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?

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.

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 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.