Am I just crazy?

So I have maybe 10-15 razors (most are completely finished in terms of being worked on) that I consider to be my 'collection'. I shave with them and really wouldn't want to have one that I don't shave with. Now 10-15 isn't a bad number, but here's where I might be crazy– I feel kind of unsatisfied because I think that is still TOO MANY! Now I have this bright idea to whittle it down to like 4 or even 8 if I can't keep it at 4 and ONLY keep the razors that shave me the best. Completely regardless of looks. I know it would probably devastate me too. Am I sick or something? Considering the looks of a razor are very important to me, this would be so hard to do. I have realized though that I really only want to keep a razor if I love the looks AND the shave it gives me. Not that any of mine don't shave well, but you know how some are just smoother or a better feel for you than others for no reason... What do I do? lol

Quite the conundrum, I am in a similar position. I have far too many razors(:eek:what am I saying!)far more than I need:gthall of them are great shavers, some are quite old, some are just classics some appeal to me for one reason while the others appeal to me for other reasons. I keep thinking I should cull the herd, but in all honesty I cant seem to find any razor(s) that deserve to get the boot.What to do, what to do?:gaah: Maybe Auntie Jimbo will chime in and help us to end this agony!God help us!

I share the same feeling. I have a "small" collection, only 10 or so (a pittance compared to most member's collections). But I feel as if I can't get to them all as much as I'd like to, so it feels as if I have too many:thinking:

Back when I had only three razors, I'd stick with one at a time for a week straight, which felt nice, I got to appreciate the ins-and-outs of that razor, become acclimatized to it. Yet it was not too long before I could come back to it.

With ~10, I feel a bit more frenetic, "which one to go with?"...."I really love that LeGrelot, but haven't taken the Wusthof out in a while....and that Worldmaster feels so good in my hand!...." I tend to jump around a bit more.

I recently sold off two razors, but am eyeing two more!:cry:

If you figure it out, please let me know....

I'm like you. I have 7 razors in holders on my counter top. I really use only one of them. Occasionally I'll grab for one or two of the others, but the one is my daily razor. I like the looks of all of these on my counter and they are all good shavers. I have several others that I keep in my barber collection display case.

There is just something about having those seven razors in view and available. I've had thoughts about putting all away except for my daily . I just can't bring myself to do it. It would feel somehow wrong.

Maybe I'm crazier than you....:eek:



Scott

i don't know to call this addiction or hobby .i know it doesn't matter how many razor you have( i have seen 1 member had 1000 razor he wanted have each made razors and he got it) this will push you look around and buy another then another so on so on.I could say it is not just razor hones same.i have 15-20 escher's etc,etc but still buying why don't know?maybe 80 razor 's again looking around and want to buy.Recently find out i had blades put some place and forget about them after 3 years i find them most of them have bend handles now.What i want to say this may be cjoin hobbit +addiction don't know but something interesting hazard:bow

What is the reason behind your bright idea and how does it outweigh the sick feeling you'd get by unloading many of your best razors?

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

What is the reason behind your bright idea and how does it outweigh the sick feeling you'd get by unloading many of your best razors?

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There's no exact reason I suppose. I prefer to have less rather than more of something in general. I try to minimize my belongings when and if I can. I just don't enjoy having more "stuff" for the sake of having more. I know razors aren't just "stuff" but why keep more than necessary when I don't consider myself a collector? It came about today in particular when I shaved with a razor of mine that isn't particularly pretty– rather bland by my standards– but it shaved/s sooooo well. I rarely if ever use it, but when I do I am blown away. Guess I thought to myself "why don't I just keep this one and shave with it every time?? My face would at least thank me."

I wouldn't feel 'sick' to sell some of my razors, but I'd feel sad for a minute. I'm sure it would pass soon though. I don't know what to do still. Seems like honedright in particular knows exactly how I feel lol.

tell you what I will store all the extra razors you guys have and then when this silliness passes you will still have your collections. it doesn't matter if you use them you are the care takers of the next generations razors. just keep them safe till the next owner come by. you don't have to find him he will find you.:nono:

Alex,
I'm the same way, I have about 18 or so on my bathroom counter on a piece of marble. I want to wittle it down to about 7 or so, I have more in coffins in my closet I haven't even used yet, So, I don't know what to do. Plus, I'll be getting that W&B from you, and that's so nice, it's gonna have to be one that's in my shave rotation. I guess a lot of us have the same problem...

i just rotate them one day at a time. (all four of them). that way they each get used.

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Originally Posted by Doc

it doesn't matter if you use them you are the care takers of the next generations razors. just keep them safe till the next owner come by. you don't have to find him he will find you.:nono:

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That makes some sense. Although it goes against my not wanting things just for the sake of having them. Not like I'd destroy the unwanted razors lol.

You aren't any more crazy than most here, I'd bet.;)

I have the same problem too... I would really like to drop to a 7 day set... but it would break my heart if I got rid of the 20 razors in my regular rotation.

They are all special in their own way, and they all handle a little different with the shave. :shrug:


If you figure a way out of this, let me know. :hmmm:

Recently I reduced the number of razors I have down to five. I think this might actually go down to two.

It isn't that I didn't like the razors I sold. I did. But I found I just didn't use them. I don't like having things around unless they are in use. I'm not a collector.

But be warned, when you sell them on, they are gone. It isn't so easy to find replacements and the good ones that are in great condition and little used are few and far between now days. There are an awful lot of refurbs about and a lot of razors sold on by people swapping and changing to try and find perfection.

So a good reason to keep them is that they may actually prove to be an investment.

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Originally Posted by Philadelph

So I have maybe 10-15 razors (most are completely finished in terms of being worked on) that I consider to be my 'collection'. I shave with them and really wouldn't want to have one that I don't shave with. Now 10-15 isn't a bad number, but here's where I might be crazy– I feel kind of unsatisfied because I think that is still TOO MANY! Now I have this bright idea to whittle it down to like 4 or even 8 if I can't keep it at 4 and ONLY keep the razors that shave me the best. Completely regardless of looks. I know it would probably devastate me too. Am I sick or something? Considering the looks of a razor are very important to me, this would be so hard to do. I have realized though that I really only want to keep a razor if I love the looks AND the shave it gives me. Not that any of mine don't shave well, but you know how some are just smoother or a better feel for you than others for no reason...

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HAHAHA, my prayers have been heard! :rock:

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Originally Posted by Philadelph

What do I do? lol

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Send them to me.

You aren't crazy. I think anytime a person gets involved into any activity-acquisition of "items" are part of the deal. I'm in the if one is good school-then two is better:shrug:

I'm probably around 45 razors right now and only 4 are in my rotation. 2 Robert William Customs and 2 Wade & Butcher wedges. I'm totally not into blades 6/8 and smaller and have found that I prefer 1/2 hollow to full wedges.

I am 100% satisfied with my honing ability and have purchased enough hones to last my lifetime. I see no reason selling any of my collection though. I truly believe we have entered this "hobby" at the beginning of the "craze"- I think the popularity of Str8's will only increase. Same goes to the value of your collection. Your restoration work is truly outstanding-as well as Professional by anyone's standard.

I'd say, sit on your collection. Grab all the W&B's and other Sheffield's from ebay while you can still do it. Sooner or later the market will go up.

As a guitar player and vintage tube amp collector and builder, I began to HOARD vintage vacuum tubes years ago and the market has pretty much exhausted the supply. Current manufacture SUCK (sound familiar?) and the vintage prices have increased by 100% in the last 5 years. Will this happen to razors- I wouldn't count on it to feed me-but my guess is you won't loss a dime on your razor collection. Just my 2 cents. FWIW.:D

+1 to what Lt. Arclight said.

I have ? razors but 22 of them are honed, cleaned and ready. I do not pick one or the other on said day. I start at the front of my rack of razors and work through them. When I feel they need a touch up they go to the end of the line with a rubberband hanging on the first one in need of attention.
Example:

I I I I I I I I I I (I) I I I I

All the ones to right after the parenthesis (rubberband) need a touch up. Once I get up to 5 -7 razors needing a touchup, I hit them with a hone and put them in the rotation at the end. I have a rack that has 2 rows of 15 and another that is one row of 7. No special treatment of one or the other, they all get used and I can look ahead and see what day I get to use THAT ONE.

PS - I've seen some of your razor Philadelph, I'd be happy to take any of them off your hands. They would go to a good home, I promise.

Oh well, works for me.

Alex, been there and done that more then once. Some of the stuff I let go of I miss and wish I hadn't but most have been replaced by the latest thing. I try to think long and hard before I let a definite keeper go.

I am a collector though and sometimes a collection changes direction. If my interest in something wanes then it can become expendable. The important thing is to know how you really feel about the item and once you have made the decision don't look back. As Satchel Paige said,"Something may be gaining on you". :)

hey guys... just hoping to help a little.. I would be glad to help you "whittle down" your collections.. PM me anytime you want to get rid of a heavy blade... I'd love to have a meat chopper!

I have a 7/8 Robeson that was a crappy shaver. It's in great condition, all original, but just gave a harsh shave. I would go through my honing regimen, and finished on a chinese 12k, and didn't like how it shaved, so I went and tried some chromium oxide. Vast improvement, but still not great.

Fast forward to trying a shapton 16k. In the week after I got the shapton, I shaved with the 7/8 Robeson three times! I originally didn't think that the 16k would be that good, but it was. 5-10 passes on CrO after the 16k, and so far everything has been a great shaver. Different razors like different hones. Some of my other razors shave like a dream right off of the chinese 12k.

Basically, don't judge your razor because of the hone. I think that pairing the right razor with the right hone is the key. So, here's the idea: Sell one of your pretty razors that you'd part with easily for 100 bucks. Buy a Shapton 16k, hone up all your other razors. If you don't like the 16k, then sell it here for 75 bucks. It'll go fast. If you do like it, then you've managed to keep 14 razors instead of 7 or so, and you've picked up a new hone. Its a win win situation.

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Originally Posted by Ben325e

I have a 7/8 Robeson that was a crappy shaver. It's in great condition, all original, but just gave a harsh shave. I would go through my honing regimen, and finished on a chinese 12k, and didn't like how it shaved, so I went and tried some chromium oxide. Vast improvement, but still not great.

Fast forward to trying a shapton 16k. In the week after I got the shapton, I shaved with the 7/8 Robeson three times! I originally didn't think that the 16k would be that good, but it was. 5-10 passes on CrO after the 16k, and so far everything has been a great shaver. Different razors like different hones. Some of my other razors shave like a dream right off of the chinese 12k.

Basically, don't judge your razor because of the hone. I think that pairing the right razor with the right hone is the key. So, here's the idea: Sell one of your pretty razors that you'd part with easily for 100 bucks. Buy a Shapton 16k, hone up all your other razors. If you don't like the 16k, then sell it here for 75 bucks. It'll go fast. If you do like it, then you've managed to keep 14 razors instead of 7 or so, and you've picked up a new hone. Its a win win situation.

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Nice idea, and very useful, but is counterproductive to this particular thread. We are discussion ways to trim down the active rotation to just a couple of razors, not trying to justify keeping a whole bunch of them around.

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Now 10-15 isn't a bad number, but here's where I might be crazy– I feel kind of unsatisfied because I think that is still TOO MANY! Now I have this bright idea to whittle it down to like 4 or even 8 if I can't keep it at 4 and ONLY keep the razors that shave me the best.

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Finding a new hone that makes even more of the razors you currently own into fantastic shavers will only make it that much more difficult to cull the herd!:cry:

As an update: I just recieved another razor in my mailbox this morning! :D

Oh wait, I mean:mad:

Oh heck, I don't know whether to be happy or not:thinking:

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Originally Posted by Lt.Arclight

You aren't crazy. I think anytime a person gets involved into any activity-acquisition of "items" are part of the deal. I'm in the if one is good school-then two is better:shrug:

I'm probably around 45 razors right now and only 4 are in my rotation. 2 Robert William Customs and 2 Wade & Butcher wedges. I'm totally not into blades 6/8 and smaller and have found that I prefer 1/2 hollow to full wedges.

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Lt. you and I need to talk brother, we could do some serious trading :D

I only like 6/8 and smaller, and full hollow grinds....

Alex I can sorta relate I have dropped my personal razors from 77 shave ready, to 52 shave ready, but I am a collector and freely admit it....

Glen I think we should talk! I have a bunch of 5/8's and am leaning towards 7/8 up.

I'm going same way though, got a lot of razors very fast, now I want to get to fewer very nice ones that shave me wonderfully. I have two girls, so not passing anything along for a long while yet (IF I like any boys they end up with!) and it doesn't mean I'll stop getting others. I think there will always be a rotation in and out.

Problem is I think there are about 6 that are keepers already :( they just need more competition at this point to help weed them out :nj

Red

You are more than welcome to use my apartment for your shave ready razor storage. I'd be more than happy to house them for you. And I'm cheap, too. IT will only cost you one razor mutually agreed upon...

Interesting thread! I have a lot of shave ready razors. - Too many? Perhaps, but this is very subjective. I love each one, and each one has it's story. Here's how I justify having sooooo many (if I need to...?):

I love buying Ebay razors; restoring them, sharpening them, and shaving with them. It gives me great joy to do this. Hey, it's great hobby, and it doesn't cost that much.... Besides, I figure someday these are going to be worth a lot more money and my kids can reap the money some day when I'm gone. That's how I justify having so many.

* I presently have about 113 shave ready razors in my bathroom. Most are mounted on the walls. I have two to three ready to sharpen, about four at the restore stage, three one their way from Ebay members (auctions won), and I am looking at five auctions presently). Remember, This gives me great joy and happiness. That's my justification!

This Spring I am going to start making my own scales from exotic woods. I am really looking forward to this!

Regards,

Steve

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Originally Posted by Philadelph

So I have maybe 10-15 razors (most are completely finished in terms of being worked on) that I consider to be my 'collection'. I shave with them and really wouldn't want to have one that I don't shave with. Now 10-15 isn't a bad number, but here's where I might be crazy– I feel kind of unsatisfied because I think that is still TOO MANY! Now I have this bright idea to whittle it down to like 4 or even 8 if I can't keep it at 4 and ONLY keep the razors that shave me the best. Completely regardless of looks. I know it would probably devastate me too. Am I sick or something? Considering the looks of a razor are very important to me, this would be so hard to do. I have realized though that I really only want to keep a razor if I love the looks AND the shave it gives me. Not that any of mine don't shave well, but you know how some are just smoother or a better feel for you than others for no reason... What do I do? lol

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OK, so I'll break the diagnosis to you straight:

YES YOU ARE CRAZY!

Now, for most folks, what you are trying to achieve above (razor rotation reduction) may be somehow possible.

However, as you have grinders, kilns, etc now at your disposal and you crank out fun stuff like this:
http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/att...1&d=1233463719

There is no way, and I mean NO WAY you will ever be able to get your number of razors under control.

Yours is a terminal case.....I suggest you get your affairs in order....


And ENJOY!

:p