Thread: Don't be wasteful–buy used

Originally Posted by Otto

What I consider a waste is the money I've spent on razors that looked a lot better in pictures then they did when I got them in my hand.

If you are new to this and considering buying through other channels then known dealers, wait until you know what to look for and what to avoid. And even then it is a crapshoot.

One thing I've noticed is that quite a few members here use their SRP names as their ebay names, now while this bit of information is not very helpful when it comes to bidding on a razor, I have found it useful to check the seller's feedback scores and once I see a few names I recognize then I decide whether or not I will bid on a razor based on the SRP members' feedback. I recently won a razor I decided to buy only because some well-known members here have left the seller positive feedback within the last year. I think this is a gauge that some newer members could benefit from when bidding on ebay if they become familar with the names of some senior SRP members. Then on the other hand, one could always avoid the crapshoot of the bay and just purchase their razors from the classifieds here, at least you know exactly what your buying. Just my $0.02.

Originally Posted by PonderingTurtle

Machines can hold far tighter tolerances than people can. They can be far more consistent as well. Think about this, how many people who sharpen straight razors shave with them as QC? They are trying to inspect quality into it instead of using a highly repeatable process.

It used to be taken for granted that Feather No Sharpen razors where much sharper than any straight, has that changed?

don't know, haven't used them, you'll need to ask someone else. I was talking generalities, of course to be taken with a pinch of salt. But my point about Gilette over engineering there disposables still stands, anything with that many blades should be a propeller, not a shaving tool.

So start mimeographing your newsletter instead of posting on a message board. Older proven technology after all not this new fangled internet that really is much more complicated and over-engineered right?

As always there are pros and cons, and as said previously, I was talking in generalities. I would stop using the internet... if I was 80, but unfortunately because I'm 25 I have to bow to the demands of the modern world. Everyone else uses it, they have deadlines that, if I used postal pigeon, would be completely disproportionate to the modern worlds expectations of their deadlines. I wouldn't survive.

I dont use twitter or facebook or any of that stuff that gets stuck to the bottom of my shoe. It has its advantages but it seems to be mostly utilised for people who's leftovers of conversations that don't make it into everyday dialogues are plastered all over the internet. Its like their brains are leaking and they can't stop this gunk coming out, that no one should hear... "just realised, bought wholemeal bread instead of white... I'm such a cluts"


dont take it personally, this is just my view and I'm talking generalities. Another problem with the internet is unnecessary arguments...

Because if you buy your razor and it leaves a bad taste from a bad experience your chance of sticking with this hobby diminish drastically... And that is a bad thing... Starting with a new "Shave Ready" razor from a reputable vendor or a used "Shave Ready" razor from a reputable vendor means you are starting this hobby with an advantage to making it work "smoothly" (pun intended)

Looking at it that way... it makes much more sense to go with a new razor

regards alex

Originally Posted by gimpyalex

don't know, haven't used them, you'll need to ask someone else. I was talking generalities, of course to be taken with a pinch of salt. But my point about Gilette over engineering there disposables still stands, anything with that many blades should be a propeller, not a shaving tool.

But they have the best testing and quality control mechanisms out there. For example they have their employees shave at work and report on the shave. What a great way to get a lot of data that can be properly blinded to compare minute differences in edge angle and geometry in a truly scientific fashion.

As always there are pros and cons, and as said previously, I was talking in generalities. I would stop using the internet... if I was 80, but unfortunately because I'm 25 I have to bow to the demands of the modern world. Everyone else uses it, they have deadlines that, if I used postal pigeon, would be completely disproportionate to the modern worlds expectations of their deadlines. I wouldn't survive.

This is not true at all, you are making choices about how you want to live your life, there are many people who for a variety of reasons make different choices. You could restructure your life away from the internet and computers if you so chose.

I dont use twitter or facebook or any of that stuff that gets stuck to the bottom of my shoe. It has its advantages but it seems to be mostly utilised for people who's leftovers of conversations that don't make it into everyday dialogues are plastered all over the internet. Its like their brains are leaking and they can't stop this gunk coming out, that no one should hear... "just realised, bought wholemeal bread instead of white... I'm such a cluts"

Or just don't be friends with people who are idiots.

Originally Posted by PonderingTurtle

But they have the best testing and quality control mechanisms out there. For example they have their employees shave at work and report on the shave. What a great way to get a lot of data that can be properly blinded to compare minute differences in edge angle and geometry in a truly scientific fashion.

I don't have any quams with the quality control, I'm sure they do a lovely job, BUT if its truly scientific, they would have employees shaving with one blade as a control.

This is not true at all, you are making choices about how you want to live your life, there are many people who for a variety of reasons make different choices. You could restructure your life away from the internet and computers if you so chose.

not with a Computing degree! you try mailing 2000 lines of code!

Or just don't be friends with people who are idiots.

do you mean friends or 'friends'?

Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

Then on the other hand, one could always avoid the crapshoot of the bay and just purchase their razors from the classifieds here, at least you know exactly what your buying. Just my $0.02.

Unless the seller has just scored his first 50 posts & starts selling "shave ready" razors. Even the SRP classifieds require you to do your research.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Unless the seller has just scored his first 50 posts & starts selling "shave ready" razors. Even the SRP classifieds require you to do your research.

Point taken and my hat's off to you sir! I guess I have been lucky with my purchases from the classifieds here. But you are entirely correct, I did my research on those members selling razors here well before I hit the "Buy It Now" button.

Originally Posted by PonderingTurtle

Of course not, the Mona Lisa is not painted on canvas to start with.

As for this, working up the process is always an issue of trial an error, just like setting up any production line. If the issue is hand grinding use robots that can perfectly replicate the same actions every time.

QC as a process is hundreds of times better than it was 100 years ago, steels are far better now than even 20 years ago, techniques improve all the time. Now the straight razor market might not be big enough to take advantage of modern manufacturing methods, but there is loads that could be done with them.

It seems you are quite proud of modern mechanized systems, which is also a bit sad. But since razor making is still an art I highly doubt that mass producing methods would be feasible with straight razors. And the death of human workmanship is, and has been, my main point throughout this entire thread: once its gone it will never be the same again. Sure, you could train some monkey to operate a machine that forges, cuts, grinds and assembles, but it sounds pretty sterile though...

Part of the pride and joy of using a straight razor is owning a handmade precision instrument. Love and care went into the making of that product, whether you believe it or not. I don't think there is a single member here who relishes the idea of a mass produced, machine made hunk of steel. Do you?

BTW - Could the Mona Lias be recreated on poplar then??? You can deflect all you want. I too could wikipedia the Mona Lisa and spew out its entire history and come off like an old pro, but since we are not talking about painters' materials who cares?

Originally Posted by gimpyalex

I don't have any quams with the quality control, I'm sure they do a lovely job, BUT if its truly scientific, they would have employees shaving with one blade as a control.

How do you know that they didn't? These will be compared to other safety razors after all. But that is a change that is harder to blind and so you will see peoples innate biases more than between changes they are unaware of.

not with a Computing degree! you try mailing 2000 lines of code!

So? Get a job in something other than programing.

do you mean friends or 'friends'?

They do not have to be different.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

It seems you are quite proud of modern mechanized systems, which is also a bit sad. But since razor making is still an art I highly doubt that mass producing methods would be feasible with straight razors. And the death of human workmanship is, and has been, my main point throughout this entire thread: once its gone it will never be the same again. Sure, you could train some monkey to operate a machine that forges, cuts, grinds and assembles, but it sounds pretty sterile though...

So interchangeable parts suck, cars where much better when they only lasted a few years and died well before 100,000 miles and needed a lot more maintenance and so on? Cars are an example of how things are simply better now than they used to be, even if the old skills in making them are dying out.

Part of the pride and joy of using a straight razor is owning a handmade precision instrument. Love and care went into the making of that product, whether you believe it or not. I don't think there is a single member here who relishes the idea of a mass produced, machine made hunk of steel. Do you?

Depends on the individual quality of the piece of steel. You sound like if you worked were I do you would be decrying the lost art of form grinding because we now have EDM machines that do it faster better and cheaper than the old methods.

BTW - Could the Mona Lias be recreated on poplar then??? You can deflect all you want. I too could wikipedia the Mona Lisa and spew out its entire history and come off like an old pro, but since we are not talking about painters' materials who cares?

The Mona Lisa is not a tool. Do you put different value on say a natural ruby instead of a synthetic ruby? If so why are you not using chipped flint to shave that would be the epitome of individual skill and natural methods.

Ok folks, this ones getting a bit off track.

Let's get this back on topic or I'm going to lock the thread.

Thanks,

Stu