Straight Razor from Spyderco

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I'd prolly wind up in the dam E.R. lol

With all due respect to those of you who shave with a Straight Razor, the above is my viewpoint.

What benefits are there to using a straight razor that outweigh disposables and powered versions? Closer, smoother shave? Ignore any environmental issues in the answer.

[zuludelta]

Looking for a budget friendly straight razor. I grew a beard while my daughter had been away at Syracuse University. She asked if she could shave my beard when she comes home for winter break and I said yes as long as it is with a straight razor. Any suggestions would be nice. Was hoping Spyderco would have one by now cause I’d definitely buy it even if it wasn’t budget friendly.

I use a Timor straight razor—a basic model with an unadorned stainless steel handle & a Giesen & Forsthoff carbon steel blade. Definitely at the lower end of the price scale as far as German straight razors go. It's a current production razor, though, not a vintage one. I'd recommend it with the caveat that current production Timor razors seem to have poor to middling reviews on many "serious" shaving forums/sites, but I'm happy enough with the one I have. Holds an edge for a decent amount of time, and responds to stropping really well. Maybe I just got lucky with the one I have, though.

[SpeedHoles]

Paul Alexander NAND

[Doc Dan]

It's going to be great when we can get our hands on a Spyderco Straight Razor that I'm hoping they call the Wildcat because of @sal 's funny story.

Spyderco makes sharp things to cut things and it makes sense for them to make a straight razor. Perhaps a series of razors made by different blademeisters?

[sal]

We believe we have a source. We have Doc's "How to" manual. It's my bad for not pushing it as we've had our share of issues to sort. We'll take another look at it after IWA.

sal

[Doc Dan]

@sal I personally think that would be wonderful. Plus, there are a number of shaving forums with straight razor fanatics, such as Blade and Badger, paste & cut (AUS), Against the grain, and a number of others. There are a lot of wet shaving retailers that sell straight razors, such as theinvisibleedge.com, maggardsrazors.com, fendrihan.com, and many, many more.

[Doc Dan]

[Tims]

I have no interest in one personally but I imagine a straight razor and Spydercos sintered ceramic benchstones would go together like two peas in a pod.

[Doc Dan]

Too course. Generally, a straight razor is sharpened at .1µ or so. However, I could see Spyderco offering stones like that.

[Doc Dan]

One thing a person needs is a good shaving brush. There are badger brushes of different levels of quality, scrub, or softness. There are boar and horse brushes, as well. These types can be smelly when new and badger and boar require that the animal is killed. Horse hair is combed from the main or the tail, but can tangle when lathering or cleaning. The new synthetics are every bit as good, however, and do not have the same issues.

Brushes come in a variety of knot shapes (the hair is tied in a knot or glued in a knot at the end, so the hair part is simply called a knot). There are bulbs, fans, flat, and etc. Each specializes in the type of lathering, but all can do the other jobs.
Here is a very basic discussion. (More will be in the Spyderco booklet).
https://www.therazorcompany.com/blogs/t ... milarities

[Tims]

Too course. Generally, a straight razor is sharpened at .1µ or so. However, I could see Spyderco offering stones like that.

Is there never a need to hone a straight razor or do folks just strop in perpetuity?

[RazorSharp86]

Too course. Generally, a straight razor is sharpened at .1µ or so. However, I could see Spyderco offering stones like that.

Is there never a need to hone a straight razor or do folks just strop in perpetuity?

Although stropping will keep your razor going for a very long time (as long as you’re not neglecting it in other ways), you’ll still need to hone it every so often. Metal fatigues, and a comfortable shave depends on an extremely keen edge.
I’ve way too many straight razors to be able to tell how often one would have to hone his “one and only”, but I can’t imagine it’d be very often. I still shave with razors I’ve honed nearly half a decade ago. Although, again, I have over 100 razors, so am not a good barometer for this.

[aicolainen]

I'd prolly wind up in the dam E.R. lol

With all due respect to those of you who shave with a Straight Razor, the above is my viewpoint.

What benefits are there to using a straight razor that outweigh disposables and powered versions? Closer, smoother shave? Ignore any environmental issues in the answer.

Up to this point I've only tried double edged safety razors, and it has been a total game changer. For years I've gone back and forth between powered shaveres and different disposable systems, and I never found a comfortable shaving experience.
So main benefit for me is comfort and a more enjoyable shave.

With the double edged safety razor working so well, I didn't see any reason to go to the next level and try out straight razors. In my view there was (is) really nothing significant to improve upon.
But if Spyderco makes a straight razor that would be the little push I need to at least give it a try. What man could possibly resist a razor with an opening hole?
One of the things about shaving with a double edged safety razor compared to what I did before, is that shaving has become more of a pleasant ritual that I enjoy rather than just a chore. So while I don't expect a straight razor system to bring along any practical improvements over my current setup, I think it could be a way to bump the shaving ritual to the next level once in a while.

[Doc Dan]

I'd prolly wind up in the dam E.R. lol

With all due respect to those of you who shave with a Straight Razor, the above is my viewpoint.

What benefits are there to using a straight razor that outweigh disposables and powered versions? Closer, smoother shave? Ignore any environmental issues in the answer.

Up to this point I've only tried double edged safety razors, and it has been a total game changer. For years I've gone back and forth between powered shaveres and different disposable systems, and I never found a comfortable shaving experience.
So main benefit for me is comfort and a more enjoyable shave.

With the double edged safety razor working so well, I didn't see any reason to go to the next level and try out straight razors. In my view there was (is) really nothing significant to improve upon.
But if Spyderco makes a straight razor that would be the little push I need to at least give it a try. What man could possibly resist a razor with an opening hole?
One of the things about shaving with a double edged safety razor compared to what I did before, is that shaving has become more of a pleasant ritual that I enjoy rather than just a chore. So while I don't expect a straight razor system to bring along any practical improvements over my current setup, I think it could be a way to bump the shaving ritual to the next level once in a while.

A DE safety razor is really a fantastic way to shave and it is far more cost effective than those plastic abominations and better for the environment. No one who has a good DE safety razor ever need feel they are lesser and getting a lesser shave. I have a collection, myself, and rotate through them, from time to time.

The straight razor has the benefit of being more contemplative and one has to be a lot more focused. That means the world and its woes have to be pushed aside for a while. It is also very good for the environment as there is little to no waste and it is all environmentally friendly. Then, there is the control issue. The one shaving is in control, completely, and in a world where this is not always possible, that is a good thing. Then, there is rarely razor burn. It is possible, but not common. Also, there will be zero shaving bumps. Some people get shaving bumps from electric razors or multi-blade razors as they shred hair, and pull it up and then let it go below the skin, where it can't grow out properly. With a straight razor, that is gone. A person can actually shave and do so without bumps, rashes, or burns. Speaking of myself, I find that my beard takes on a different feel, not as hard or sandpaper like, when I use my straight razors.

A downside for me is just what I was saying earlier. It takes more time, well, a few minutes more, to shave with a straight razor. It isn't the one to use in a hurry. A DE is better for that. Also, and this is both a plus and a minus, they require good soap. With a DE I can use bath soap if I have to, or even body lotion. I have done both. A straight razor really does best with a good soap and a good brush. Of course, these soaps feel fantastic and many are very good for the skin. The brushes exfoliates the face and neck, too. Good stuff. I'll talk more about soap in another post.

[aicolainen]

I'd prolly wind up in the dam E.R. lol

With all due respect to those of you who shave with a Straight Razor, the above is my viewpoint.

What benefits are there to using a straight razor that outweigh disposables and powered versions? Closer, smoother shave? Ignore any environmental issues in the answer.

Up to this point I've only tried double edged safety razors, and it has been a total game changer. For years I've gone back and forth between powered shaveres and different disposable systems, and I never found a comfortable shaving experience.
So main benefit for me is comfort and a more enjoyable shave.

With the double edged safety razor working so well, I didn't see any reason to go to the next level and try out straight razors. In my view there was (is) really nothing significant to improve upon.
But if Spyderco makes a straight razor that would be the little push I need to at least give it a try. What man could possibly resist a razor with an opening hole?
One of the things about shaving with a double edged safety razor compared to what I did before, is that shaving has become more of a pleasant ritual that I enjoy rather than just a chore. So while I don't expect a straight razor system to bring along any practical improvements over my current setup, I think it could be a way to bump the shaving ritual to the next level once in a while.

A DE safety razor is really a fantastic way to shave and it is far more cost effective than those plastic abominations and better for the environment. No one who has a good DE safety razor ever need feel they are lesser and getting a lesser shave. I have a collection, myself, and rotate through them, from time to time.

The straight razor has the benefit of being more contemplative and one has to be a lot more focused. That means the world and its woes have to be pushed aside for a while. It is also very good for the environment as there is little to no waste and it is all environmentally friendly. Then, there is the control issue. The one shaving is in control, completely, and in a world where this is not always possible, that is a good thing. Then, there is rarely razor burn. It is possible, but not common. Also, there will be zero shaving bumps. Some people get shaving bumps from electric razors or multi-blade razors as they shred hair, and pull it up and then let it go below the skin, where it can't grow out properly. With a straight razor, that is gone. A person can actually shave and do so without bumps, rashes, or burns. Speaking of myself, I find that my beard takes on a different feel, not as hard or sandpaper like, when I use my straight razors.

A downside for me is just what I was saying earlier. It takes more time, well, a few minutes more, to shave with a straight razor. It isn't the one to use in a hurry. A DE is better for that. Also, and this is both a plus and a minus, they require good soap. With a DE I can use bath soap if I have to, or even body lotion. I have done both. A straight razor really does best with a good soap and a good brush. Of course, these soaps feel fantastic and many are very good for the skin. The brushes exfoliates the face and neck, too. Good stuff. I'll talk more about soap in another post.

That's very good information, Doc.
I didn't expect there to be a potential skin related benefit to the SR over the DE, being that I already have such great experience with DE razors (and it already being very economical and quite sustainable too), but I do have fairly sensitive skin so this is of course a welcome surprise :)

The main attraction for me was actually exactly what you describe regarding being mindful and just focus on shaving.
As I wrote in my previous post I didn't have any interest in a SRs until reading in another thread that a Spyderco appear to actually be moving forward with this idea, so I only started reading this thread today and jumped right to page 24, just to catch up on the latest action without reading through the whole thing.
And somewhere on page 24 you put it quite brilliantly and further fueled my interest in a straight razor:

Tomorrow, Sunday, I'll get out one of my straights and have a marvelous shave and enjoy each peaceful stroke. I'll enjoy each lap on the leather strop afterwards, and enjoy oiling the razor before putting it up. I'm going to use a soap I haven't had in a long time as it was out of stock here forever, it seemed. It is Stirling tallow and lanolin Glacial Lemon Chill. Freezing fresh lemon. Whoowee!

That's what I'm looking for. Not every shave, but a way to enjoy a more involved shaving experience every once in a while when I can set aside some time for myself.
It could be my age and the phase of my life I'm entering into, or the very strange age we live in, but braking free from the rat race and algorithms and owning my own time and being deliberate about my actions and decisions is becoming more and more important to me. It's much the same reason I decided to get a turntable last year. There are absolutely no benefits to owning and listening to music from a turntable except that you're being deliberate and focused on the music every step of the way, from browsing through physical records in a actual store, to selecting a record from your record shelf, carefully putting it on, listening to the music and nothing else from start to stop, and jumping up from the coach to catch the tone arm before it starts skipping after the last song. So much hassle, so much to worry about and yet so fulfilling :)

Look forward to read more about soaps. The options seem endless, so without prior knowledge sorting the good and great from the less good comes across as a daunting task.

[Doc Dan]

With all due respect to those of you who shave with a Straight Razor, the above is my viewpoint.

What benefits are there to using a straight razor that outweigh disposables and powered versions? Closer, smoother shave? Ignore any environmental issues in the answer.

Up to this point I've only tried double edged safety razors, and it has been a total game changer. For years I've gone back and forth between powered shaveres and different disposable systems, and I never found a comfortable shaving experience.
So main benefit for me is comfort and a more enjoyable shave.

With the double edged safety razor working so well, I didn't see any reason to go to the next level and try out straight razors. In my view there was (is) really nothing significant to improve upon.
But if Spyderco makes a straight razor that would be the little push I need to at least give it a try. What man could possibly resist a razor with an opening hole?
One of the things about shaving with a double edged safety razor compared to what I did before, is that shaving has become more of a pleasant ritual that I enjoy rather than just a chore. So while I don't expect a straight razor system to bring along any practical improvements over my current setup, I think it could be a way to bump the shaving ritual to the next level once in a while.

A DE safety razor is really a fantastic way to shave and it is far more cost effective than those plastic abominations and better for the environment. No one who has a good DE safety razor ever need feel they are lesser and getting a lesser shave. I have a collection, myself, and rotate through them, from time to time.

The straight razor has the benefit of being more contemplative and one has to be a lot more focused. That means the world and its woes have to be pushed aside for a while. It is also very good for the environment as there is little to no waste and it is all environmentally friendly. Then, there is the control issue. The one shaving is in control, completely, and in a world where this is not always possible, that is a good thing. Then, there is rarely razor burn. It is possible, but not common. Also, there will be zero shaving bumps. Some people get shaving bumps from electric razors or multi-blade razors as they shred hair, and pull it up and then let it go below the skin, where it can't grow out properly. With a straight razor, that is gone. A person can actually shave and do so without bumps, rashes, or burns. Speaking of myself, I find that my beard takes on a different feel, not as hard or sandpaper like, when I use my straight razors.

A downside for me is just what I was saying earlier. It takes more time, well, a few minutes more, to shave with a straight razor. It isn't the one to use in a hurry. A DE is better for that. Also, and this is both a plus and a minus, they require good soap. With a DE I can use bath soap if I have to, or even body lotion. I have done both. A straight razor really does best with a good soap and a good brush. Of course, these soaps feel fantastic and many are very good for the skin. The brushes exfoliates the face and neck, too. Good stuff. I'll talk more about soap in another post.

That's very good information, Doc.
I didn't expect there to be a potential skin related benefit to the SR over the DE, being that I already have such great experience with DE razors (and it already being very economical and quite sustainable too), but I do have fairly sensitive skin so this is of course a welcome surprise :)

The main attraction for me was actually exactly what you describe regarding being mindful and just focus on shaving.
As I wrote in my previous post I didn't have any interest in a SRs until reading in another thread that a Spyderco appear to actually be moving forward with this idea, so I only started reading this thread today and jumped right to page 24, just to catch up on the latest action without reading through the whole thing.
And somewhere on page 24 you put it quite brilliantly and further fueled my interest in a straight razor:

Tomorrow, Sunday, I'll get out one of my straights and have a marvelous shave and enjoy each peaceful stroke. I'll enjoy each lap on the leather strop afterwards, and enjoy oiling the razor before putting it up. I'm going to use a soap I haven't had in a long time as it was out of stock here forever, it seemed. It is Stirling tallow and lanolin Glacial Lemon Chill. Freezing fresh lemon. Whoowee!

That's what I'm looking for. Not every shave, but a way to enjoy a more involved shaving experience every once in a while when I can set aside some time for myself.
It could be my age and the phase of my life I'm entering into, or the very strange age we live in, b ut braking free from the rat race and algorithms and owning my own time and being deliberate about my actions and decisions is becoming more and more important to me. It's much the same reason I decided to get a turntable last year. There are absolutely no benefits to owning and listening to music from a turntable except that you're being deliberate and focused on the music every step of the way, from browsing through physical records in a actual store, to selecting a record from your record shelf, carefully putting it on, listening to the music and nothing else from start to stop, and jumping up from the coach to catch the tone arm before it starts skipping after the last song. So much hassle, so much to worry about and yet so fulfilling :)

Look forward to read more about soaps. The options seem endless, so without prior knowledge sorting the good and great from the less good comes across as a daunting task.

There is some good information in some of the posts before page 24. There are a lot of how-to shaving tips, honing tips, and all sorts of things. Types of straight razors and sizes are discussed, so many things.

If you need help, or want to discuss more, feel free to contact me via message or email.

[Doc Dan]

Let's talk a little about shaving soaps. A lot of people like to use canned foam. The problem is that canned foam does little to protect the skin, or to nourish it. The only thing positive is that it is convenient.

Quality shaving soap, on the other hand, has things in it that make it very slick so the blade glides across the face and the skin is protected from the harsh effects of the blade. It lubricates so well, the skin feels slick. Stearic acid gives slickness. Castor oil, palm oil, and even beef or mutton tallow are used and the soaps feel creamy. (these are rendered down in the saponification process). My wife was using a shaving stick, basically, a cream made into a stick, and it had no tallow in it. I gave her a tub of Cella Red (Cella Sweet Almond). The first thing she said was that it felt so creamy and smooth. Of course, the sweet almond oil was good for her skin, too.

Soaps will dry the skin, so better quality soaps, such as Cella (Red), Stirling, Zingari Man, and Barrister and Mann will have moisturizers and softeners. Common ones are jojoba oil and shea butter. Lanolin is used in some and this makes the skin moist and soft. There are some that use beeswax instead. Cella uses sweet almond oil. Shannon's Soaps has a soap base she named Chupacabra base because it has a kitchen sink of stuff in it that is good for you.

The shaving experience is quite different. I prefer tallow soaps with lanolin or sweet almond oil. However, I also like Stirling's beeswax. The tallow really gives the soap a rich feel that cannot be gotten in a can.

There are creams, also. The kind of creams I mean come in a tub like the soaps, but may come in a tube. They are not tallow, usually, though a few are. They are soft and easy and fast to make lather. Some also have lanolin, but most don't. They do have other things that make the skin soft and things that produce slick lather.

Shaving soaps are put on with a shaving brush, but in a pinch one can rub it on. The brush exfoliates and makes the whiskers stand up for cutting.

Some additional advantages of shaving soaps over canned foams and gels are:
Longevity - Shave soaps tend to last quite a while compared to creams, offering an excellent value for the price. A good jar of shave soap can last for about 100 uses if used daily.
Reduced (or eliminated) irritation - Shave soaps allow you to get a close, smooth shave while simultaneously moisturizing your skin. This can reduce or virtually eliminate skin irritation.
Increased hydration - They create a rich, deep lather that delivers increased hydration compared to other shave products like foams, creams, and oils.

-Environmental friendliness - Since shaving soaps often come in jars or containers, they are more environmentally friendly than their counterparts that come in aerosol cans.

-Longevity - Shave soaps tend to last quite a while compared to creams, offering an excellent value for the price. A good jar of shave soap can last for about 100 uses if used daily. A soap like Cella (~$10) will be far less expensive in the long run than canned foam or gel.

-Reduced (or eliminated) irritation - Shave soaps allow you to get a close, smooth shave while simultaneously moisturizing your skin. This can reduce or virtually eliminate skin irritation.

-Increased hydration - They create a rich, deep lather that delivers increased hydration compared to other shave products like foams, creams, and oils.

[aicolainen]

Thanks again for an informative post @Doc Dan

So far I haven't been very adventurous with regards to soaps, keeping with main stream options like Proraso, but I have enough experience to second your point about longevity. By the time I've spent a jar of soap I actually look forward to replacing it and try something different.

On the rare occasions I travel these day I've found gels to be the more practical choice, but shaving at home shaving soap is my go to.

I'll keep an eye out for the soaps you mentioned, hopefully some are available around here too.

[Scandi Grind]

The main attraction for me was actually exactly what you describe regarding being mindful and just focus on shaving.

That's what I'm looking for. Not every shave, but a way to enjoy a more involved shaving experience every once in a while when I can set aside some time for myself.

It could be my age and the phase of my life I'm entering into, or the very strange age we live in, but braking free from the rat race and algorithms and owning my own time and being deliberate about my actions and decisions is becoming more and more important to me. It's much the same reason I decided to get a turntable last year. There are absolutely no benefits to owning and listening to music from a turntable except that you're being deliberate and focused on the music every step of the way, from browsing through physical records in a actual store, to selecting a record from your record shelf, carefully putting it on, listening to the music and nothing else from start to stop, and jumping up from the coach to catch the tone arm before it starts skipping after the last song. So much hassle, so much to worry about and yet so fulfilling :)

This all sounds like great reasons to get into using a SR. I am the kind of person that kind of feels like I belong in an age past, and I like to do things the old fashioned way whenever possible. I would really love to try a SR but I just don't think I can make the investment at the moment, unless I can restore a SR at an affordable price. For now I might be better served looking into a safety razor, which should still be a drastic improvement over the electric thing I'm using right now. Using what I have now, I pretty much just go with a stubbled beard because it isn't very capable of cutting close anyway.

@Doc Dan I believe I remember you mentioned at some point that their are methods of restoring SRs using relatively inexpensive methods, such as using sandpaper to start fixing the edge. Although I'm not sure I can or have the skill to do it, I'm curious enough at this point to start doing some research even if I'm not ready to jump into it yet. Are there any rescources you could suggest for learning restoration on a budget?

[zhyla]

Although I'm not sure I can or have the skill to do it, I'm curious enough at this point to start doing some research even if I'm not ready to jump into it yet. Are there any rescources you could suggest for learning restoration on a budget?

There's not much to it. (Western) straight razors are designed to be sharpened (razor guys say "honed") by the average joe. You just need abrasives that are relatively flat and some water. A sharpie won't hurt, but this isn't rocket science.

A nice flat piece of marble tile and some wet/dry sand paper (220, 400, 600, 1200, 2000 grits will do). You just do the obvious thing of flattening at the highest grit you think you can start with (600 grit on a razor that doesn't have any obvious damage) by pushing it edge first across the sand paper, flipping it over, and pushing it back the other way. It will naturally apex. You won't get much of a burr. Work your way up the grits.

Bench stones will work as well. Same idea.

Most straight razors, even if they're 100 years old, are relatively undamaged. People never really used them for utility purposes like regular knives so they tend not to have chips missing. Ebay is full of old razors. I bought a bunch of them and restored them... and then sold them off and switched to a $20 Gold Dollar razor (not the entry level one, they have a nicer one). Couldn't be happier.