I think two straights is quite justifiable, you might use up an edge and need to shave before you have time to hone. And two identical ones is a good way to compare hones–same razor, different edge. I have a pair I use like that.

More? Well, you’ll find there is quite a big difference in how a wedge shaves from how a hollow shaves. And there are many grinds in between. Plus there are framebacks! Some framebacks are thin like a hollow but don’t quite have the same flex, others shave pretty much like a wedge. Not to mention interestingly shaped tapered blades, lancets, monkey tails…

And maybe you have a 6/8 and wonder how an 4/8 or 8/8+ width would be? They’re certainly going to be different and it’s very subjective which is better! But then maybe you like a wide hollow and a narrow wedge? The reverse? Only one way to tell…

Perhaps you wonder how American, English, French, Swedish, German and Japanese razors differ? I sure did…

Maybe you were curious what they were like in the 1920s vs. the 1960s. Or the 1800s. Or the 1700s.

Or you’d like scales made from bone or ivory or tortoise or mother-of-pearl? Or something cool etched on the blade? Or a modern custom from Koraat or HG or Artrazor or Gipson or Ali’s Blade or any of hundreds of worthy artisans keeping this craft going?

I’ve always been a minimalist. I’ve never felt the appeal of collecting anything. It started out as trying to find which one works best for me so I could get a really good one of those, but I kinda liked them all. I …think I collect straight razors now? It just sorta happened 🤷‍♂️

  • HomeAwayFromHoneOPM
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    1 year ago

    I started with a Merkur a couple decades back and didn’t try another safety razor as it was just a blade holder and about as interesting as a toothbrush. I was mainly doing it for the cost savings and a general semi-hippie pro-environment/anti-corporate leaning. Inevitably though once straights got me into it there were a few injectors included with one lot I purchased and wow those were better. Between that and spending more time reading enabler forums I ended up with a fair few DEs and Gems @djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social had a post that inspired me to play with a Rolls which has been fun and I look forward to tweaking it further yet (grabbed some FeOx for it but haven’t tried it again yet, perhaps soon).

    I’m almost indecisive as to whether I want to collect without using at this point. So far I’ve been mostly doing it out of interest in trying the various permutations of blade so I wanted to use them all. Now I happen to be looking at an auction for a pair that just look really cool and are quite old but I can already tell from the shape they probably wouldn’t be my favourite to actually use. Still sorta want to have them, but why? Yet I can’t quite let it go, so it could be that I may be open to having things purely for the sake of having them. I suspect I’d hone them anyways eventually, I’m no archivist looking to preserve, I like to think there are enough razors in museums doing that job so I don’t mind that my razors have to pay for my keeping them safe from rust by losing a bit of metal elsewhere in order to be made useful.

    I’m not much for crafty hobbies either but I suspect that’s part of what drew me to this. I’m a programmer by trade so it’s all very abstract, honing is very tactile and intuitive by comparison so it makes a nice change of pace. Though there is definitely still a problem-solving / troubleshooting technical side to it. Can hardly care less about the scales though, that part has yet to draw me in the way the blades have. Luckily my brother is fond of woodworking so if I need scales done he can be persuaded.

    I got a rather bad cut in a finger recently, and I 'm trying not to move too deeply into straights for the moment.

    Heh, sounds like you have the opposite problem wherein straights move too deeply into you… Sorry though, does seem to be a sort of misfortune we risk by messing with these and why “safety” razors are a thing. It has become kind of a feature for me though: beyond the tactile part, I like that you have to pay attention. It’s a sort of meditation, I make a point of doing my best to be completely present in what I’m doing if I’m holding a razor and that is probably good for me mentally and perhaps has helped me have fewer mishaps than I would without that mindset. eg. I didn’t nick my first strop, but I nicked my second one once I got too complacent. My worst injury was when trying to use one of those cheap Ali Express microscopes on a straight held in a vise–to my mind I was clearly looking at the edge …but I was looking at it on a screen and not the part that was cutting me.

    not before I have the impression that I can maintain a razor without ruining it

    Luckily for you history has left us thousands of underappreciated blades in middling condition that you’ll almost certainly improve from their current state!