Thread: Has anybody heard anything more about Hart razors?

Originally Posted by stygian

I sift through the forums looking for clear manufacturing flaws (the Harts, the older TIs--though I've heard that new TIs are better but still have issues--still true?--etc....

I have a LeGrelot 1/4 hollow and it has outstanding quality fit anf finish etc.
I ordered the historic Spartacus 1/2 hollow , that by what others have said it a great shaver too. As far as I have herd currently Dovo has QC issues , while TI are improving in that area. My only Dovo was not particularly well fitted, I know that my case is in general an exception not a rule for Dovo razors.

Originally Posted by mainaman

I have a LeGrelot 1/4 hollow and it has outstanding quality fit anf finish etc.
I ordered the historic Spartacus 1/2 hollow , that by what others have said it a great shaver too. As far as I have herd currently Dovo has QC issues , while TI are improving in that area. My only Dovo was not particularly well fitted, I know that my case is in general an exception not a rule for Dovo razors.

LeGrelot 1/4 hollow I want one!!! I am on the prowl

I've got a dozen or so TIs ... most are a couple of years old and some of recent mfg. A couple have uneven scales and one came with a double bevel on one side and not the other. PITA to correct. All are good or better shavers.

I don't know how the razor mfgs pay their workers but I worked in a factory briefly here in the USA in the late '60s and we worked piece work. IOW, not by the hour but by the amount of product you finished on a shift.

If you didn't produce a minimum amount you would be replaced with someone more ambitious and the more you produced the more $ you made. So I'm not sure how the workers at TI or Dovo are recompensed but IME workers at any factory have to 'get down' if they want to keep their job. That may account for the occasional flaw in the finished product.

BTW, I'm not making excuses for the perceived lack of quality control, just my view of why it may happen.

I have two suggestions. This is taking into account that you have a (relatively) large budget.
1) If you like the Prima Klang, stick with similar blades.
2) Since you only have one razor, you like it. But is it the best? If I were you (and this is what I did)- buy a lot of cheaper blades that are very different to find out what you like. I own everything from a near-wedge to a singing hollow, and sizes in 1/16th increments from 4/8's to 8/8's, minus 7/8 and 9/16 (the 9/16s I sold because I wasn't impressed with and I just haven't found a cheap 7/8s). I developed tastes and now I can spend more money on a razor I am (probably) going to like, versus spending money on something I might like. Once again, if you like the Prima, buy another, but you might end up liking something else better.

so really how many reviews have been done?

is all this bad press over 2 reviews, thats a fairly small test group
just playing the other side

Originally Posted by L R Harner

so really how many reviews have been done?

is all this bad press over 2 reviews, thats a fairly small test group
just playing the other side

IIRC there are two pro reviews and one against. The majority of bad mouthing seems to coming from people that don't have one.

Originally Posted by L R Harner

so really how many reviews have been done?

is all this bad press over 2 reviews, thats a fairly small test group
just playing the other side

I'm for playing the other side too, Butch. I'm with ya on that.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

IIRC there are two pro reviews and one against. The majority of bad mouthing seems to coming from people that don't have one.

I can't resist a couple of these:

I don't know if you're counting full fledged official reviews or just positive comments from people who own one and have shaved with them, but I thought there were now 3-4 Hart razor owners in favor of the Hart razor and one against?

Here's a quick topically related story, I just have to share my opinion and get it off my chest:

Some of you that have been around a long time will recall when only a few people had any Shapton pros or glass stones. I bought all the glass stones except for the 30k AND I bought the GDLP, a very pricey lapping plate to be sure. My GDLP, I believe, was defective and I ended up going public with that on SRP and even though I wanted to exchange it for a different one, that wasn't an option and I received a refund from Harrelson. I was very disappointed that I spent that much money on a lapping plate that degraded in performance quite rapidly. Thankfully, others have had positive experiences with the GDLP, and I'm happy that's the case. At the time, I had to restrain myself from verbally trashing the GDLP. Instead I believe I was very careful to make it clear that I had a problem with my GDLP and I don't believe I ever said anything to the effect of discouraging others to buy one. Thankfully, one defective and undesirable GDLP was an anomoly and I would have been wrong to make statements to the contrary.

I'm encouraged by a new company in the U.S. having the capability to offer production razors to me and others that have interest in straight razors. One type of razor in one style ground in one specific way does not in my mind permanently define a company. This is their first product. I think they're willing to listen to criticism and make the kind of changes that will appeal to their market. Being an individual in their "market", I have a feeling of support and encouragement rather than a feeling of looking for a big rock that fits nicely in my hand after a new niche market company debuts their very first product.

I'm just sayin.

I will say I have not bought a Hart razor yet. Hypocrite? Literally all disposable income I have now (which is almost none or comes in at a trickle) I'm saving up for a Sherline 4000 or 4400 lathe, then a Sherline mill. If someone knows of a Sherline lathe at AT A DECENT PRICE I'll be back into buying some more razors. If my razor slush fund was replenished like it has sometimes been, I'd be buying one of the Hart razors for certain.

Chris L

Originally Posted by ChrisL

II don't know if you're counting full fledged official reviews or just positive comments from people who own one and have shaved with them, but I thought there were now 3-4 in favor of the Hart razor and one against?

I guess you're right Chris. I couldn't remember exactly and I wasn't going back into the thread to refresh my memory. For awhile it seemed like.......

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I guess you're right Chris. I couldn't remember exactly and I wasn't going back into the thread to refresh my memory. For awhile it seemed like.......

That is a geat picture.

Charlie

I have no Hart razor, so I can't speak neither in favor or against them. But it amazes me to see how a new American made product, that at least deserves a fair chance, is being discredited by people that haven't used it and show great talent for presenting very dubious arguments against the Hart razor as being trued facts.

Tim Zowada makes custom knives. I find it quite normal that he chooses not to mix that with this new brand that makes confection razors under his supervision. To present that as proof for a lack of quality is simply unfair.

Tim Zowada knows how to make a fine razor, and based on his post here on SRP about the production process, he shared all of that knowledge for the benefit of the Hart razor. Of course the Hart razor will have to do without the fancy cosmetics of real Zowada, that adds art to the craft, but I don't expect any performance difference that can be objectively assessed.

The speculations about the bevel angle is nonsense. If the manufacturer states that the razor needs to be honed with tape, than that's that. Anyone who can hone without tape can also hone with tape. One could just as easily argue that it's a streak of genius to produce a razor with a slightly lower angle. It allows the owner to fully customize the edge to his own liking, by adding 0, 1 or 2 layers of tape. I might even be tempted to buy a Hart for that reason alone.

I was expecting the straight shaving community to embrace this fine initiative. I surprises me that it is met with so much misgiving.

Or am I missing something here?

Bart.