Dr. Xikar
The Knife Doctor
Me? Straight razors.
I'm 19, and two years ago I used a straight razor for the first time. For the first 7 or 8 months I used one that I had bought, new and sharpened. At the 7-8 month point, I decided to buy a set of hones (grits: 400, 1000, 3000, 5000, 8000, 12000 and 16000) and sharpen my own razors (antique ones) so that I could stop buying expensive new ones. Well, around the 1year mark I invested in a TON of buffing wheels, the whole gamut of greaseless compounds from 80grit to 600 grit, and a ton of non-greaseless that maxes out at 2000 grit, A Baldor model 314 buffer, arbor extensions and a top o' the line dremel (can't remember the model number)
For the last year or so, I've been buying antique straight razors and restoring them, grinding, buffing, honing, occasionally rescaling (Scale is the correct name for the handle/sheath that the blade closes into.)
Why? It's a fantastic shave, it has that nostalgic joy to it, it makes me feel like a badass, and working on the blades, stropping, honing, it's all a lot of fun! cheers Plus you can turn a pretty penny restoring and selling razors once you establish your name as someone who knows what they're doing. But damn, is it hard to hone a straight razor. It's like nothing I've ever done before, the angles, pressure, and all kinds of weird strokes. Took me about 6 months to get my first razor truly shave ready. Now I restore razors, make strops, and will soon try my hand at making brushes.
Well, that's enough blathering from me, here's some eyecandy: My 5 favorite razors, restored by 3 fantastic craftsmen (I had professionals do the restoration because of the value [both monetary and sentimental] of the 5 razors)
WorldMaster 194 in Blue Pauashell scales:
Joseph Rodgers, Pearlite and Reynolds, all done by the same guy:
And my pride and joy: George Wostenholm in Buckeye Burl with a matching Brush. This thing is HUGE
I'm 19, and two years ago I used a straight razor for the first time. For the first 7 or 8 months I used one that I had bought, new and sharpened. At the 7-8 month point, I decided to buy a set of hones (grits: 400, 1000, 3000, 5000, 8000, 12000 and 16000) and sharpen my own razors (antique ones) so that I could stop buying expensive new ones. Well, around the 1year mark I invested in a TON of buffing wheels, the whole gamut of greaseless compounds from 80grit to 600 grit, and a ton of non-greaseless that maxes out at 2000 grit, A Baldor model 314 buffer, arbor extensions and a top o' the line dremel (can't remember the model number)
For the last year or so, I've been buying antique straight razors and restoring them, grinding, buffing, honing, occasionally rescaling (Scale is the correct name for the handle/sheath that the blade closes into.)
Why? It's a fantastic shave, it has that nostalgic joy to it, it makes me feel like a badass, and working on the blades, stropping, honing, it's all a lot of fun! cheers Plus you can turn a pretty penny restoring and selling razors once you establish your name as someone who knows what they're doing. But damn, is it hard to hone a straight razor. It's like nothing I've ever done before, the angles, pressure, and all kinds of weird strokes. Took me about 6 months to get my first razor truly shave ready. Now I restore razors, make strops, and will soon try my hand at making brushes.
Well, that's enough blathering from me, here's some eyecandy: My 5 favorite razors, restored by 3 fantastic craftsmen (I had professionals do the restoration because of the value [both monetary and sentimental] of the 5 razors)
WorldMaster 194 in Blue Pauashell scales:
Joseph Rodgers, Pearlite and Reynolds, all done by the same guy:
And my pride and joy: George Wostenholm in Buckeye Burl with a matching Brush. This thing is HUGE
