I'm thinking about getting my first straight razor. And it seems like most online vendors generally sell very similar models. So should I let the "Free Lifetime Honing" deal offered by one of the retailers sway my decision? How often does one need to get their straight honed and how much does it usually cost?
"Free Lifetime Honing" - Worth It or Sales Gimmick?
- Thread starter Left Coast DJ
- Start date
Since you missed Lee's 1/2 price sale on Dovos yesterday, if nothing else, it's a good perk offered by a solid vendor. The initial honing isn't offered by every site - so you're already ahead. And, given the fact that the prices are all generally the same everywhere, why not go for one offering the honing? If I had the cash to take advantage of it, I'd definitely consider it a plus.
From my experience over 9 months of using str8s, I would say that you could send your blade out 2-3x a year, maybe more if you do nothing besides stropping on leather. If you use pasted strops you may do less per blade but that depends on how aggresive your beard is, your technique and how many different blades you are using. The going rate per hone is about $20 plus shipping. There are members who sell here who offer free honing if you buy their blades.
It's moreso a holiday gift offered by a very reputable vendor. I wouldn't call it a gimmick because the offer certainly has value. I think it's a great deal, personally. Their razors are also honed by one of the best, so needless to say you're going to start off with a nice, shave ready razor.
The other thing is that the razor won't need honing that often (most likely), and he can do it in very little time. It's a good deal
I pushed up my purchase of a couple of straights to take advantage of the deal. Now I won't have to worry about picking up a hone and learning how to do it, at least for a while. I thought there was some value to it.
with my beard, light honing is required every 6-8 weeks to keep things comfortable. Of course, I only use a traditional strop, no pastes.
Learn to hone yourself. get a vintage "barber hone" and maintain your own edge. it's part of the straight razor experience.
Learn to hone yourself. get a vintage "barber hone" and maintain your own edge. it's part of the straight razor experience.
Yes it is worth it for several reasons.
1. Just the price itself is one of the better ones around. He is an expert that will get you a properly sharpend razor that shouldn't have any issues.
2. If you maintain with pastes you will want to send it out occassionally to get honed. This will probably only occur maybe 1 to 2 times per year.
3. If you maintain with a hone like a barbers or a 12k etc you will not be able to do major repairs. Like if you dropped it, banged it on the sink, hit it on a mug, or any other edge damaging mistakes.
With this great deal you are only out shipping.
1. Just the price itself is one of the better ones around. He is an expert that will get you a properly sharpend razor that shouldn't have any issues.
2. If you maintain with pastes you will want to send it out occassionally to get honed. This will probably only occur maybe 1 to 2 times per year.
3. If you maintain with a hone like a barbers or a 12k etc you will not be able to do major repairs. Like if you dropped it, banged it on the sink, hit it on a mug, or any other edge damaging mistakes.
With this great deal you are only out shipping.
I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but if I were you, I'd get a linen strop to go along with your other strop. I don't care for pastes, but I can maintain an edge for significantly longer than that with just linen & horsehide.
Depends on whose lifetime and who is doing the honing. One of the great things about straight razors is that you can find the perfect edge for you. Which is to say that one person's perfect edge may not be your cup of tea. So ... lifetime honing is great up until you learn to do it for yourself.
And that was good enough for me to send for a Dovo Bismark 6/8.
And that is all that really matters!
I think it a deal that is almost to good to believe. I do believe it though and it offers you the opportunity to learn to hone on your own whilst having a backstop for your main shaving razor.
The purchase price of the razor as you will learn is just the entry ticket price to straight razor shaving and the free honing service is a useful and significant money saving offer that should not be under estimated. I think it is probably worth much more than getting a half price DOVO, which incidentally probably needs a $20 plus postage hone the first day you receive it.
The purchase price of the razor as you will learn is just the entry ticket price to straight razor shaving and the free honing service is a useful and significant money saving offer that should not be under estimated. I think it is probably worth much more than getting a half price DOVO, which incidentally probably needs a $20 plus postage hone the first day you receive it.
My wife bought me a straight for Christmas from the vendor offering the honing service and she was also told about the service. She asked how long it usually takes and was told about 10 days but depending on how many are in line ahead of you.
So Im not really planning on using the service. I figure $4 to ship 10 days without it. But Im sure ill dive into another AD for straights.
That is a nice offer though.
I still don't know what razor Im getting but I've been a very good boy this year.
So Im not really planning on using the service. I figure $4 to ship 10 days without it. But Im sure ill dive into another AD for straights.
That is a nice offer though.
I still don't know what razor Im getting but I've been a very good boy this year.
I think its worth it, especially if you dont have hones or know how to use them. It usually costs $20 plus postage (maybe $5 for there and back?) on average to get a razor honed, and if you do it 3 times a year, you are saving maybe $60 a year per razor (you would still pay postage for free honing).
Wont go into the argument that you could put that cash into buying hones and learn yourself (teach a man to fish kinda argument), but if you are intending to purchase a razor anyway, then the offer of free honing definately has value in my eyes.
Wont go into the argument that you could put that cash into buying hones and learn yourself (teach a man to fish kinda argument), but if you are intending to purchase a razor anyway, then the offer of free honing definately has value in my eyes.
I dealt with this firm. Top shelf. Great communications, and good guys. Their prices are good, and it is nice to know you can either hone them yourself and use them as a backup, or just send to them.
I bought from them with this deal. I am happy to support their business. We need to keep helpful, knowledgeable vendors like this in business.
I bought from them with this deal. I am happy to support their business. We need to keep helpful, knowledgeable vendors like this in business.
If you are in the market for a new razor, and plan on purchasing it before Christmas, it would seem foolish not to take advantage of this offer.
Most of the major retailers, who sell razors, have them initially made shave ready by Lynn already, buying from SRD seems to be a value-added-purchase to the product.
Besides that, Lynn is one of the best Honemeisters in the business.
Very good marketing strategy. My advice..... go for it!
Ray
Most of the major retailers, who sell razors, have them initially made shave ready by Lynn already, buying from SRD seems to be a value-added-purchase to the product.
Besides that, Lynn is one of the best Honemeisters in the business.
Very good marketing strategy. My advice..... go for it!
Ray
Yes, but a big if. If you want that razor. If your only buying that razor for the free honing, I would advise against it. You should buy what you truly want.
Its also the lifetime of SRD/Lynn/person they get to replace Lynn. Not your lifetime, unless SRD outlasts you.
The other downside is that Lynn is very popular and theres bound to be people in front of you, hence a longer wait for your razor. If your going to be honing on your own eventually, probably not a good deal either. Another down side is that you may like someone else's honing/finishing process better.
But, still a very damn good deal. I'm interested to see how they keep up with fulfilling all those free honings.
And all that said. Your not paying any extra for the free lifetime honing. So its not like insurance where your paying extra for it and you may not use it. The blade is the same price as normal. If you were going to buy that particular blade, just buy it. Even if you don't use it, you didn't pay any extra for it. But if you weren't going to buy it, you have the information you need to make an informed choice.
Its also the lifetime of SRD/Lynn/person they get to replace Lynn. Not your lifetime, unless SRD outlasts you.
The other downside is that Lynn is very popular and theres bound to be people in front of you, hence a longer wait for your razor. If your going to be honing on your own eventually, probably not a good deal either. Another down side is that you may like someone else's honing/finishing process better.
But, still a very damn good deal. I'm interested to see how they keep up with fulfilling all those free honings.
And all that said. Your not paying any extra for the free lifetime honing. So its not like insurance where your paying extra for it and you may not use it. The blade is the same price as normal. If you were going to buy that particular blade, just buy it. Even if you don't use it, you didn't pay any extra for it. But if you weren't going to buy it, you have the information you need to make an informed choice.
This is a great offer! You will have a lot of peace of mind in case you screw the edge up. Plus if you decide to sell the razor you can advertise it as freshly honed by a pro. You also won't have to invest in any hones unless you decide that you really want to continue shaving with a straight. But, I think that honing is the most interesting part of shaving with a straight because it's part craft, part art, and a bit of science.If you stick with honing you'll be able to really spend a lot of time custom tuning your edges and you'll eventually come to prefer them over someone else's. This is because someone honing a razor for twenty bucks a pop or for free will likely spend a maximum of 10 minutes on your razor while you'll have more time time and more options(natural hones).
Best Red
Best Red
I bought my first straight razor from the (un)said (why?) vendor a month ago. Due to improper razor care on my part, the blade started developing rust within a couple weeks. I sent it back, expecting and willing to pay for the rust removal. In a very short time, my razor was back to me all shiny at no charge.
I have chatted on the phone with the two principals, and found them both to be patient with beginners, giving sound advice. I'll buy from them again, even without a discount or free honing service.
I have chatted on the phone with the two principals, and found them both to be patient with beginners, giving sound advice. I'll buy from them again, even without a discount or free honing service.
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