Serendipity indeed :beer1: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...g-article.html great old thread along with the article BTW
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Serendipity indeed :beer1: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...g-article.html great old thread along with the article BTW
With all due respect, I believe that discussing price : feature ratio falls within the bounds of giving Hart the kind of feedback that they will need to succeed. I hate that so many see this as being negative.
I also think that saying you have to own one to speak intelligently on it is specious, at best. If that logic applies to those with criticism, it should apply to those lauding the product as well. :boohoo:
It's okay for us to disagree on things, but I am having a hard time understanding why it has to get personal :shrug:
Here's a thought: Perhaps the marketing folks at Hart are absolute geniuses. Consider what would be posted here if the first Hart razor was like every other razor (in terms of design, materials and price)? Quite a few folks would buy them and posts would be similar to those about TIs and Dovos; nothing special.
But no! Now we have controversy. Price is too high! Honing angle is too low! You have to tape the spine, etc. In short, there is media buzz! Some folks are buying them just to see what the buzz is about. In the mean time, Hart goes about statements of "fixes" and such causing even more media buzz that may result in greater sales in the long run.
Please note that when I say "media buzz," I fully realize that, for the most part, it's confined to this and other shaving forums.
Of course this post of mine is playing right into their plans..... I am such a tool!:D
Hi Kees, please see my razor edge angle post here. No need to tape it in my case and no break down of the edge at all. A very very nice razor. Worth the price in my mind.
Good to hear.
I can just see the ATs at Hart reading these boards and saying, "these crazy F-ers are measuring the angles:rant:"
:rofl2::rofl2:
Hmm,
First time I have looked at these is tonight....Do they have other styles than the one listed on Classic's site? the design is not very inspiring..... and will likely not cause me to open my wallet.
It's is funny that I used to think the same thing of those guys who measure the edge angle. This was until I had a razor that I knew was shaveready and yet did not shave well. I concluded that the large edge angle was the problem. I sold the razor and have been edge angle minded ever since.
I would hate to be a razor vendor right now. :) Until this angle measuring thing blows over their phones will ring with potential customers wanting to know what the bevel to spine angle is on the Dove, Boker, TI etcetera. ";"
So a good friend (Lynn) sent me his Hart razor to try out still with the factory honing on it, just a few laps on .50 CrOx to smooth it down is what he told me...
First impressions, I have a few Black Rifles this is a Black Razor,, totally for use, no pretty at all...
Measured out to 14.267 for the bare steel angle
The blade has a slight smile to it however it is not even, there is a very, very, slight center spot if it were mine my OCD would kick in...
Nice even bevel, nice sharp edge....
The first shave was last night, I took my time and relaxed, the razor performed exactly as I would expect from a 1/4 hollow, a nice clean no nonsense shave 3 passes WTG XTG and ATG same amount of irritation as any other stiff blade for me....
Looking close at the grind shows a very slight imbalance between sides not bad though, the finish is straight off a buffer or looks that way, might be off a grinder belt too, looks to me to be about the same as a 400 grit greaseless compound finsh...
The spine thickness is dead even BTW I measured it.. The tang could use some special work from Seraphim, in fact my first impression was Double Arrow, no fuss, no muss shavers...
So those are my impressions of the razor, a very utilitarian razor,,
BTW what is wrong with peened pins???? do you custom/small company guys really think we like having to tighten our razors everyday???? JMHO those TORX screws etc: suck for razors, they are either to tight, or to loose, and honestly do any of you guys really take your razor apart to clean it???
Well, it's about a month later and this newbie has been shaving with the Hart razor a lot. It provided my first BBS shave and still delivers each and every time. I *like* the scales. I haven't needed to tighten the pin, and have it adjusted to just the right "action" of the scales. With routine stropping on a latigo hanging strop, the edge is holding up great and delivering comfortable shaves, and I am no stropping expert. Because I prefer it, I am using it three or four times a week, and ignoring others in my rotation.
I've gone to straight shaving every day without resorting to a DE for touch up, and the Hart gave me the impetus/confidence to do this.
I am planning on buying a second one soon. I love the Hart.
Disclaimer: Rank beginner, no knowledge of edge angles, etc. etc.
Now I am getting worried that when I eventually have to sharpen this, the first time I hone this, I will ruin the magic and not be able to get back to the edge that satisfies. Has anyone else had this fear about a favorite razor?
Thanks for the review of the Hart. Good to hear that it is working so well for you. All I know to say on the honing is that I practiced on used razors I got off of ebay that weren't in shave ready condition. Once I had done enough of them to feel some confidence in my honing I attempted some of my nicer razors but not before then.
I bought an eBay lot of old razors for that reason, sight unseen. None of them have the point shape of the Hart, although a few are 1/4 ground. Do I need to practice on razors with the same exact point?
I've been shaving with a Hart Steel razor exclusively for one week now, and must say I find it one of my best shavers. I also like the smooth clean no nonsense design of this razor very much. Got it from Zethlenth.
Amund.
I have been eagerly awaiting my very own hart razor for almost 3 days now :) Well it finally came. The sad part of the story is that it came with a bit of damage to the very edge of the toe. Can't tell what happened to it. Almost looks like it got the edge caught in some kind of machine. I guess it could have been dropped but I've never seen a dropped blade edge that looked like this. Very weird defect. No pictures unfortunately...
The happy part of the story is that otherwise I am quite happy with the razor. Its very heavy. Heavier than almost all my other razors. Stiff. Probably not honed quite as sharp as I'd hoped but not bad. Worth the price? All I have to say about that is there are some really nice razors out there in the price range of this razor. But I will say I'm not entirely disappointed. I do feel as if I am supporting a company thats doing something that I think is very cool. I'll have to let you know how it shaves when I get my replacement.
Thats the other happy part of the story. I called ClassicShaving up and explained the defect. As soon as I was finished explaining the rep from CS assured me a replacement was on its way with postage to send the old one back.
So any of you thinking about a Hart know that you can buy with confidence. If there is something wrong with it the service seems great. And barring any structural defects (like mine or the weak edge problems) it seems a really great razor holding it in my hands. Will report back on the shaving experience when I can.
Robert
Well-you've convinced me,nothing you have said makes me want to spend that kind of money for a shave that doesn't sound very good AND gives me the bonus of ruining my strop.What a bargain,thanks but Ill stay with my NOS German and English favorites,they were made when there was a lot of competition for our money,and that makes me suspect that they had better quality control,or maybe more pride,don't know,but,some are so good I cant see any room for improvement. IMHO. One more thing,no jimps is just lazy and not paying attention to detail
Any new updates on these razors? i see that they continue to produce new razors...
thanks!
Welcome to SRP. From what I've read most members who try them like them. I've been checking the site from time to time and see they have added various wooden scales and a round point with jimps. If they were to offer a square point, or better yet a French point, with jimps I probably wouldn't be able to resist. Round points don't do anything for me even though they shave well. They just don't look cool. :)
I have the round point and agree that it looks ''unusual'' and it a bit TOO round. I think this razor would look awesome with an aggressive french point.
A fellow long islander! Nice! I live in Plainview
I also own a Hart. I went with the walnut :D. I bought it because I loved the idea of a razor made in the US. I have been slowly getting into straight razor shaving, mostly because it hasn't been a smooth transition. During my first shave I accidentally smacked the tip of the razor against the sink :gaah: and it took awhile to find someone to repair it. Since then I have had some trouble getting the razor to the shave ready condition I received it in....I recently borrowed a Norton 4000/8000 and was able to get half a good shave. I noticed, like many have stated, the razor didn't seem to hold the edge. I find myself using more and more strokes with minimal hair removal. I basically use the hart and my Gillette to shave... Any tricks on honing that have helped you get a good shave.
Thanks!
If you're using a Norton 4/8 check out these two tutorials in the SRP Wiki honing guide.
Pyramid honing guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Honing - Alternative approaches - Straight Razor Place Wiki
:gl:
My office is in Plainview! It seems like we are seeing more and more members pop up on here from Long Island. I can see a Long Island get together in the future.
I have not taken my Hart razor to the stones yet. I have shaved with it about 5 times, and I have noticed no degradation in the edge. I do not think the Hart came with a superior edge, but I have noticed no change in the quality of my shave with it. I think the edge on it could use some work though.....maybe this week I will take a crack at it.
So, I cannot offer you any honing advice on the Hart yet.
Pyramid honing guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Tried this ^^^^^and got a better shave :) but still not the same as when i first got it. probably has to do with my lak of skill. could it be... not having the right tools?
the hart website suggests: norton 4000, 8000, 12,000 or a 16,000 and balsa wood with paste...i borrowed the 4000/8000 from a friend who has a dovo and thats all he uses...
Any suggestions ?
Thank you!!!
For those of you who are thinking of honing their Hart razors keep in mind, as has been said, Hart hones them initially with tape and recommends tape for follow up honing. Does not mean you must use the tape but if not you will have to reset the edge. I guess on the two new black and gun blued blades
on the market (Baxters) tape must be used if you want to keep the blade
spine color intact?