To Duck or not......

tnrdnck · 10-11-2008, 04:45 AM

Have an option to acquire a couple of straights, but one of them will need a little work. I'm just learning to shave without bleeding, so restoration is a bit beyond my comfort. One is a Dwarf, the other a Special # 1. The #1 has a nick in the blade about 1/32 deep, the Dwarf just needs cleaning. As I live on a budget, I don't think I could afford to pay someone to restore the #1 for me. Currently I'm not brave enough to try it myself. Thoughts? Options? Opinions?

holli4pirating · 10-11-2008, 04:58 AM

I'd say go for the Dwarf for sure. If the #1 is priced such that you can spend the money now and put it aside till you're ready to do the work yourself, go for it. If not, let her pass. There are plenty more #1's out there, and if you're not comfortable spending the money there's no reason to push it. (BTW, that can be said for just about any razor purchase)

Sandcounty · 10-11-2008, 06:54 PM

I strongly recommend that you duck (twice). What are they asking for these razors?

tnrdnck · 10-12-2008, 04:21 PM

Well I bought both of them for $20 each, maybe I was a bit hard on the guy, but the special #1 has that nick.

English · 10-12-2008, 07:06 PM

That nick will take 1/16" off the width and actually change the whole feel of the razor. It will not be a Duck.

So you will never know what a Duck feels like. You will know how a 150 year old Duck will feel like.

But some guys get upset when I point out reality TV.

I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. It's chiipped and Fu****. Using the well known Anglosaxon.

Philadelph · 10-12-2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by English

That nick will take 1/16" off the width and actually change the whole feel of the razor. It will not be a Duck.

That is wrong. I have "fixed" enough to know that your Duck will feel just as good as before after taking out that chip as long as it is done well. Hold that particular razor until you are comfortable to do it yourself or can afford to fix it. Nice razors.

English · 10-13-2008, 11:13 AM

Sorry, but no I am not wrong. Look at the size of that ding in the blade.

If you reduce the width of the blade by 1/16th" the blade will feel different.

Part of the blades flex will have been honed away and the blades life will have been reduced significantly.

That's why they sell different size blade widths.

If it didn't matter and all blade sizes felt the same, they would only make one size to fit all.

It doesn't matter quite so much with a wedge, but these are not wedges, but full grind razors.

Philadelph · 10-13-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by English

That nick will take 1/16" off the width and actually change the whole feel of the razor. It will not be a Duck.

So you will never know what a Duck feels like.

Quote:

Originally Posted by English

Sorry, but no I am not wrong. Look at the size of that ding in the blade.

If you reduce the width of the blade by 1/16th" the blade will feel different.

That's why they sell different size blade widths.

It doesn't matter quite so much with a wedge, but these are not wedges, but full grind razors.

Yes, you ARE wrong. First you are saying two different things. 1. that the razor won't feel like a Duck and 2. that the blade will feel different only because the width will change. I am not saying the width won't be different although to me it won't change so much that it will matter. Besides that the razor's shaving ability and shaving feel will be identical to any other DD Special No. 1. Maybe you don't have the ability to do this, but I in fact do. Yes I know the grind on this razor, I have taken chips out of Special No. 1's before. You are indeed wrong that the razor will no longer feel like a duck.

English · 10-13-2008, 03:48 PM

Alex,

Keep digging the hole.

You are wrong.

Philadelph · 10-13-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by English

Alex,

Keep digging the hole.

You are wrong.

How many times do I have to say that I HAVE DONE IT and it will feel the same with this razor. You obviously have no clue what you are talking about here. Stop misinforming new members.

English · 10-13-2008, 05:14 PM

I certainly do know what I am talking about and I'm not going to trade insults with you. You are a bit to free with yours.

It would appear that the blade width doesn't matter to you. But it does to most of us and it certainly should matter to someone new as they need to determine what they like and don't like.

The blade width together with the type of grind, is the main indicator to the way a razor will feel.

I like a 6/8" full hollow ground razor. I don't like a 5/8" full hollow ground razor. That's my choice and I know what I like because I have tried various sizes of blade to select my favorite.

So the loss of 1/16" off the edge tells me that a razor has lost half of it's useful life and it's on its way out. I can feel the difference. Removal of that chip would actually change the feel of that razor for me so much that I wouldn't want to ever purchase or use it.

Just to make it clear, I put no value on a worn out blade, but quite a high value on a new or little honed 6/8" razor.

It mightn't matter to you, but it matters to many of us. I know, because it's the main question people ask me when I sell vintage razors. They want to know is the blade a true size or is it a honed down size.

This is the only point I was making and I thought that I had done just that.

Chris L · 10-13-2008, 05:22 PM

I want to tip toe on in and just say I have a DD Dwarf and it's one of my all time favorite shavers. It holds an edge, shaves comfortably and the tang is a great size and shape for stropping effortlessly.

Chris L

Philadelph · 10-13-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnrdnck

The #1 has a nick in the blade about 1/32 deep

Quote:

Originally Posted by English

That nick will take 1/16" off the width and actually change the whole feel of the razor. It will not be a Duck.

So you will never know what a Duck feels like.

Quote:

Originally Posted by English

It would appear that the blade width doesn't matter to you. But it does to most of us and it certainly should matter to someone new as they need to determine what they like and don't like.

The blade width together with the type of grind, is the main indicator to the way a razor will feel.

So the loss of 1/16" off the edge tells me that a razor has lost half of it's useful life and it's on its way out. I can feel the difference.

It mightn't matter to you, but it matters to many of us.

This is the only point I was making and I thought that I had done just that.

Ok, where to start... first- the chip is "about 1/32 deep". I don't know what you do to your razors, but to get out a 1/32" chip you take 1/32" of steel off of the edge. The bevel will still be small and you would need calipers to get an accurate measure in the change of width.

Second, your first post to this thread says (and I quote) " It will not be a Duck. So you will never know what a Duck feels like." regarding fixing that chip. That is absolutely wrong. This is your original argument. Not that the change in width will change the feel in the razor, but that fixing the chip will make the razor useless and unable to shave as well as any other DD Special #1. "I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. It's chiipped and Fu****. Using the well known Anglosaxon" as you said is a LITTLE over the top and just not true (in terms of what you called it after chipped). The shave that you get after taking out the chip will be as good as any other DD Special #1. I am not saying people can't feel the difference in widths, cause we can. We all have personal preferences but they are just that- personal. Don't tell a guy who is "just learning to shave without bleeding" that the razor is worthless because it was actually gotten for quite a good price. If he hasn't tried the thousands of razors that you may have, then he doesn't yet have that preference of 1/32" changes. He NEEDS to try these razors.

Also, the statement that 1/16" off the width of a razor is half of its useful life is also your personal preference. I myself enjoy quite a variety of razors from 9/8 (yes, very useful and comfortable as a shaver to me) down to 4/8 (same). Now depending on the grind of a razor different amounts taken off the width will change the feel of the razor but don't go around saying "the loss of 1/16" off the edge tells me that a razor has lost half of it's useful life" when that in no way applies to all razors or even this one. I have restored blades and taken more than 1/16" off the width to have it become a customer's favorite. Just seems to me you are throwing around some large generalizations in the wrong places. Once again, I am only posting all of this for the betterment of new members. Personal preferences and tolerances need to be learned through practice in this case, not be taught.

English · 10-13-2008, 11:16 PM

Alex,

You understand my point of view and I understand your point of view.

I don't agree with you and you don't agree with me.

Life would be very dull if we all agreed with each other. At least we both know the type of razors we enjoy.

Que sera sera.