straight razor options?

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dustbust_1

Joined
Jun 5, 2012
Messages
57
Id like a straight razor. Not a new completed one. I don't think i could make a blade, im pretty inexperienced (Ive done 3 knife blades).

here are my options I forsee

- buy a vintage razor off ebay or antique store (ive researched good brands) clean up the blade, re-scale & pin or clean up the scales if they are in good condition
- find a place that sells just the new blades and make my own scales (ive looked but cant find just the blade, anybody know where to find these?)
- buy a new one, good blade cheap scales, knock off the scales and remake

does anybody have advise on a good path to follow? Im trying to keep this under $50.00. I realize a good straight razor will outlast my kids but I rock a beard and only will use it to clean up my neck and to make me feel alive with razor sharp steel against my neck every morning.

Thanks Guys
 
forget new in that price range. OK razors are mostley north of the 150$ range
finding a not to beat up old razor is a great way to learn the ropes and should be in budget. let it be known tho that you would likely need to send out for a pro honing or battle the learning curve of water stones (and the cost of the hones needed)
 
ya, thats what Ive come to find out. New razors are $$$. Surprised me - but again you will only ever need 1 so I think the cost is justified if you have the money.

Ive been able to get my knives made in O-1 arm hair shaving sharp so I figure I can get an old razor up to par with some work. I use wet/dry sandpaper on a mousepad glued to a block. Ha, pretty ghetto but works very well and CHEAP!

My most desired option is to find a vintage one on ebay but even then they can fetch a pretty steep price. Sometimes more than a new razor.

thanks for the response.
 
I have a couple of straight razor blades i picked a while back,i don't believe they were ever finished.They were just hollow ground and heat treated.I am not sure but i don't think they were stamped with a makers mark so who knows what kind of steel they are.
 
I'd shoot him a PM. He's sold out on that forum topic, but he might be able to make you one. it looks like he does his own waterjetting.
 
dustbust_1 said:
ya, thats what Ive come to find out. New razors are $$$. Surprised me - but again you will only ever need 1 so I think the cost is justified if you have the money.

Ive been able to get my knives made in O-1 arm hair shaving sharp so I figure I can get an old razor up to par with some work. I use wet/dry sandpaper on a mousepad glued to a block. Ha, pretty ghetto but works very well and CHEAP!

My most desired option is to find a vintage one on ebay but even then they can fetch a pretty steep price. Sometimes more than a new razor.

thanks for the response.
Click to expand...

Ok, I'll be the (edited) in the group. Just because you can get a knife to shaving sharp doesn't mean you know jack about sharpening a razor. How high grit do you take your knives? Most professional razor honers stop at nothing less than 8k, and that is really the low end. Yeah, a 600 grit knife will shave, but a razor is totally, completely different. That mouse/sandpaper job isn't going to cut it. Just send it out. A 1000 grit Chosera, a 4000/8000 Norton combo stone, a 325 DMT for cleaning and flattening are going to run you at least the cost of 15 honings, not to mention the learning curve. It almost isn't worth it.

Email me. I may have an old bare razor you can try making scales for. But you have to do it right. Do some research first.

And just so you know I'm not full of it.....

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as noted everythignt about a straight razor is a world apart from a good knife. the grind is not as easy the edge thickness needs to be under .002 and have a total edge angle of between 15-20 degrees. i hone to about 12k grit and strop on bench strop loaded with CrOx then hanging strop (jsut dont like the edge i get off of the 16k grit hone i have)
a well honed razor will cut the standing hair on your arm withought being layed on your skin. even after you can get it that sharp there is a balance of how smooth the save is in use
 
If you're interested in working on straight razors google Charlie Lewis. He's got some pretty interesting info on the subject.
 
medicevans - I take them up to 2300. Does this make me an expert on straight razors? Absolutely not. Thats why im here. To learn. Im throwing stuff out there waiting for feedback. You sound very passionate about straight razors and I love the advice you have given. Id be totally cool with refinishing a razor and sending it out for final edge treatment. Sounds like there is a big difference between a knife and razor and I need to do some more research. And I have to say sir that razor is beautiful.

butcher_block - Thats sharp, wow. Good to know about the edge, angle and a good edge finisher

AZsmith - thanks for the tip on Charlie Lewis. Ill check him out
 
Google honemeister, many of the experienced honers are refereed to by that name on the shaving forums. You should fine a bunch.

As indicated their is a ton of difference between knives and razors but it is worth learning. If you have learned to make a good knife you are capable of learning to make a good razor, its just different. Once you learn what those differences are and what is correct and incorrect on a razor its not that bad.


After learning to make straight razors and hone them myself, I feel that my grinding skills, especially on really thin cross sections, improved as well as my knife sharpening and stropping abilities. So you end up a better knife and razor maker after the process.
 
Yeah, Charlie Lewis ain't bad. Butch Harner isn't no slouch either........

Look up whipped dog straights. Order a poor man's setup. It won't be fancy, but you'll learn on it just fine.
 
Probably late to the post but I vote for restoring a junker off eBay. You can probably do three for your fifty buck limit.

I restore razors someway regularly. Its a lot of fun.
 
decided to go oldschool antiquing. Found a j. r. torrey straight razor $12.00 and a Shefield Cutlery co. $20.00. Both in decent condition. No deep pitting, red rust, chips, excessive wear. The scales are pretty beat up on the Shefield. The j. r. torrey scales are in great condition. Ill post some pics tonight or tomorrow morning. The Shefield so far is cleaning up beautifully. (not using any chemicals just hand sanding) Ill will prob send both in to get honed as suggested. That will give me a starting point if i do another one and decide to learn the honing process on my own.

JMJones - thanks for the honemeister tip. Found lots of places/people. Someday I may try one from scratch. I agree, the more you know about different cutting edges the better overall "maker" you become.

Medicevans - looked up both makers. Amazing work. Whipped dog straights is right up my alley. Poor mans kit hits the nail on the head. ha
 
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