Thread: Affordable razors that run the steel hardness gamut?

Not much variety is possible and still have a razor that can both take a good edge and hold it for a decent amount of time.

Originally Posted by Shokunin

Not condescending at all. I'm a advanced knife sharpener, with a collection of nearly 30 Jnats, and nearly 20 other stones from around the world, without about a 12 of them used for razors, and a dozen+ synths. I use a kamisori (fits the Japanese theme) and am ready to branch out into western straights. Since I spend my time sharpening all the time with so many different stones that I take pretty quickly to them - but true, the straights could be (and are) a different animal in terms of my ability to take to them.

I'm relieved (and also somewhat disappointed) in the short range of steel hardness, so now the biggest obstacle will be grind styles and the hones.

Well, you set for hones then.

There should be no disappointment in the short range of steel hardness. After all of 300 odd years of straight razor making that nominal 62 Rockwell hardness has proven to be about right for most steels commonly use in straight razor making.

Grind style should not really matter as all western style straight razors are ground symmetrically regardless of being near wedge or bellied hollow and should hone the same way. The trouble starts when someone buggers up the grind at the makers or through poor honing.

The biggest obstacle is actually honing enough razors to become proficient. I am sure you will have fun and enjoy the process.

Bob