New Hoffritz!

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10-03-2009, 09:39 AM
heathmanc

1 Attachment(s)

New Hoffritz!

Well, I've wanted to make the move to straights for some time now. My neck is very irritated everyday from the 3896 bladed razor I currently use and it doesn't ever even feel close. I have never shaved with a straight before and have been shopping for one for awhile. Finally I just decided to get it over with and make a purchase and pray for the best. Enter the Hoffritz. Does anybody have anything good to say about these razors? Guess I should have asked before I bought it huh. It should be on it's way, but I don't have a strop yet. Any recommendations for a first timer on purchasing one? Money isn't the issue, but I also don't want purchase a "name". I just want a good quality one that I won't be disappointed with. I don't want to have a ton of stuff lying around that makes me shake my head when I see it. I am a one razor kind of guy and plan on sticking with the Hoffritz for awhile, or until I'm out of blood.
10-03-2009, 11:50 AM
netsurfr

Nice looking blade. Welcome to the ranks of straight shavers! You will find it rewarding on a number of levels.
10-03-2009, 12:10 PM
DPflaumer

As far as a strop goes... Even if money isn't an issue I still recommend the Filly from ruprazors.com. It is basically a single strip of leather with a smooth front and a back pasted with Chromium Oxide to touch up your blades, all for $20. It is a quality piece of work, and regardless of money, you are very likely to put some decent nicks up and down your first strop.

No one wants to ruin a high dollar strop because they don't know what they are doing yet.

And that razor looks beautiful.
10-03-2009, 01:07 PM
heathmanc

Thanks for the suggestion. Now for a honing setup? Got to buy a junker blade to screw around with.
10-03-2009, 01:35 PM
JimmyHAD

Welcome to SRP. Hoffritz had stores around the world and IME had high quality cutlery of all types made for them with the Hoffritz brand name. So your razor would probably have been made by one of the better Solingen companies and ought to be a good one.

If you haven't checked out the SRP Wiki here already then take a look for tutorials on shaving, honing and all things related to straight razors.
10-03-2009, 01:52 PM
heathmanc

I read it earlier. It led me to believe that all I really need is a norton 4/8k stone (lapped) and maybe something higher to polish. What I'm really looking for is a tried and trusted setup.
10-03-2009, 01:55 PM
heathmanc

2 Attachment(s)

A couple more pics
10-03-2009, 01:55 PM
DPflaumer

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathmanc

Thanks for the suggestion. Now for a honing setup? Got to buy a junker blade to screw around with.

Most people on here will recommend the Norton 4k/8k for a beginner. I know that is what I will be getting as soon as I can afford it.

There is also a lot of debate on the value of a barbers hone. One wouldn't be any good for setting a bevel or anything complex like that, but they are intended to maintain an edge when its sharpness starts to fade. I actually traded for one last night, and am looking forward to trying it out.

Drew
10-03-2009, 03:03 PM
avatar1999

+1 to what JimmyHAD said. That Norton set it decent to start on if you've never used sharpening stones before. The lapping stone that comes with it, is ok, but it won't stay flat forever, especially is you're lapping the 220/1000 stone much.

Do what he says and pick up the DMT D8C! :) And make sure you lap with lots of running water, or you might flake off the diamond coating, and that would be bad :boohoo:

Nice looking razor! Welcome to addiction :p
10-03-2009, 05:39 PM
heathmanc

Trying to order a Filly from Ken right now, but I am in the Air Force stationed in Japan and his site doesn't list APO as an option. I sent him an e-mail to try to work something out.
10-03-2009, 07:37 PM
JimmyHAD

I don't want to step on anyone's sale but if you are in Japan you should get with JimR as he is in Japan too and sells a very nice range of strops. Here is a post that will give you the pertinent info in the vendor's corner.
10-03-2009, 07:54 PM
heathmanc

Thanks for the suggestion, but Ken already hooked me up. Hard to get some of the items over here. I'm on Okinawa, is Jim on mainland? Getting things shipped from mainland is not an easy task at all.
10-04-2009, 03:24 AM
JimR

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathmanc

Thanks for the suggestion, but Ken already hooked me up. Hard to get some of the items over here. I'm on Okinawa, is Jim on mainland? Getting things shipped from mainland is not an easy task at all.

Hey Mate, I'm up in Honshu. If there's anything I can help you with, let me know.

Is it tough to get stuff to an APO, or do you have a Japanese address?
10-04-2009, 03:36 AM
heathmanc

I have an APO and a Japanese address, haven't ever had anything shipped to the Japanese address, probably because I'm not sure how exactly.
10-04-2009, 03:53 AM
JimR

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathmanc

I have an APO and a Japanese address, haven't ever had anything shipped to the Japanese address, probably because I'm not sure how exactly.

Give me your Japanese address, and I'll ship you something to check! :D

**EDIT** Also, as you are in Japan, I would recommend going with Shapton or Naniwa over Norton simply because you can usually go to a big home center and get them, or get them online for VERY good prices, much cheaper than people in the States.
10-04-2009, 04:14 AM
Bunny

i have a C.F. Schwartz that has the same design on the blade. maybe they were made by the same company. both are german blades.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1254629668 http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1254629685

and welcome to the world of straight razor shaving :beer1:
10-04-2009, 04:21 AM
ChrisL

Nice Hoffritz.

Close to a few years ago now, I contacted Lynn and asked him if he had a no frills excellent daily shaving razor that I could use with satisfaction for years and years to come. He offered to sell me a Hoffritz. I would classify the one I have as a half hollow. The grind is stiff and similar to a known half hollow TI Super Gnome I owned. No surprise that Lynn knows what fits the bill. He sold me the razor at a very reasonable price. I have a small wooden box I keep 3-4 razors in. By default, this box stores my "rotation". The Hoffritz has kept of of those spots consistently in that box since I bought it. I never lets me down and has a very comfortable shaving edge. I've used it so often that I've rehoned it completely from bevel set on up. I wanted to connect completely with that razor.

I like my Hoffritz.

Chris L
10-04-2009, 05:22 AM
manah

Hoffritz® is still in business. May be today it's only trademark. But there are many goods made with this logo.
10-04-2009, 10:07 AM
heathmanc

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimR

Give me your Japanese address, and I'll ship you something to check! :D

**EDIT** Also, as you are in Japan, I would recommend going with Shapton or Naniwa over Norton simply because you can usually go to a big home center and get them, or get them online for VERY good prices, much cheaper than people in the States.

What are these big home centers you speak of. On Okinawa we have makeman's(sp?) or as we call them monkey stores. Do you know of a specific place to find some of this stuff or a .com to order from?
10-04-2009, 10:54 AM
JimR

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathmanc

What are these big home centers you speak of. On Okinawa we have makeman's(sp?) or as we call them monkey stores. Do you know of a specific place to find some of this stuff or a .com to order from?

I'm not sure about down there, but places like Juntendo, Nafco, Comeri, Conan--like a hardware/lumber store. They also have furniture...

I ordered my Naniwa stones from here, they have free shipping over 5,000 yen and they have the full range of Naniwas for a LOT less than you can get them in the states (the 12000, unfortunately, is not sold in Japan). You can get the 10mm thick 8K and 3K (or 5K) together for less than $60. It's all in Japanese, and they don't take credit cards, but there are ways around it.
10-04-2009, 01:13 PM
heathmanc

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimR

I'm not sure about down there, but places like Juntendo, Nafco, Comeri, Conan--like a hardware/lumber store. They also have furniture...

I ordered my Naniwa stones from here, they have free shipping over 5,000 yen and they have the full range of Naniwas for a LOT less than you can get them in the states (the 12000, unfortunately, is not sold in Japan). You can get the 10mm thick 8K and 3K (or 5K) together for less than $60. It's all in Japanese, and they don't take credit cards, but there are ways around it.

Looked around on that link you gave me. I found the stones, put them in my basket... The rest is a wash. Have never figured out how the Japanese e-commerce works if they don't use cards. I will probably make it out on the island next weekend and see what I can find locally. Thanks for the info.
10-07-2009, 02:21 PM
heathmanc

Okay, so put in a order through SRD (great website), got some stones (Naniwa 3k, 5k, 8k) and the DMT 8 -325 to lap them and some chromium oxide paste (.5 micron). I already waiting on a Filly strop. Anything else a noob might need to maintain his razor(s)? Speak now before the wife realizes how much I'm spending..

Charles
10-07-2009, 03:38 PM
khaos

I have a Hoffritz albeit a very plain one. It gives decent shaves. Not my favourite though (though that might have to do with personal preference and that I was slighted in the transaction...). Take care of her and she'll do ya good.

edit: At the end of the day I have to say though it shaves great. I'm leaving the decent in because she' no one pass wonder, but she'll def. leave you very smooth. But I guess that (in my books at least) is standard. A razor is either crap (doesn't shave well), decent (performs to expectations) or great (one pass is close to all I need).
10-07-2009, 04:08 PM
heathmanc

Well, it's my first, therefore my favorite. Not going to try another blade until I get this one where I think it can't do any better...
10-07-2009, 04:18 PM
JimmyHAD

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathmanc

Well, it's my first, therefore my favorite. Not going to try another blade until I get this one where I think it can't do any better...

Hoffritz didn't make razors or any other cutlery but they jobbed it out from various mfgs and had the Hoffritz name on them. Most if not all was of a high quality. If your razor had a brand from the original mfg it may be a Dovo, a Puma, a Klaas ...... it is probably a very high quality blade.
10-07-2009, 11:57 PM
Philadelph

I had a Hoffritz which I sold a while back. It was a good razor. Shaved well, etc. The buyer was very happy with it too, so I think you will probably be well set with it!

P.S. I love their logo.

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