Thread: Got a new Hart - and I'm so sad!

The new Hart I purchsed was not shave ready, but close. I went ahead and reset the bevel, and hone it up to a Naniwa 12k, and it's silky smooth ever since. You should be very happy with your Hart once it's properly honed.

That's just sad, really. Isn't that the Vendor that claims all razors are finished on Escher's, by several different individuals? I'm a firm believer in shave testing my blades before I send them back to their respective owners. You'd be surprised how a blade can pass every test, and still need some tweaking.

Did you contact the vendor with your concerns and see if they will make it right?

My Hart was also "not-quite-shave-ready." I did a few strokes on a Norton 8K and more on Naniwa 12K followed by Crox and stropping. It's been fine since. My only other comment, that I've made on other threads but will repeat, is that mine rusts like crazy tho others do not seem to have this problem. I just keep it well-oiled between uses and it's fine. It'a a great razor and I enjoy the blade configuation.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Did you contact the vendor with your concerns and see if they will make it right?

Not yet but I plan to on Monday. I just got it yesterday and they aren't open until tomorrow. I'm just wondering how "right" they can make it if this is their definition of shave ready...

Had the same problem. Sent mine to Lynn & Don at Straight Razor Designs. Got it back yesterday, used it before work this AM and NOW it truly is "SHAVE READY." Worth every penny. Thanks SRD...

I think, when you look at the factory made blades these days the Hart pieces are really pretty good. Mine wasn't shave ready either but it was very close. Now of course you can say if it's not shave ready it's not shave ready and if its a mile away or a millimeter away same difference.

Whereas with the other brands they really need to get with the program with Hart I think they just need to either spend a bit more time or tweak their skills.

All a matter of degree I guess.

Originally Posted by zib

That's just sad, really. Isn't that the Vendor that claims all razors are finished on Escher's, by several different individuals? I'm a firm believer in shave testing my blades before I send them back to their respective owners. You'd be surprised how a blade can pass every test, and still need some tweaking.

agreed , and also how man dont pass all the test and shave like a dream !!!

I have 7 and all were shave read out of the box or for me anyway maybe my skin is just leather or something I really like them. But what one likes the others may not.

Originally Posted by Slamthunderide

I have 7 and all were shave read out of the box or for me anyway maybe my skin is just leather or something I really like them. But what one likes the others may not.

I doubt it...Mine were great also. Unfortunately, things made by people's hands (while perhaps done REALLY well) always have some variability and imperfection...it is this imperfection that not only proves that it was done by a person, but also is what I appreciate about customs and semi-customs. It is the acceptable DEGREE of imperfection that is debatable by all.

Razors basically ALL are semi-custom when it comes to shave readiness, and the guy that does the final honeing is the decider.

Something that EVERYONE should understand is all honers have variability, and even Lynn would (I am guessing) agree...but the variability becomes less and less ("tolerances" become tighter and tighter) over time and experience. The BEST honers will test and catch ALL sub-standard results before they go out the door...but even then, we see occasionally someone post up that their SRD razor was sub-par (and we usually attribute the statement to in-experience or something else). HOWEVER, I would presume that the wise buyer would in every case contact the honer directly with inquiry, and said honer would re-inspect and verify any problems that might exist.

Hart is not ONE guy, but several artisans. I can tell you that my very small collection would demonstrate a great amount of variability between artisans there. Is it the buyers fault that he/she got a sub standard razor? IMO, no....but it is the buyer's discretion to accept or return the razor upon inspection...or simply contact the maker/vendor directly BEFORE attempting to "fix" the problem.

Let me say it this way, If you try and fix something, it demonstrates that either you think you and your standards are higher than the person who made the mistake, or (perhaps) you damaged it and thus felt compelled to repair it yourself instead of swatting the mistake back to the creator. No offense, this is just how it often looks to the customer service department. That said, the CS department has a vested interest in keeping customers happy regardless of what actually happened...and that is why these matters should be taken there (IMO) first, other than posting on a public forum...but it is a free country, so it is all good.

I hope this does not offend anyone or put words in anyone's mouth (pro honers). I am making some assumptions based on the services *I* offer and the observations I have had in various avenues of custom and semi-custom creations (both in razors, and in many other custom goods (bicycles, knives, clothing, etc.)).

Peace