Thread: Looking for a new razor

So I've been using straight razors for a while now, roughly 6 months and I'm finally learning and getting a feel for it. I started out with a razor from whippeddog and it was excellent. I couldn't ask for more. Without my permission a relative touched it and I'm not sure if they thought it was an axe or something but they banged up the edge beyond repair. I later accidentally dropped it and it broke in half. It was a 2ft drop at most. This was was a full hollow 5/8 square cut blade.

i ordered another from whipped dog trying my luck again. This time I got a full hollow 5/8 round blade. The blade was also longer than the first one. I never really came to love this blade like I did the first one. It wasn't as maneuverable as the first one due to its longer length. It makes shaving the sides of my neck impossible due to both my neck/jaw line shape and the pain in the ass direction of the hair.

so anywho I'm ready to buy a new razor. A square edge is a must, but the common measurement is the width and I don't often find information on the length. The old blade is about 2.71 inches and I measured that with a digital caliper starting from the tip to the back of he hollow cut.

so my question for you guys is, do different lengths fall under certain styles? Since length is not commonly listed in ads it's going to be a pain in the ass to get the information, so how should I go about finding the comfortable length?

2.75 - 3 is pretty much a standard length you will find a few that are slightly longer..

Shorter than 2.75 start looking for the terms Dwarf, Shrimp, Baby, etc: etc:

There are some razors that were just designed shorter also, the De Pews "Perfect" come to mind, also many of the Japanese Western Grind folders are often shorter blades, King Pelican and Solgen #75 come to mind..


Edit: Careful use of a grinder can make any razor shorter, inexperienced use of a grinder can make it much shorter

I think that you can call whippeddog and explain exactly what you are looking for. He probably has many at hands and will send you the closest one.

Edit: he could also make "a careful use of the grinder"

You might want to look at one of Robert Williams' creations, "The Purist".

I don't own one, never used one, but...

that purist is pretty but WAAAAAAAAY out of my budget. Maybe I'll gift one to my self once I finish college.

As far as cutting them down goes, I know a thing or two about metal working and I have some tools, but what is the best way to just cut the bit of chunk I want off? would a cutting blade on a dremel be safe?

You two guys need to get together

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ked-blade.html

Thanks glen for the link to this page. And cutting off past the crack of my blade is an interesting thought. As per the the question above. Any ideas of the best way to cut a straight razor down with out damaging it too much?

Honestly the way of doing it is not all that critical,, Dremel, Stone Grinder, Belt Grinder, all work out just fine, keeping it slow and cool is the critical part

Seriously got my wheels turning now. (: