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Rolls Razor Woes
- Thread starter DJKELLY
- Start Date
Smythe
Well-Known Member
I think the blade may be a bit soft... sometimes in manufacturing the blade is inadvertently "let down" too much after hardening. One clue could be the wear on the edge (large bevels)... suggests the previous owner needed to resharpen often.
However I believe softer tempered blades will produce a shave with less irritation, though with some tugging because the edge tends to "fold over" under load of the whiskers.
However I believe softer tempered blades will produce a shave with less irritation, though with some tugging because the edge tends to "fold over" under load of the whiskers.
: Bumping this thread up folks, how did you all get on in the end?
Just asking because I've just bought my fifth, a very nice condition Viscount. I tried honing up the blade of a good quality Imperial #2 but the shave was like using a rusty saw. I had several days growth as I thought it would help for the blade to have something to cut against (I have fine hair and prefer singing blades to more wedgelike so that may be a factor).
I don't want to remove the guard as I don't want to break it. I do have a Viscount in poor condition with a blade without a guard but it has a chip in it.
The blades are different on some of my models which could have different manufacturing properties? I don't know.
The spring loaded handled models have more rounded spines on the blade instead of a squarer profile on the screw handle and the Viscounts have more rounded edges to the cutting edge.
Imperial #2 rounded spine blade for sprung handle.
Viscount 'Super Blade' showing more rounded cutting edge.
If these razors don't turn out to be good shavers I'm not that bothered (well I am to an extent) as I prefer straights anyway but it would be nice to use on in a rotation or when on holiday.
Thanks folks
Just asking because I've just bought my fifth, a very nice condition Viscount. I tried honing up the blade of a good quality Imperial #2 but the shave was like using a rusty saw. I had several days growth as I thought it would help for the blade to have something to cut against (I have fine hair and prefer singing blades to more wedgelike so that may be a factor).
I don't want to remove the guard as I don't want to break it. I do have a Viscount in poor condition with a blade without a guard but it has a chip in it.
The blades are different on some of my models which could have different manufacturing properties? I don't know.
The spring loaded handled models have more rounded spines on the blade instead of a squarer profile on the screw handle and the Viscounts have more rounded edges to the cutting edge.
Imperial #2 rounded spine blade for sprung handle.
Viscount 'Super Blade' showing more rounded cutting edge.
If these razors don't turn out to be good shavers I'm not that bothered (well I am to an extent) as I prefer straights anyway but it would be nice to use on in a rotation or when on holiday.
Thanks folks
life2short1971
Well-Known Member
The guard pops right off but even if you don't care to with a little patience I have honed them up nicely on a coticule with the guard on. Stropping well takes just as much patience. I just couldn't do it daily.
life2short1971 said:
Managed to take the guard off, put one layer of tape on the spine and honed it up. Spent a few minutes stropping on the built in strop thingy. Takes arm hair off pretty easily now so off to give it a whirl on the old fizzog. Will report back when done :sleep:
life2short1971
Well-Known Member
You can also make a handle to strop with out of a dowel the size of the hole in the back and pulling it down a normal or paddle strop and you will be much happier than the mechanical stropper provided. That one works as well as the hone. : ( But if you strop externally : ) Enjoy!!!
Well, just had what I can describe as being the best shave with a Rolls that I've had to date :thumbup:
After doing a dilucot (with one layer of tape so as not to make the bevel any larger) and then doing about 100 half strokes on water then about 20 light strokes on fresh light slurry. I started to use the internal strop for about 2 minutes but once in the bathroom I lay my 'Scorcher' Shell strop flat and did 20 strokes on the red side (which had a nice draw - the black side is a lot heavier).
Lathered up after a nice hot shower and did a WTG pass (smooth) followed by an ATG (bit rough on the neck) followed by an XTG (again rough/sore on the neck) My neck are to the sides of the AA is a problem area as the hair grows sideways IYKWIM. I get that with a straight as well.
So apart from two patches on either side of my neck, everywhere else is BBS and the soreness has now calmed down.
:sleep: :thumbup:
I'll give it another go tomorrow and report back then.
After doing a dilucot (with one layer of tape so as not to make the bevel any larger) and then doing about 100 half strokes on water then about 20 light strokes on fresh light slurry. I started to use the internal strop for about 2 minutes but once in the bathroom I lay my 'Scorcher' Shell strop flat and did 20 strokes on the red side (which had a nice draw - the black side is a lot heavier).
Lathered up after a nice hot shower and did a WTG pass (smooth) followed by an ATG (bit rough on the neck) followed by an XTG (again rough/sore on the neck) My neck are to the sides of the AA is a problem area as the hair grows sideways IYKWIM. I get that with a straight as well.
So apart from two patches on either side of my neck, everywhere else is BBS and the soreness has now calmed down.
:sleep: :thumbup:
I'll give it another go tomorrow and report back then.
life2short1971
Well-Known Member
The razors were a great concept but the mechanics as innovative as they were just weren't as good as manually caring for the blades. The blades themselves are always great steel.I hope tomorrow is just as much a success for you!