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Back to razors - I don't want to start a flame war, but have been wondering about the "goodness" of expensive razors. I have had fun finding < $20 razors on the bay, restoring, honing and getting great shaves from them.
Without question TIs and expensive custom razors are aesthetically beautiful and if it pleases you to own them -great, but do they really shave better than an equally well honed Genco or Shumate? After all, the only thing that shaves you is the edge.
Just wondering.
There is a short answer to that question, and that is no.
Now tell that to the fools with all them fancy and expensive ones;)
When you buy a custom, the edge you shave with is free, the rest of the razor is what you pay for.
Well, you don't need more than two razors anyway so why not one of each? ;)
No. But don't forget, razor is very individual thing.Quote:
but do they really shave better than an equally well honed Genco or Shumate?
All of us like something special. For example, I don't like TI razors, and don't think, that they are beautiful. Someone thinks differently.
Razors ...like women, someone likes blonde, someone likes brunette and the other likes brown-haired women.:)
And someone, someplace is tired of them. (not the razors)Quote:
Originally Posted by manah
You may want to browse through some thoughts in this thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ch-better.html
I love the new Dovo that I bought from AOS. Knowing that I am the first person to shave with this razor is an incredible high. On the other hand buying a razor from the past makes me think of the previous owners and all the great shaves it has provided. Restoring the razor to its former glory and shaving with it is a link to history. Isn't that one of the reasons why we shave with a straight? :shrug:
I've owned a Ford Fusion Hybrid and a Mercedes E55. Both got me to the bank and back, but the E55 took me places the Hybrid couldn't.Quote:
Originally Posted by coloshaver
It depends on whom you ask.
If you ask an audiophile whether the gold plated 600$ per meter audio cable gives a better sound, he'll say yes.
Meanwhile in the real world, sane people know the answer is no.
What does make a difference is the hardness and quality of the steel (because they determine maximum sharpness and edge retention) and grind (which determines the amount of flex ) and geometry (because that influences the edge angle and how the blade is used on your skin). With those parameters being equal, high end pattern welded steel is no better or worse than the simple tool steels it was made from.
You know, I once had this discussion with the proprietor from a shaving shop, who let me hold a 700 euro TI damascus razor.
He told me it was very special.
So I handle it a bit, and ask him what specifically made it so special.
He smiled at me and said 'the fact that it costs 700 euros'
:)
That couldn't be a real audiophile, the one I talked to said $600 cable was BS and made little difference, but the $10,000 cable was really unreal! (I'm not kidding, this was a real conversation) :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruno
Actually, a true audiophile would say that the cable that sounded best is the one he made himself out of scavenged parts and spending under $50 for the rest.:pQuote:
Originally Posted by Blix
I think you could apply this to nearly any hobby. I make knives and enjoy using them but I wouldn't pay what I charge for one if you know what I mean! There are far cheaper ones that do the same job and you wouldn't worry if you lost it. They don't look as nice but aesthetics are a very personal thing.
With razors I've been really drawn to an old Wilkinson 6/8 recently, I got it nearly 10 years ago for £2. I've used it since I got it but recently that £2 razor has provided more pleasure than I could explain for some reason! I haven't used the ones that cost me way more near as much recently. I keep going back to that old Wilki for some unknown reason, it's like that ring is to Gollum for me at the minute...
Na, that would be someone from the 1970s or so. Nowadays it's the snakeoil mixed into the pattern of the wires and how much it costs that makes it what it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Theseus
I just finished shaving through ~50 "Plain Jane' razors, whew. It took several months. With the exception of two or three I sent back to the hones I would be very happy shaving with any one of them day after day if I could get used to using the same razor every day. I have a few production razors that cost some pretty change. They do shave a little better than most but I am not sure they justify the price I paid for them other than that they are attractive and highly sought after, at least they were sought after when I purchased them. I feel that most vintage razors can give exceptional shaves once they have a proper edge and the proper techniques that fit your skin and whiskers is used. I do enjoy the expensive razors in my collection and save them for holidays and special events.
Yes, what's your favourite colour?Quote:
Originally Posted by manah
.... Blonde.:)
Anyone can buy a new Dovo, I get a thrill when shaving with a 50-60 year old brand new razor that somehow has managed to slip through the hands of time and end up in new condition in mine. That's cool,especially when the box is also new and somehow its managed to get to me in that condition. As for audio,its all in the ears of the beholder,and as for cars,yes a Hybrid will get you there the same as a Merc or a BMW,but if you cant tell the difference,No amount of explaining will do it for you. JMHOQuote:
Originally Posted by samda