I bought a few of these on a whim and was hoping to tinker around and make a functioning unit, but the more I look at it, it's beyond me. I don't know anything about honing etc. I've been watching videos etc like crazy, yours seem to be the only plain speaking truthful ones out there! Like you say there's loads of people saying you can buy these, give them a few laps in the hone/strop and get a great shave.
They never shave well out of the box. Never. Thank you for watching and commenting! Rolls razors are, well oddly fun to mess with. But they can be difficult to fix up.
I'm really glad you did this video, Keith! Thank you! These razors have always fascinated me and I ended up with about 5 sets. 1 is strictly a parts donor. I've never shaved with a Rolls, though. I just think they are cool. The mechanical action of the stropping is just...cool! They're old and fairly ingenious design, even if a little flawed. Cheers! -Rob
Fell down the Rolls razor hole a few years back. I recently honed the blades on synthetics--slow and a not so fun process.. I doubt I will shave with them again, but the cases look cool in the collection and people seem to like looking at them (as I do). Thanks for the tutorial. If I get motivated, perhaps I will break the two I have down and clean as thoroughly as you describe. Have you tried the Darwin? It has a longer strop. The only ones I have seen are priced more than I am willing to pay, but they look lovely.
I have three Darwins & seven blades. (8 originally but 1 had black rust on the bevel which couldn't be honed out. A pitfall when buying eBay) At first I finished honing on a Welsh Purple, then an Arkansas Translucent Stropped on chrome oxide on leather. A disappointing shave. I have 2 Rolls Razors & 15 blades. After almost 60 years & some 7 RR's later I am getting good shaves after final honing on the Translucent & stropping on chrome oxide. My best shave is with a Swedish Heljerstand safety 7 day set. Regards
Hey Keith, Thanks for the video. The Rolls is a neat piece of kit. Have you tried fitting the blade into a handle from another wedge-type blade razor? Something like a lather catcher?
Hi Todd, you're welcome and thank you for watching! The spine on the Roll blade is about 7mm thick, so it's too big to fit into any of the SE razors I own.
TY, yep - there was another earlier comment about the pronunciation, it’s one of those words I can’t seem to say correctly unless I’m concentrating on it. My brain says Vai-kownt, the mouth says vis, not vai.
@@KeithVJohnson1 if that's the only issue I picked up on then you are doing things right, like I said love the vids and keep them coming, I've only got into straights and honing in the last 12 months and your vids have been informative light hearted and honest especially when it comes to pumbas 😂👌👍
I bought a few of these on a whim and was hoping to tinker around and make a functioning unit, but the more I look at it, it's beyond me.
I don't know anything about honing etc. I've been watching videos etc like crazy, yours seem to be the only plain speaking truthful ones out there!
Like you say there's loads of people saying you can buy these, give them a few laps in the hone/strop and get a great shave.
They never shave well out of the box. Never. Thank you for watching and commenting! Rolls razors are, well oddly fun to mess with. But they can be difficult to fix up.
How do you fix the guard if it's not firm, if it flops back and forth on the blade?
That's a pretty awesome little design. I always wondered what they were exactly, as I've seen a few on ebay. Cool video.
They are interesting, the design is impressive. The blade steel is a bit soft, and the mechanism is seriously limited. Still a lot of fun though.
@@KeithVJohnson1 - I've seen a few being sold here and there. The blade is usually in bad shape unfortunately. I like that you refurbished it.
Bought one at a jumble sale and sold it to the local antique shop aged about 10 yrs, at a profit.
That was over forty years ago.
I'm really glad you did this video, Keith! Thank you! These razors have always fascinated me and I ended up with about 5 sets. 1 is strictly a parts donor. I've never shaved with a Rolls, though. I just think they are cool. The mechanical action of the stropping is just...cool! They're old and fairly ingenious design, even if a little flawed.
Cheers! -Rob
Hey Rob, thank you for watching and commenting!
I have to admit I was waiting for you to skewer your thumb with that rusty spike(blade retainer pin.) OUCH!
Lol!
Never a dull moment on your channel ty for some insight on these razors I might dig out mine looks like fun cheers
Thanks Johnny, they're fun to mess with if you're in the right frame of mind.
Somebody's better Idea. Great piece for a collection. Thanks.
Thanks for watching Jack. Yep, definitely more of a collector’s thing.
Fell down the Rolls razor hole a few years back. I recently honed the blades on synthetics--slow and a not so fun process.. I doubt I will shave with them again, but the cases look cool in the collection and people seem to like looking at them (as I do). Thanks for the tutorial. If I get motivated, perhaps I will break the two I have down and clean as thoroughly as you describe. Have you tried the Darwin? It has a longer strop. The only ones I have seen are priced more than I am willing to pay, but they look lovely.
Hi, I have not tried a Darwin. I think they might be ‘better’ but not ‘better enough’ for me to pay what they sell for. But they look cool for sure!
I have three Darwins & seven blades. (8 originally but 1 had black rust on the bevel which couldn't be honed out. A pitfall when buying eBay)
At first I finished honing on a Welsh Purple, then an Arkansas Translucent
Stropped on chrome oxide on leather.
A disappointing shave.
I have 2 Rolls Razors & 15 blades. After almost 60 years & some 7 RR's later I am getting good shaves after final honing on the Translucent & stropping on chrome oxide. My best shave is with a Swedish Heljerstand safety 7 day set.
Regards
Hey Keith, Thanks for the video. The Rolls is a neat piece of kit. Have you tried fitting the blade into a handle from another wedge-type blade razor? Something like a lather catcher?
Hi Todd, you're welcome and thank you for watching! The spine on the Roll blade is about 7mm thick, so it's too big to fit into any of the SE razors I own.
Thanks for that Keith, I have been thinking of buying one for a while maybe pass on that idea now.
They’re fun projects for someone that likes puzzles.
Very interesting thank you
Hey Gary, thank you for watching and commenting!
I love your vids and this is gonna sound churlish.... However Viscount is pronounced Viecount.
Keep up the great vids 👌
TY, yep - there was another earlier comment about the pronunciation, it’s one of those words I can’t seem to say correctly unless I’m concentrating on it. My brain says Vai-kownt, the mouth says vis, not vai.
@@KeithVJohnson1 if that's the only issue I picked up on then you are doing things right, like I said love the vids and keep them coming, I've only got into straights and honing in the last 12 months and your vids have been informative light hearted and honest especially when it comes to pumbas 😂👌👍
People shave with 5k edge using the hone 😂😂😂
They must have peachfuzz whiskers.