Thread: Don't be wasteful–buy used

Originally Posted by Ryan82

I disagree. Your argument presumes that anything that once was can be perfectly recreated, which perhaps would be true of something that follows a formula. But razor forging and grinding is considered an artform. This is best exemplified by the QC problems which plagued some of the contemporary makers as recently as a couple years ago. Why you might ask? Because Solingen's master razor grinders are either dead or dying off at an alarming rate. The apprentices, I'm sure, have come to realize that razor making isn't so easy when the masters aren't around to pass on their craft. If the Mona Lisa was destroyed tomorrow would it be possible to be recreate it on canvas?

Your second point is an issue that I alluded to, or least I thought I did. The issue is there remains a finite supply of vintage razors we all love. They are literally being sold off by the boxfull every day, and therefore will disappear. Contemporary razor manufacturing not only guarantees the survival of a traditional process/art, but that there will be a supply to pass on to future generations.

I have to ask, but hasn't anyone considered that these "darn new razors" will be vintage someday......

I completely agree aside from one point. I don't think there is necessarily a finite supply of vintage razors. As we can see simply from the classifieds on this site, there are always people re-selling their vintages. They may not be in production anymore but they will certainly not disappear from the open market anytime soon.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

So you were lucky but tell me it wasn't a gamble buying from a seller who has been selling "shaveready" razors on eBay for 3 months. Whilst I can't criticise his edges, not having one of his razors, his premise that passing the HHT "guarantees a good shave" is fundamentally flawed and shows inexperience or equivocatory marketing. Not saying the guy can't hone just that eBay is risky.

I'm not debating that ebay isn't risky, it is extremely risky, and there are ignorant and/or disreputable sellers out there. But you can tell a lot from good, high def pictures, several angles, and if a guy who is not a one time, "found this thing in the garage" seller, and actually sells razors(plural) and he says he takes pride in his razors, and the edge he gives them, and that they all pass the HHT, I'm going to gamble and say that it'll be fine. And while the HHT may not be the end-all, do-all of an acceptable edge, a couple strops with some paste will most likely finish that edge with minimal work.

Originally Posted by daflorc

I'm not debating that ebay isn't risky, it is extremely risky, and there are ignorant and/or disreputable sellers out there. But you can tell a lot from good, high def pictures, several angles, and if a guy who is not a one time, "found this thing in the garage" seller, and actually sells razors(plural) and he says he takes pride in his razors, and the edge he gives them, and that they all pass the HHT, I'm going to gamble and say that it'll be fine. And while the HHT may not be the end-all, do-all of an acceptable edge, a couple strops with some paste will most likely finish that edge with minimal work.

You make valid points for someone who has some experience in buying & maintaining razors however for any newbs reading this thread, & there are probably lots of them, your first sentence is the most important as they will be able to tell nothing about a razor from even hi-def pics.

Originally Posted by daflorc

And while the HHT may not be the end-all, do-all of an acceptable edge, a couple strops with some paste will most likely finish that edge with minimal work.

That's sometimes the case, and sometimes it's not. I often get razors honed from people who come to the forums, quickly become 'experts' and hurry up jump into making money. None of those edges have been anywhere close to fixable with minimal work, but pass HHT. Awful shaves because the new 'expert' has missed the foundation, i.e. setting up a good bevel. And you know what, the funny thing is that there were a whole bunch of newbies praising their hone work
I'm not making it up I'll show you some of these classical photos:



Typically these guys end up on other forums, since here we care above all about helping people out, be it with shaving, stropping, honing, etc... and BS and misinformation under the guise of 'opinion' are not well tolerated.

those are some ugly pictures there...those edges passed a HHT? I suppose I'll have to retract that last statement and suggest that if it gives a decent shave,
then there's no problem, and if it doesn't, I'll have to go to the hones anyway. Which is not a bad thing

That looks shave ready..... for a piece flint

Originally Posted by onimaru55

You make valid points for someone who has some experience in buying & maintaining razors however for any newbs reading this thread, & there are probably lots of them, your first sentence is the most important as they will be able to tell nothing about a razor from even hi-def pics.

...Well I'll tell you, I am a noob, and if any noobs (including myself) read any threads on SRP they are going to get a wealth of information they can't relate to until they get down into the dirty anyway. People have to learn on their own, and I guarantee there's nobody on here who's worth their salt who has been able to just "read up" on buying, using, honing, restoring, etc. and be an instant expert. Everyone has to buy crappy razors, pull our hair out trying to hone our razors, and pull our beards on butter knifes. Currently I'm doing all three, at least one at a time

Originally Posted by daflorc

...Everyone has to buy crappy razors, pull our hair out trying to hone our razors, and pull our beards on butter knifes. Currently I'm doing all three, at least one at a time

Weellll.... You don't have to buy crappy razors but I hear you on the rest of it

You know, I've been accused of using unfairly large magnification and that such miniscule imperfections do not affect shaving at all Or people have told me that a barely shaving razor was an excellent shaver, better than anything currently produced...

Originally Posted by daflorc

those are some ugly pictures there...those edges passed a HHT?

Of course depending on what one means by 'pass'. HHT is useful once you have learned to correlate the condition of the with its interaction with the hair. It's not hard to severe hanging hairs, on most razors I can get it on most any 1k grid hone, yet that's not going to shave well if at all. And with edges who have microchips here and there your HHT may pass on most spots, but if you don't hit the microchips, or just ignore them your face will be in a serious disagreement with that HHT.
The only test that matters is how a razor shaves, everything else is an imperfect skin-friendly replacement for it.

Nobody was born learned and it just takes a bit of practice, but we've seen our share of honesters who were using unsuspecting newbies to pay for their education.

You can avoid a lot of stupid mistakes by just picking the right people to pay attention to. It's always better to learn as much from other people's experience than from your own. Plenty of opportunity to make regular mistakes.

Originally Posted by daflorc

...Well I'll tell you, I am a noob, and if any noobs (including myself) read any threads on SRP they are going to get a wealth of information they can't relate to until they get down into the dirty anyway. People have to learn on their own, and I guarantee there's nobody on here who's worth their salt who has been able to just "read up" on buying, using, honing, restoring, etc. and be an instant expert. Everyone has to buy crappy razors, pull our hair out trying to hone our razors, and pull our beards on butter knifes. Currently I'm doing all three, at least one at a time

Hint: And you will find this statement many times from me and many others on
this forum..

Newbies should wait about 6 months or until they don't need to ask if "This razor is a good deal" before they buy on e-bay

http://straightrazorpalace.com/aucti...tion-asap.html