Thread: New Interest in Shaving

What actually makes it a bad razor?
The metal is nice, so why can't it be sharpened and be just as good as another razor?

Actually, the metal isn't "nice". It's not forged metal usually - it's something that has been stamped out. Which is to say that it doesn't have the chemical makeup and/or it wasn't hardened properly to be able to take a "shave ready" edge or just as importantly, hold that "shave ready" edge.

It's quite plainly bad for use as a razor - or for that matter, a cutting implement of any kind.

How can I tell if it's forged metal, then?

Why didn't I get those recommendations earlier? I believe I said I do not have much money, and I would like something nice. I would have happily looked through them.

+1 for the Famous Double Arrow sold by Stamps on Ebay. The handles are absolute cheap garbage & the factory hone job is worse than useless, but for $13 it's a very nice quality blade & a good little shaver. You can live with the cheap scales if you're only interested in the utility, and if you pay a guru $20 to hone it up for you, you've still only paid $33. I re-scaled mine in oak & it is my dedicated head-shaver. It does a superb job.

PS I think Kenrup also supplies Double Arrow kits if memory serves. Just get the kit, it will come shave-ready & simplify your life.

PPS I've never owned a Wapi but I hear good things about them.

I sent you a PM. I see you are in Atlanta and I could possibly help you out.

-Rob

Originally Posted by dkirkc

Why didn't I get those recommendations earlier?

You said you couldn't afford much but wanted something of high quality, and that's why I mentioned The Classifieds. Maybe Rob can help you out! He is a helpful fellow

Originally Posted by dkirkc

Why didn't I get those recommendations earlier? I believe I said I do not have much money, and I would like something nice. I would have happily looked through them.

Let me point out that the very first recommendation (first sentence in first response to your original post) is to read the sticky posts - it's all there, including razors to stay away from

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to read them. I wasn't planning
on looking for one next week, and I bought without thinking. I rarely
do it,, but I guess everyone does it in some point.

You're certainly not the first to make the mistake (after all, a few people had to find out the hard way initially too!), and you certainly won't be the last.

Make sure you get in touch with sicboater. I'll vouch for him as one of the good guys of SRP (now that I've said that, I'm not sure that we have any "bad guys of SRP...")

Good luck!

Yeah, hopefully he can help me out.