Increasing numbers of men are returning to the use of straight razors for their daily shave but a few, certainly, are unsure just what to go for. This guide should help them create that crucial first buy. So what to be aware of in your initial straight razor? Let us look first at just what exactly makes a straight razor what it is. A straight razor is, basically, a very simple instrument. The scales are not even really necessary concerning using the blade to shave with. Their sole purpose is to protect the blade when the razor isn’t in use, and obviously to provide a shield against the border so you don’t inadvertently cut yourself when managing the razor. Most classic razors that you will find available have a blade made from high-carbon steel that has been reinforced and tempered in order that a very fine – and – sharp – edge can be accomplished. Some older razors are made of cast steel but for the purposes of this article these can be dismissed. Stainless steel, that is a relatively new invention, is now utilized in some contemporary razors and provides a longer-lasting edge but is more difficult to hone back to sharpness when the time comes. The piece of steel that makes the blade of the razor is forged to shape and especially ground to optimal shape and profile.
This was of course at one time done by hand but latterly by machine. Very few modern straight razors are hand-made and the ones that are created in this way are very expensive. When forged and floor, the blade is subsequently finished by honing into a sharp border. Again, this used to be done by hand but is now at machine-assisted. It is worth noting that many new razors aren’t usually’shave prepared’ and generally require some light honing and then stropping prior to use. This can be carried out by the buyer or the straight razor could be shipped out to a specialist to be honed these may certainly by found online and prices are usually very reasonable. Properly looked after, a straight razor should only need honing perhaps twice yearly, even though it will need stropping on a special leather strop before each shave. This in effect gives a’new edge’ for every shave and is just one of the reasons that straight razors achieve such good results once the shaving technique is learned. Again, there are many resources on the internet to assist the newcomer, such as a variety of forums run by razor collectors and enthusiasts that are always happy to offer assistance and advice. So why do some razors are more expensive than others? Are you looking for straight razor shaving kit? Visit the before talked about website.
Well, a few of this price is in the steel that the highest quality Swedish carbon steel and also very high-grade Sheffield carbon steel is more costly than regular carbon steel. In addition, the level of work in creating the blade impacts the price – the greater grinding and forming which is done, the greater the price. It’s the same with razors. Deeply-engraved blades, gold-washed blades, gold-plated tangs, fancy patterning and the like all add to the price, as do scales made of progressively more expensive substances. The same blade fitted using standard plastic scales may be a third of the price – or less – compared to one clad in real mother-of-pearl – but it is going to provide you the exact same close shave because its pricey version! With classic razors there’s also the complication of collectable desirability. It’s a truism to say that anything is worth what someone is prepared to pay for this and that is nowhere more true than with collectors. A razor produced by a sought-after maker, or you to complete a set, may bring many times in excess of its original price, even allowing for inflation. In conclusion, it pays to get the first-time purchaser to pick their very first razor with some care. If a good, workmanlike bit with very little wear and made in Sheffield or Solingen comes up, odds are it will be excellent for your first foray into direct razors and as soon as you get used to a single, chances are you won’t use anything else.
