Thread: Too much information = overwhelming!

Hi, I'm glad I found this site, it has a lot of information from people that really know this stuff but it's so much that it can be overwhelming.
I hate shaving, it causes irritation, gotta spend money to always get new blades and it's annoying.

Now I'm curious about straight razors but I have a few questions..





#1. what is "honing" Is that sharpening? Why do people say they have to pay to get them honed
#2. How do you sharpen and maintain them
#3. How long to they last
#4. Do u need that little brush
#5. Do I need to buy blades for them separately or those are different types of straight razors?
#6. I've seen ones online where you replace the blade and one where you don't replace them? Which is better?
#7. Which should I get as a beginner's blade?

I know that I can probably search here for hours and find the answer but if anyone can answer these specific questions, that would be lovely!

Go to the beginners and read the stickys.

Yes I see them all but there's no stickies that answer right away questions that I have, I have to read hours of information and sort through it all, I thought someone could if they're kind enough to just answer the specific questions I asked

Originally Posted by kurolap

Yes I see them all but there's no stickies that answer right away questions that I have, I have to read hours of information and sort through it all, I thought someone could if they're kind enough to just answer the specific questions I asked

The most honest newbee I've seen yet, ,, cut to the chase son & skip the foreplay.

First lesson don't rush. Using a straight is about going slow and learning.

1. You first need a sharp razor (shave ready)
2. You need a strop to keep it sharp after every use. (something you will ave to learn to use.)
3. The brush and soap is part of it and does help with this type of razor but canned goo will get you by.
4. Honing is another learning process and if you get a bunch of razors you may want to go this route. There are people who will hone/sharpen for you but there is a charge.
5. A straight razor will last longer than you if treated properly. ( I have a few over a hundred years old and they will still outlast me.)

You could get a shavette. It is a different type of razor. (looks like a straight) They have replacable. You don't need a strop, you need to buy blades.

Then there is a double edge razor and once again replaceable blades no strop. These blades a by far cheaper than the plastic multi blade things you are using now.

That third link shavette is nice. The "point" of the brush and good lather is that a good brush and lather is a key point in the "upgrade" process. If you are upgrading the quality of your razor you should upgrade the quality of all the components, so you upgrade your shave. Buying a straight razor and using can foam works. It's just like buying a new race sail boat and using bed sheets for sails. Silly, but, it works.

Originally Posted by kurolap

Hi, I'm glad I found this site, it has a lot of information from people that really know this stuff but it's so much that it can be overwhelming.
I hate shaving, it causes irritation, gotta spend money to always get new blades and it's annoying.

Now I'm curious about straight razors but I have a few questions..





#1. what is "honing" Is that sharpening? Why do people say they have to pay to get them honed Yes and it is not that easy to do
#2. How do you sharpen and maintain them You strop then you learn to hone
#3. How long to they last Varies greatly from person to person and upon experience
#4. Do u need that little brush No but it really helps and a good soap makes it even better
#5. Do I need to buy blades for them separately or those are different types of straight razors? Those are Shavettes
#6. I've seen ones online where you replace the blade and one where you don't replace them? Which is better? Matter of opinion
#7. Which should I get as a beginner's blade? matter of opinion but basically it HAS to be shave ready

I know that I can probably search here for hours and find the answer but if anyone can answer these specific questions, that would be lovely!

Searching and reading gives you a more in depth immersion into the hobby, what you have above is simply my opinion, not everyone else's

Welcome kurolap!



Reading up on your questions might answer more questions you have never thought about yet.

Your questions are not simple to answer, but I will give it a try.

#1. what is "honing" Is that sharpening? Why do people say they have to pay to get them honed
Razors have a delicate easily damaged edge and need to be much sharper than knives. Honing a razor requires a progression of stones that must be made flat before use. The final finishing stones are ultra fine grit. Think of using course sand paper to shape a board followed by finer grits to get a perfect finish. Anyone can buy sand paper and apply it to wood, but not everyone can turn the board into furnature. With sufficient knowledge, equipment, and practice, most SR users learn to hone blades in reasonably good condition. Restoration of worn or damaged SRs requires a lot of skill.

#2. How do you sharpen and maintain them
Starting with a shave ready edge, you strop after each shave, refresh on a pasted strop, barber's hone, or polishing hone when stropping starts to lose effectiveness. When refreshing no longer works, its time to rehone.

#3. How long to they last
I touch up my SR edges once or twice a month. I rehone after months of SR use. The razor tells you what it needs and when. Most of my SRs are about 100 years old more or less and will still be good in another 100 years.

#4. Do u need that little brush
The brush and good soap work well with a SR, a DE, and cartridge razors. You can get started for less than $20, or spend a lot.

#5. Do I need to buy blades for them separately or those are different types of straight razors?
SRs have only one blade that must be honed, stropped, and maintained.

#6. I've seen ones online where you replace the blade and one where you don't replace them? Which is better?
Replaceable blade SRs are called "shavettes". The one that comes closest to the feel of a true SR is the expensive Feather AC. Stropping and honing are not needed, but shaving skills still must be learned. You must also keep buying blades, although a blade lasts for several shaves.

#7. Which should I get as a beginner's blade? The finest SR made will not shave unless the edge is shave ready. Most new and vintage SRs of good make will shave well, if the edge is shave ready. New junk razors of poor steel, heat treatment, and geometry can not be made to shave, or hold up in use. After shaving skills, it is really all about the edge. Most new SRs are not truely shave ready, unless opened and honed by the vendor. The best SR low cost deal is a $50 shave ready SR from a SR site classified section, IMHO. If I were to try a disposable blade unit, I would get the Feather AC.

HTH

First welcome to SRP.

The questions asked are good ones that most of us had starting out. The best answer I can give you is read and read about everything. With a list like yours you are going to get bare bones answer where when you read through old post you get a more in depth idea of what is all involved in straight shaving. Which is a lot more then what you are use to.

What I would suggest doing is going to Walmart and buying the Shea moisture shave brush and a puck of vdh deluxe shave soap. Learn how to use these two things while still using your cart razor. You will see an improvement in your shaves just with that.

Then read and start applying things you are reading to your cart shave. Then once you have all your questions about straights answered you will be in a good position to start if you want to.

If not you already improved your shave