Thread: Rolls Razor

Originally Posted by Oldfalguy

Glen,
I have a couple of the whole sides(different patterns single and triple column)- and the alone hones appear fine but your right about anything can be cut and slipped into a side to use as leather strop- Imagine fitting a piece of horsehide in one of them??-If I find time I will measure how think the hone stone is- ain't much can't estimate grit
The 2 alone strops are just soft latigo. A couple of the cased units still have little instructions letters in them.

The type with the single column of keys running down the center is the Viscount model, which is a sleeker, more oblong design. The Imperial model has three columns of keys and is the more common rectangular design. While the covers are not exactly interchangeable between the two models (close, but not exact), the strops and hones are.

As you pointed out falguy, for a DE user, this will be easy to use and IMO, it's also a great way to learn the effect of different angles from a nearly bare blade, which makes a transition to a straight a little easier if so inclined. It's a great value as you can keep it honed yourself with a little patience. Alot of great engineering in a rolls for very little money - and it could last a lifetime.

Originally Posted by TheGeek

I picked one up on the bay a few weeks ago £10 including postage, not bad me thinks, came in a leather case with a spare blade.


Geek

Geek, with two blades, after you hone them up, you could be set for life. For those on the fence, I think investing in one, and using it, can potentially stop this RAD nonsense! It's worth a shot anyhow

While mentioning cracked hones,it bears mentioning this may be the only weakness of this solidly engineered device.

When closing the unit be alert that when snapping the lid closed, make sure all the pieces are in the correct placement. If the handle is not sitting in the correct position, and the hone side lid contacts the handle, you will break the hone.

Every broken hone I've seen is that same potential contact spot.

Originally Posted by OGlenn

1. The hone on mine seems to just be a very fine grit sandpaper on a cardboard backer... Could a person change this?

You can change the hone, but finding a replacement is the difficult part. Manufacturing of these razors ceased in the early 60's, so there is no supplier of replacement parts per se. You might see a NOS replacement hone on the 'bay now and then, but the bidding often exceeds the price of an entire set with a decent hone. IMO the most effective way of resolving your hone issue is to buy another one and use the one you have for parts. be sure to ask the seller if the hone is cracked, as sometimes it is hard to tell from a photo. You might find one with no handle or a badly corroded blade, but a good hone and strop so you can piece together one solid kit. One good hone can tuneup you edges for all of your kits. Also, keep in mind that to establish the bevel and the edge, the hones used for straight razors are more effective, but the rolls hone works well to maintain that edge.

2. Can the strop also be changed? Mine again is a VERY thin piece of leather with a cardboard backer... There also have been "paste" applied to the strop.

As for the strop, a piece of Latigo leather can be trimmed and inserted in the cover, if what is there isn't doing the job. You do need to strop it in the kit - you don't necessarily need to hone it in the kit.

After reading some of the new posts, it seem as if someone had ALREADY changed the strop and hone in my razor...

I'm guessing, correct me if I wrong, the original hone was actually a honing stone... Like I said, I have taken the hone out of mine and it is just a piece of something attached to a cardboard backer.

The strop is the same... I'll try and post pictures...

Originally Posted by NoseWarmer

After reading some of the new posts, it seem as if someone had ALREADY changed the strop and hone in my razor...

I'm guessing, correct me if I wrong, the original hone was actually a honing stone... Like I said, I have taken the hone out of mine and it is just a piece of something attached to a cardboard backer.
.

Yes, the correct hone would be a stone, so someone tried to rig up a fix with yours. Here is a photo of a functional, well used strop; a solid, but well used hone; and a cracked hone. The crack is about 2/3rds of the way down. Because the cracks are easy to hide, I recommend always asking about the hone before you buy your first one. As previously mentioned, if you are careful with storing your handle (I recommend placing it in the side slot, if your kit has the cutout for it), it will last as long as the kit does, maybe longer.

Originally Posted by OGlenn

Yes, the correct hone would be a stone, so someone tried to rig up a fix with yours. Here is a photo of a functional, well used strop; a solid, but well used hone; and a cracked hone. The crack is about 2/3rds of the way down. Because the cracks are easy to hide, I recommend always asking about the hone before you buy your first one. As previously mentioned, if you are careful with storing your handle (I recommend placing it in the side slot, if your kit has the cutout for it), it will last as long as the kit does, maybe longer.

Yep, both of mine have cut corners... And no real hone...

Originally Posted by TheGeek

You can always justify another razor

I picked one up on the bay a few weeks ago £10 including postage, not bad me thinks, came in a leather case with a spare blade.

It's sitting in my to work on box, I may wiggle it up the pile a little

Geek

I checked out an antique shop over the weekend and found a very nice Rolls...But the price was AUS$78. I thought that was too much...Also saw a very nice Gotti Cutthroat for $24 but I valiantly fought down the RAD and left it there...Till next month when I intend to go back and purchase both the Rolls and the Gotti if they're still there...More than likely according to the owner of the business.

Originally Posted by dirtychrome

While mentioning cracked hones,it bears mentioning this may be the only weakness of this solidly engineered device.

When closing the unit be alert that when snapping the lid closed, make sure all the pieces are in the correct placement. If the handle is not sitting in the correct position, and the hone side lid contacts the handle, you will break the hone.

Every broken hone I've seen is that same potential contact spot.

I learnt all about being careful with the Rolls in that respect. If you don't have the pieces in the right position it would take some force to put the lid back in place...I didn't break anything thankfully...Heavens forbid I may have had to buy faulty merchandise if that had have happened!


Mick

Here's a few pictures of my "strop" & "Hone" from my Rolls...

The first picture is what they look like...

Hone on the Right and Strop on the left:



Showing the front and back... Notice the cardboard:



The side and showing that there is some type of "abrasive" paper used as the hone:



Last, two leather inserts, one for a new stropping surface and the second I was hoping I could put some CrOx for a hone....



However, my mind was not working and discovered that the edge of the blade cuts into the leather.... Back to the drawing board...

Originally Posted by OGlenn

Geek, with two blades, after you hone them up, you could be set for life. For those on the fence, I think investing in one, and using it, can potentially stop this RAD nonsense! It's worth a shot anyhow

Well once it's all sorted, if I'm liking using it, then it will definately get added to my rotation

Anyone got anytips on honing the blades?

Geek

Originally Posted by TheGeek

Well once it's all sorted, if I'm liking using it, then it will definately get added to my rotation

Anyone got anytips on honing the blades?

Geek

Yep! Don't cut yerself!


Mick