Thread: Looking for a razor

Hey all, I'm new here. I've been lurking for a while but haven't really posted much. I'm looking to get into straight razor shaving, got taken on a zeepk a while back (before I found out about this place) I have a strop (got it made at a local leather shop) and a hone (I do a fair bit of woodworking so it's for my chisels/carving knives etc...) I'm looking to get a razor to try straight shaving with. I'm up in Canada and cartridges for my Mach 3 (chorus of boo's and hisses) cost more than the razor's worth. I'm a university student and pretty environmentally minded so I see this as a chance to:

I. save some money!
II. Get a better shave
III. Help the environment and learn a new skill.


I'm not really sure if I should post this here or not. I've been doing a lot of reading about straight razor shaving and am really itching to get into it but I need a razor. I was wondering if any of you guys could point me in the right direction as to where I could find a good buy on a razor via the internet or what not. I'm a university student so I'm not looking to drop a lot of cash, just find something that shaves.

Nice meeting ya'll!

~Colin

At first welcome.
Your better options will be classified in srp or check the srd for special deals. both places will sell you shave ready blade. GL

check wiki for not to buy razor's.

Hi, and welcome to the forum. Your best bet would be the classifieds here. You should be able to find something in your budget. You already have a strop, so that's half the battle. If I remember correctly, there were a few under 50 USD. There was a Solingen on there. (A good German brand) for 35.00 USD. Let me know if you need any help.
You can send me a PM here....

Rich

P.S. Looks like Sham beat me to it....

Welcome Colin.

Many options for a razor, but basically either something from a reputable vendor or from Straight Razors - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
You want the razor to be already honed and ready to go. Don't be fooled into learning to hone a razor and shave with it at the same time.

Thanks so much for the advice dudes! I'll start looking on here for a razor!

Originally Posted by zib

Hi, and welcome to the forum. Your best bet would be the classifieds here. You should be able to find something in your budget. You already have a strop, so that's half the battle. If I remember correctly, there were a few under 50 USD. There was a Solingen on there. (A good German brand) for 35.00 USD.

Thanks for the advice on the solingen, I just emailed the guy about it. It's got a crack in the scales but as long as it's not going to be un-useable then we should be fine. I do a bit of woodworking myself so I'm looking into maybe making some scales via the instructions on the wiki. The solingen isn't "Shave ready" but there's a barbershop just up the road from here where the guys still do straight razor shaves. I think the barber there should be able to help me sharpen the razor if I do get it.

So I just got some photos from the dude selling the solingen showing the edge of the razor, there's a few nicks along the edge but it's really hard to tell if they're serious or not. Are these anything that would be too problematic to be taken out with a hone? Should I pass this one off? It is a solingen for 35.00 though. If these are easily taken out via a hone I think I'll go for it. Give me some help here eh?
Let me know what you think dudes

Hard to tell from just one picture but it doesn't look like there's anything going on there that wouldn't hone out. Hopefully one of the resident honemeisters will chime in.

I'm not a hone miester but I do hone and maintain my own razors. Having said that I would think that razor should be easy as pie for a hone miester to hone. The things you should look out for are cracks in the blade, pitting along the edge, or scratches where some one has tried to hone on a grinder.
This razor looks like it doesn't have any of those. You should be fine.

you should consult your barbershop who will be doing the honing on it.
and yes it will need to be honed starting with removing the oxidation and the chips from the edge. it requires serious work.
i wouldn't buy it myself, and would suggest getting something that is good to go.

Originally Posted by gugi

you should consult your barbershop who will be doing the honing on it.
and yes it will need to be honed starting with removing the oxidation and the chips from the edge. it requires serious work.
i wouldn't buy it myself, and would suggest getting something that is good to go.

I agree 100% ! I've restored quite a few ebay specials , for my own use , and that blade looks like it will take some serious hone time .