So i got my razor today and I just shaved. Problem is, it doesn't seem that sharp and it didn't seem that it shaved any closer than my MACH3. Is my blade dull?
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So i got my razor today and I just shaved. Problem is, it doesn't seem that sharp and it didn't seem that it shaved any closer than my MACH3. Is my blade dull?
Or am i doing something wrong? I also got mad razor burn too.
Infamo,
Could be a lot of things. Where did you get your razor from/
Did you purchase it shave ready? What brand is it?
Where was it made? Just knowing this will allow us to
help you out.
Terry
edit- sorry tried to link to a thread called "putting my skin through too much" which is a page or two back in this section, it details a bit of what i went through with a non shave ready straight.
be carefull and make sure it's shave ready, i gave myself the worst razorburn of my life by being to pumped up and wanting to try my straight before it was sharp enough. it's now off getting shave ready by a generous member here.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1
thats the one i bought, maybe it was a mistake buying it off ebay?
Many if not most straight razors are not actually sharp enough to shave well with out of the box. Even though I am sure it is stated that they are. Usually unless you know how to hone its best to send the razor out to someone who is skilled at honing. This is what I, and many others did, especially with their first razor.Quote:
Originally Posted by infamo
Where did you purchase the razor from, and did the person selling it to you hone it for you and/or tell you that it was shave ready?
i bought mine new and "shave ready", it wasnt shave ready as JL was describing even though the print on the blade said so...
id honestly not shave with it again until you get it properly sharp which is another problem becuase i know i had no solid understanding of what was shave sharp (nothing to compare it to being my first straight), i even got my razor to pass the hanging hair test 7 times out of ten and yet the first time i tried going against the grain i butchered my face. many members here are extremely generous and can help you get it shave ready, good luck
Dude, that thing looks like a knife!!! :thinking: Does the blade open to past 180 degrees? The handle doesn't seem to be conducive to actually shave with. Damn pretty blade though.
-Rob
Infamo,
Thats not a straight razor. More of a box cutter knife
or something to that effect. The seller in my opinion
misrepresented what he was selling.
Check out www.thewellshavedgentleman.com
This company is owned by Tony Miller a member
of this forum. He offers starter kits for beginners.
Do check out this site. In addition www.billysblades.com
The razors he sells are used but according to other members
very good. He doesn't have many at present but should
be adding I do believe 16 razors in a day or two.
His user name on this forum is urleebird.
Hope this helps and don't let this discourage you.
Terry
Well, I think your first mistake was buying that chinese razor. I won't call it a piece of junk but I certainly wouldn't use it. If I were you I would do some research on this site and after that buy a real razor from one of the guys here.
I guess you can use that implement you bought as a box cutter!
Quote:
Originally Posted by infamo
I didnt see that post initially. I wouldnt consider myself stuck up, but I would never shave with a new $8.95 razor made in china. My guess is no one but an expert honer is going to be able to get that thing sharp enough to shave with and the fee would be more than the razor is worth.
Of course, I am still new at this so I could be wrong.
I seriously doubt that even an expert honer could get
it shave ready. But I'm new as well as could definately
be wrong.
Terry
well, does how much should i expect to spend on a good one?
Infamo,
Inaddition to the razor you will also need a strop.
Do check out Tony Miller link I sent you.
The price of the billy blades vary.
A 5/8 Dovo from www.classicshaving.com which would
be a good choice for a beginner will run I believe around
$60.00. I would advise that you take advantage of their
honing service. The cost is $20.00. It will be shipped to
Mr. Lynn Abrams the founder of this forum. I bought a Dovo
from classic a couple weeks ago and had it shipped to him.
He does an outstanding job and is money well spent. Even
a high quality razor is not shave ready out of the box.
Terry
Also PM Tony Miller (that is also his user name on this forum), he has well priced razors as well as all the accessories you would need to keep it sharp such as strops, etc... and he has great package prices which make everything very affordable.Quote:
Originally Posted by infamo
If you are just interested in a razor and have all the equipment you need to keep it sharp then you can also check out http://www.billysblades.com/Straights.htm
I think you would have been better served had you actually shaved with a box cutter!!
No offense. I'm just having a laugh at your expense. Seriously though, read and ask questions here on SRP. You'll be amazed at how much you'll learn.
I'm shocked that Alan or Randy haven't chimed in with their witty sarcasm regarding your post of the "Chinese box cutter".
-Rob
It might have a familiarly shaped edge, but that's where the similarity ends. When you get a real razor, you'll see the difference in the spine and with the action of the scales which it closes into.
Go to the User Gallery because sometimes there's razors for sale there which are shave ready too, some nice ones as well. They'll say For Sale or at least have a price on them if they are being sold.
While we're at it. Make sure you take a look at the Help Files.
The Permanent Archive is where the wisdom of the ancients is kept. :rolleyes:
X
Rob...surely you're not talking about me? Well, with all of the crap on ebay, and I've bought a few, however, no boxcutters, it's a shame when someone trys something new and gets shafted. However, it should be a lesson learned. Infamo, you asked about how much you should spend for a good straight razor. Take it from someone who did things the hard way (although I never bought one of THOSE!), check with Lynn Abrams, RandyDance or Tony Miller about a used shave ready razor. Check in the User Gallery under Gear for Sale. Plan on anywhere from $30 and up. And you will need a strop. See Tony Miller about that one. If money is not a major issue, check out Tony's starter set. If my son wanted to start straight razor shaving...he would own one of those. Also check at www.billysblades.com with Bill Ellis. The man is a wizard at razor restoration, and also offers fine new and used razors, and he also carried strops.Quote:
Originally Posted by robertlampo
For now, don't be discouraged if we poke fun at you...someday you'll look back on this and laugh. Just remember we are all here to help...and poke a little fun!!!
Best of luck!
RT
I'm really more into strops than razors now days so would suggest Classic Shaving, Billy's Blades, John Crowley's Shave Shop or a used blade from a member here.
In any case pay the extra if needed to get it sharp if the seller does not already sharpen it before use.
Tony Miller
I would not even send that blade to get honed...Do what the others are recommending, But don't use this on your face :nono: (you dont know what metal its made of). Chances are you may end up hating Straight blade) shaving after a couple more trys with this blade, don't ruin a great expierence with an inferior shaving tool. read thru the forums and ask questions here.You will not go wrong. I haven't even attempted to straight razor my face yet (waiting to get my pre- sharpened dovo by Tony) but I have been reading here for three weeks and watching lynns video , I think I am ready!!!! :D