Thread: shaving with a straight razor without scales

I guess its like shaving with a kamisori?? have you guys had shaved with a SR with missing scales?? I just got one and I dont want to rescale it, I dont know if there is a risk of injury or if the blade will dull quickly without the scales
what do you think??

Sure you can, but I don't see any reason why!
Why don't you want to rescale it?

Originally Posted by Lemur

Sure you can, but I don't see any reason why!
Why don't you want to rescale it?

I would have to make them myself,, I dont have the tools, nor the materials,,, maybe some day Ill order a set of scales, washers, etc.. but in the meantime I have to figure it out... Its really a good blade that I really want to use

Ahh, ok, that's nice!
I have tried shaving with a loose blade, it's not that good but doable.
Get yourself a shave ready razor while you decide how to do your scales, gather materials, tools and read up on how to do it.
It doesn't have to be that hard to make your own, if you're not happy with them you can unpin them and make some new ones.

But in the meantime I would get another razor.

Thanks,, Ill try.. thing is that its not easy to gather all the stuff here in Mexico,,, but Ill check on ebay may be its not that hard to make a good set of scales

They really aren't balanced well without scales. Its actually much more difficult to hone with out scales as well.

Take an example from the Feather AC straight edge. It comes as a folder and a Japanese style razor. Same head same blades. Just put a handle on the blade your using to make it easier to hold.
Or if you want to go old style Japanese , tape it.
But remember you don't have the scales to protect the blade!

I just shaved with one I am regrinding and fixing up. I just couldn't wait to see what it shaved like. No scales on it and I had a heck of a time with it and quit. You can buy scales with pins on e_bay and a 4 oz. ball peen. Great tutorials in the library section here on how to do it.

Originally Posted by ledemon

Thanks,, Ill try.. thing is that its not easy to gather all the stuff here in Mexico,,, but Ill check on ebay may be its not that hard to make a good set of scales

I love and admire old repairs or homemade scales . 99.9999999999% of razors are pre ebay. Although modern tools and their availability are nice. What did they do in the 1800's relatively separated from the rest of the word? Use plastic from an old clipboard for scales and nails for pins. Use your imagination. My idea of good is useful not necessarily pretty. Have fun and learn. When you have the skill and better material make another set.