shipping from the states is actually fairly reasonable. I have a mate in the UK and I've cleaned up and honed several razors for him!

Remember that you will need a strop!!! Otherwise you're dead in the water after a shave, maybe two!

You mentioned sharpening knives. As a former meat cutter I guarantee you that sharpening knives and honing razors is as different as black and white/night and day!

I strongly advise you to not even consider learning to hone for at least a year of daily use of a straight razor! The learning curves of Stropping, Making Lather and getting a successful shave are two many to count! The last thing you need to add to the mix is learning to hone while 'trying' to learn to shave with a straight! (ask pinklather why he chose that 'title')!
http://straightrazorpalace.com/members/pinklather.html

Again, Welcome, be patient, patience is the #1 thing needed with using, maintaining and everything else about a straight razor involves!