Using a Rolls Razor?

[pedro68]

Hi, can anyone tell me the best way to use my Rolls Razor to best affect and is it possible to get a good shave from them?
(i found my granddads in the loft,mint condition,boxed etc,want to give it a go without ending up looking like Edward scissor hands!!
Thanks in advance.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

I'm in the exact same situation. You beat me to the post.

 

[michiganlover]

The number one key to the Rolls, is that the blade has to be absolutely shave ready. If the blade is super dull, the included strop, and hone won't bring it back to a super sharp condition. The strop, and hone were supposed to keep an already sharp blade in a share ready state, they were never intended to refresh a totally dull edge.

You need to send the blade off to someone experienced in sharpening Rolls Razor blades, before you will be abel to use the razor at all.

Secondly, this razor is not really a "safety razor" as we think of it. It's more or less a "straight razor on a stick" as the wedge blade looks very much like a sawed off piece of a straight razor. As such you shave with it as you would with any straight razor: use the same technique, skin stretching being of the utmost importance.

The so called safety bar, is less about safety, and more about allowing the razor to sit on your sink without damaging the edge. Like any straight razor, it has the ability to inflict nice cuts if you are not careful with it.

The original thought of the safety bar, was that it would pop the blade off of your face so as to prevent deep cuts, however, I wouldn't count on this action to protect you; much better to learn how to shave with it the proper way.

Like any straight razor, it's going to take a little bit of practice to become proficient with this razor.

 

[Samjax]

I have 6 of them...they are GREAT shavers - provided the Sheffield blades that come with them are honed properly. Lapping paper is your friend - it's simply not that hard to get them shave ready. I've also replaced all of my leather strops with new leather; thanks to my local shoe guy and Tandy leather. They are truly a great way to go.

 

[Slash McCoy]

I no longer hone or strop in the case. I took the lug that the blade locks onto, and had it welded to a screwdriver. This gives me a nice right angle honing and stropping handle. I hone and strop normally, using the spine as my bevel guide just like a straight razor. Also I don't use the safety bar. It pops right off. The resulting bevel is a bit more acute than the factory bevel or what is obtained from in-case honing so it takes a bit of work to initially reset the bevel but it is worth it. Honed on a film progression and finished on pasted balsa, this blade with a natural bevel is a rather nice shaver. It is the equal of most straights, in fact. A case honed Rolls is an unspectacular shaver, though I have to admit the honing/stropping mechanism is über cool.

 

[pedro68]

Thanks guys for the posts,very useful info.....the other thing about these Rolls razors is that there seems to be loads about and on ebay (UK) at reasonable cost,yet Vintage DE razors (Gillette super speed etc) are very hard to find here in the UK? , seems weird as the Rolls razors i believe were around from the late 40's.? and the Gillette/DE razors that followed were as common? So why is there not so many about? Cheers.

 

[JonM]

Thanks guys for the posts,very useful info.....the other thing about these Rolls razors is that there seems to be loads about and on ebay (UK) at reasonable cost,yet Vintage DE razors (Gillette super speed etc) are very hard to find here in the UK? , seems weird as the Rolls razors i believe were around from the late 40's.? and the Gillette/DE razors that followed were as common? So why is there not so many about? Cheers.

Supply & demand. There were a metric crap ton of these things made back then. Everyone wants the DE razors today and only the curious seem to want a Rolls (I have two of them and like them though).

 

[Slash McCoy]

The Rolls razor was not really as practical as a DE or a straight. They were novel. They were cool. But they were often used only a few times and put aside in favor of another type of razor. But they were never just tossed in the trash. Too cool for that. So, there are still tens of thousands of them out there, with little real demand for them. They never get tossed even though they aren't particularly wanted. That is why you can find them for $5 on ebay. Yes, we got lots of them over here on the U.S. ebay, too. The Sheffield steel in the blade is quite good. The blade will take a nice shaving edge, if honed properly. In the case, the blade slaps against the hone and strop, doesn't get a good long stroke, can't be honed with light pressure, and doesn't get a progression of grits. It trundles along over and over in exactly the same path. A recipe for an inadequately honed edge if I ever heard of one. Honed outside the case, well, a cat of a different stripe altogether. Even without the "Slash Tool" (r)(tm)(pat. Pend.) you can hone a Rolls blade on stone or lapping film by simply laying on the honing surface, using a light finger press for pressure, and pushing it along with a finger behind the spine. At the far end, flip it and push it back the other way.

Oh, here is a thread that might interest you:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/263824-Rollin-wit-da-Rolls!-A-honing-solution
My Slash Tool mk I is described and depicted.

Actually, a Rolls might be a pretty good, cheap introduction to wet shaving and vintage gear. You get many of the advantages of a straight and of a DE... great control over the shave angle, a permanent blade that never needs replacing, a convenient, easy to use right angle handle, a practically indestructible case, and a great deal of cool. Can't find a cheap FatBoy or Slim or Aristocrat or Diplomat? Get a Rolls, a 1k stone, a polished marble floor tile, and some lapping film. Spend some time, especially on setting the new bevel, hone it up and treat yourself to a unique and rather good shave.

There. Now I've done it. Rolls prices will now double over the coming week.

 

[pedro68]

Cheers Slash!!

 

[NCJack]

Been very fortunate, as my 3 Rolls, two Imperials and a Viscount, came with nice sharp blades. One hone cracked, but in a spot where the blade doesn't travel over it. I got interested in the Rolls when I saw James Bond doing something to a razor in Dr. No: turned out he was stropping his Rolls. I get a very good shave with them, but can see what Slash means, as they are a bit bulky for travel, and a bit fiddlier than just picking up a straight or DE and going right to it.