Thread: Tennis brand razors - need help deciding

As I said! That one would be in my junk drawer but I hope you enjoy it.

Sounds like you got the schpeil and drank the koolaid.

Have fun.

Originally Posted by Lynn

As I said! That one would be in my junk drawer but I hope you enjoy it.

Sounds like you got the schpeil and drank the koolaid.

Have fun.

Nah, I got just what I was looking for - a Tennis that will clean up nicely and comes honed for under 50 bucks. To me, koolaid drinking means spending more than I want. Shaving my beard off for upcoming interviews since I'm about to wrap up a 2 year certification internship was my motivation to start safety razor shaving. I'll find the perfect shaver sometime after I'm working again and can afford it in a few months. In the meantime, I get to start straight shaving with something that performs well.

Having fun is key. I absolutely agree with you there. I can't wait to try shaving my neck with a surgically sharp blade using my left hand. Now, that sounds like fun!

Originally Posted by RADisorder

Nah, I got just what I was looking for - a Tennis that will clean up nicely and comes honed for under 50 bucks.

You can clean that razor up, but it won't "clean up nicely." Those big black areas are what gets left behind when active, red rust is removed. The black is a different kind of rust, often referred to as devils spit. The name comes for two reasons. It is harder to get rid of than red rust, and it always leaves pitting behind. If you get rid of the black, you'll have pitting. You can't get rid of the pitting, because there isn't enough steel on a full hollow blade. Pitting casts shadows into itself, making it look like devils spit, so even "cleaned up," it'll look about the same. Not to mention that cleaning will almost certainly dull your edge (it's just too hard to clean a blade thoroughly and not damage the edge), so you won't want to do that until you are confident in your honing or willing to send the blade out.

In other words, if would be a shame to practice cleaning and honing on a blade that is such a nice shaver, but she'll never be a looker. She's a solid, workhorse shaver (like a work truck Glen would never sell :-) ), but that's about it.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

You can clean that razor up, but it won't "clean up nicely." Those big black areas are what gets left behind when active, red rust is removed. The black is a different kind of rust, often referred to as devils spit. The name comes for two reasons. It is harder to get rid of than red rust, and it always leaves pitting behind. If you get rid of the black, you'll have pitting. You can't get rid of the pitting, because there isn't enough steel on a full hollow blade. Pitting casts shadows into itself, making it look like devils spit, so even "cleaned up," it'll look about the same. Not to mention that cleaning will almost certainly dull your edge (it's just too hard to clean a blade thoroughly and not damage the edge), so you won't want to do that until you are confident in your honing or willing to send the blade out.

In other words, if would be a shame to practice cleaning and honing on a blade that is such a nice shaver, but she'll never be a looker. She's a solid, workhorse shaver (like a work truck Glen would never sell :-) ), but that's about it.

Ah, that's a little disappointing as I was thinking the blade would clean up. I won't mess with it. That red stuff on the tang area might clean up though, right?

Red stuff comes off easy. Underneath you'll find more black stuff.

(If razors could all be cleaned up easily, the seller would just do it and sell the blade for more. Seeing the phrase "she'll clean up real easy" or any variation thereof in for sale ads is a pet peeve of mine. Note no one who actually restores razors ever says that.)

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Red stuff comes off easy. Underneath you'll find more black stuff.

(If razors could all be cleaned up easily, the seller would just do it and sell the blade for more. Seeing the phrase "she'll clean up real easy" or any variation thereof in for sale ads is a pet peeve of mine. Note no one who actually restores razors ever says that.)

I don't think Larry gave that type of sales pitch. I mailed him asking for a Tennis and he looked through his stock and couldn't find one. He kept looking and found one two days later. What I thought about restoration was my own assumption. Here is what he said,

"The razor is a 5/8 round tip. The scales and pins are in good shape, there is good friction when closing, and the blade has never been honed.

The blade is stained as you can see in the picture. It is oxidation, rust, but I hesitate to call it rust. Stain is a better description. The reason I say that is that the metal to the touch is perfect. You cannot feel any difference in the texture of the metal as you feel the blade. If it was fully developed rust, you could feel a rougher texture, or something that was tactily different."

Even though I can't make it the prettiest thing, I'm still excited to get this as a first razor. I didn't expect it to be perfect for so cheap and it seems like a great one to get me started and beginning to learn about straights. When I found that awesome deal for a new one with hones from SRD I considered it but they were out of stock and probably just as well as it would be stretching my budget. Besides, as someone who has benefited from playing the sport most of my life, there is something cool about owning a Tennis brand razor. No buyer's remorse here. I'll find a beauty of one another day if straight shaving works for me.

Anyhow, I've learned so much about safety razor shaving from Wicked_Edge, I'm looking forward to finding out more from SRP.

That comment of mine was in no way directed towards Larry. It was just a general comment.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

That comment of mine was in no way directed towards Larry. It was just a general comment.

Good. Just wanted to be clear that I'm very happy with his service since I chose a razor in question, sold by him. Thanks again for the comments. I've found the wet shaving communities to be very helpful. I'm sure there are some unscrupulous folks out there, as with anything, but I haven't bumped into them yet.

Oy!

Freebies for Luv man!

Originally Posted by Lynn

Oy!

Freebies for Luv man!

Hah, you are good. I watched one of your Stroptober videos today. It's so nice to have all this info readily available. 10 or 20 years ago the average Joe wouldn't have access to so many easy to understand guides such as these. And don't forget my above posts. I've been singing your praises on honing with razor policy and will continue to do so. It's a good thing you didn't have the best quality 6/8 in stock or I'd have stretched my budget and bought it.