Thread: What Do You Have In The Mail Right Now?

So the horn and bone from guitarpartsandmore.com hit the box today.

The blond is hit or miss of course. You could probably request honey. I think I might have before but I've actually been thinking about some streaked so I was actually hoping it would have more color. The black is clean, straight and flat. The camel bone are nice clean cut pieces but a little small. There's not much wiggle room on shape but it should come out nicely. I think these prices are actually intended for inlay. The prices are good and it shipped fast.

OH, I almost forgot. I picked up these at the local Ace Hardware.




0 x 80 X 1/2" screw and nut. Washer I
1 X 72 size. They are perfect size for this FBU for pre-planning assembly.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

OH, I almost forgot. I picked up these at the local Ace Hardware.




0 x 80 X 1/2" screw and nut. Washer I
1 X 72 size. They are perfect size for this FBU for pre-planning assembly.

I was so annoyed that I had to buy packs of 100 of these. But it sure made life easier.

I also recently got some horn in.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

OH, I almost forgot. I picked up these at the local Ace Hardware.




0 x 80 X 1/2" screw and nut. Washer I
1 X 72 size. They are perfect size for this FBU for pre-planning assembly.

Yeah I love them for trial pinnings. I get mine from www.microfasteners.com. Never seen 0-80 hardware at a hardware store before. Good score.

Three Titans. Three different steel alloys. I have never used one but I dont like them just based on the known characteristics of the razor. I pointed out those characteristics on another forum and got called out for posting a biased opinion without ever having actually held one in my hands. So now I am going to hold three different models in my hands. And hone and shave with them. They cost about 6x what a GD costs and I am going to determine once and for all if they are better than a GD and if so, if they are 6x better. Good value, or not. There may be a passaround when I am done, if that isnt against the rules here.


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32900122962.html


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/892056650.html


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1261419640.html

The first one is ACRM-2 steel, the second is VG10-HZ, and the last one is ACRO. Turns out Titan is actually a Japanese company, which explains why the Japanese steel even though the factory is in Taiwan.

Originally Posted by CrescentCityRazors

Three Titans. Three different steel alloys. I have never used one but I dont like them just based on the known characteristics of the razor. I pointed out those characteristics on another forum and got called out for posting a biased opinion without ever having actually held one in my hands. So now I am going to hold three different models in my hands. And hone and shave with them. They cost about 6x what a GD costs and I am going to determine once and for all if they are better than a GD and if so, if they are 6x better. Good value, or not. There may be a passaround when I am done, if that isnt against the rules here.


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32900122962.html


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/892056650.html


https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1261419640.html

The first one is ACRM-2 steel, the second is VG10-HZ, and the last one is ACRO. Turns out Titan is actually a Japanese company, which explains why the Japanese steel even though the factory is in Taiwan.

Hi, let me know your opinion of the top one which is what i have (the cheapest).

Although it is apparently shave ready I of course took it with a huge pinch of salt and reset the bevel to start again.

That's the one i tried to correct the heel on by rounding it off and found rounding it off properly and honing it a bit of a challenge so have put it down until the spring when I can get out to my workshop and dig out my dremel.

Originally Posted by STF

Hi, let me know your opinion of the top one which is what i have (the cheapest).

Although it is apparently shave ready I of course took it with a huge pinch of salt and reset the bevel to start again.

That's the one i tried to correct the heel on by rounding it off and found rounding it off properly and honing it a bit of a challenge so have put it down until the spring when I can get out to my workshop and dig out my dremel.

I am pretty sure that within 24 hours of receiving it, most of the straight shaving online community will know my opinion of it. I will admit I am going into this with considerable bias. A razor should have proper razor scales, not a pocketknife handle. But I till give all three a fair trial before the hanging. Who knows? Maybe I will like them. I might rescale the middle one. It is almost physically painful to me to look at it. Apart from that, my understanding is that the bevel angle is even fatter than the standard GD models, which are already borderline overweight. The VG10-HZ is supposed to be some darn good razor steel, but the big question is whether or not it is properly heat treated. Worth re-scaling? Titan is very proud of their ACRO blades. Are they really as hard as they say, and is that a good thing or a not so good thing? They are claiming HRC 61-65. That's quite a spread. My BS alarm is on high. Metal lined scales? They don't like to post pics that show the bevel angle or the scale thickness or composition or the flat spacer. They KNOW they are doing wrong or they wouldn't hide the glaring design flaws. But scales can be replaced, especially if the pivot hole in the razor is normal size.

There is an obvious gap in price and quality between the GD razors and entry level European or American or Japanese razors. Knowledgeable straight shavers fill that gap with vintage razors, usually, but beginners don't know how to pick them and sometimes simply have an aversion to "used" razors. Does Titan fill that gap? That is one of the things I want to figure out. I hate to see them recommended to beginners if they are a poor value for the money. (plus it is one less GD I will sell! I told you I was biased!) On the other hand, I would hate to see them overlooked if they are actually a pretty good deal, and I don't mind defending someone else's product if it is worth defending.

And BTW Steve, no need to wait until you can shovel your way to your Dremel, to tackle that heel. Get thee to Harbor Freight and grab the $10 or so set of diamond plates. If you ruin them, you aren't out very much. Just drag the heel back and forth near the edge of the coarsest plate with the spine elevated about 45 degrees off the plate, being very careful not to let the shaving edge contact the plate. You can apply two or three layers of Super 88 to the edge, for insurance. Just drag the corner back and forth and get a nice profile on the heel, then hit the middle one and finally the finer one. With the tape still on the edge, tape the spine, too, multiple layers. Hone the burr off where you profiled the heel, with a fingertip pressing down at the heel. Or wrap some sandpaper around a dowel and use it like a file. Lots of ways to do this without power tools if your power tools are unavailable to you.

Originally Posted by CrescentCityRazors

Just drag the corner back and forth and get a nice profile on the heel, then hit the middle one and finally the finer one. With the tape still on the edge, tape the spine, too, multiple layers. Hone the burr off where you profiled the heel, with a fingertip pressing down at the heel.

Light bulb moment. This is the part I've been trying to figure out. I was getting close, but you just got me there. Thank you, sir.

And, those are some ugly clunky scales.

Oh, pulled to much of the quote. It's the honing it to round off the burr I hadn't figured out.

NOS Gillette travel kit. L1 date code


Also figured I'd give this brush a whirl.

It was cheap but maybe it'll be okay.