Thread: Practice razor?

Apologies if this is redundant; I didn't see anything on this elsewhere, though I may have missed it.

I'm a n00b with several components on their way to me, and I'm wondering if it's a good idea to buy a practice razor for stropping. Being new, I don't have any far-gone razors I'm phasing out so it'd have to be a purchase. Presumably no one on here would be selling useless razors in the classifieds...so is there a cheap, crap razor that would be useful in this capacity? Should I just hit ebay and look for some low-ball garbage?

Thanks for your input in advance.

If you just want to practice stropping here is a suggestion, use a table knife, practice running the table knife up and down your strop as if it were your razor, be sure to flip it on its spine and be careful not to flip it on the edge. Go slow at first and as you start to develop confidence pick up speed while continuing watching what is going on. No need to spend additional funds or chance nicking your strop.

I wouldn't waste my money on ebay. If you are a newbie, then you wouldn't know what to look for anyway. After all, IMHO the final test of proper stropping technique is the shave itself.

Follow nun2sharp's advice or try the SRP classifieds if you really want a cheap razor to practice your stropping on. You can also check Ruprazor. It has some Gold Dollar str8 razors that very economical.

Personally, I think you should practice with your quality str8 razor that is on the way.
BTW...The possiblity of ruining your strop are much higher than ruining your razor--whatever it costs. Look into buying a cheap strop to practice on, rather than a cheap razor

only thinking that if you got a razor thats not shave ready at the moment
there isnt too much damage you can do

There are various levels of junk. Some look so horrible that i would be worried about the strop.
A while ago i made few starter kits which included shave ready razor and a dull razor to practice stropping. One of the razors was mistempered steel that could not be sharpened, another was just a razor that should make good shaver, but I didn't think I'll get to clean it anytime soon, so I made sure they have dull and clean edge to serve as stropping practice.
I haven't heard from the buyers if that was useless or was helpful so I haven't repeated it since.

Gugi,

I bought one of those razors from you, a Tula, for $10 dollars that actually turned out great. I honed it on a Daybrook hone (appx. 8K), hit it with Crox (Rayman Balsa strop) and worked on my stropping chops and it actually took a very good edge. Buying it (and your selling it) with that purpose in mind was a great idea. Thank you.

Heck, if you want to practice I would use a butter knife. That way you can't do any damage period.

The problem as I see it is with a butter knife or dull razor is; how do you know you are practicing correct technique? I could strop a butter knife all day but I'm never going to improve the shave I get with it. The only way yo know you are practiceing correct technique is by feeling how it improves the shave.

I have numbers of straights I would give you for practice. If interested, PM me...

Originally Posted by Wildtim

The problem as I see it is with a butter knife or dull razor is; how do you know you are practicing correct technique? I could strop a butter knife all day but I'm never going to improve the shave I get with it. The only way yo know you are practiceing correct technique is by feeling how it improves the shave.

You don't know. I see the practice as a way to build some muscle memory so that you don't slice the strop. It's pretty simple in theory, strop taught, spine leading, turn over the spine like turning a pencil, keep the spine on the strop, don't use pressure, smooth even strokes... It's the execution that is the problem.
But yes, learning to evaluate the edge is also important and that needs sharp razor.