Straight Razor for Christmas

For years I have been complaining about how much I hate my mach 3 and how I want to switch to straight razor shaving. My wife apparently got sick of me complaining and for Christmas bought me a razor from art of shaving. I have been doing research for quite a while on straight razors and know about how to shave with one. I know I need to get it honed before I shave with it. Does anyone know of a good place or person in Chicago or the Chicago area that can get the first edge on my razor for me?

I am also in need of a strop and eventually a honing stone. I don't know what strop or strops to buy and I still need to do proper research on honing. I don't know what kind of stone to buy, how often my razor will need to be honed or anything else about proper long term care for my razor.

I am excited about straight razor shaving and fear that this time next year I will own hundreds of razors.

Thanks for any help or advice you can pass along.

Christenskg

Welcome to SRP.

Check out the ShaveNation or Smallflower. Both in Chi Town and either Geo or Anthony will be happy to help you out.

Happy New Year!

I wouldn't worry about the stone so much at first and Lynn has one of the best paddle strops I have seen (modular). You can get extra pieces for it if you decide to use a paste to maintain your razors edge. Less expense and learning curve.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 10Pups

I wouldn't worry about the stone so much at first

---

How often will I need to hone my razor? I know it is different depending on the razor, my beard, and stropping. I don't want to have to get it professionally honed every time.

You might need to get it honed a bit more often at first, as poor stropping technique can negatively impact the edge. Exactly how long will vary, but with good stropping technique I'd say you could get a good couple of months or more just stropping on leather. If you add in a pasted strop to touch it up every now and again, you could go quite a bit longer

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by christenskg

How often will I need to hone my razor? I know it is different depending on the razor, my beard, and stropping. I don't want to have to get it professionally honed every time.

---

It depends primarily on your stropping and then on your shaving technique including the preparation. Initially it may need a touch-up after 20 shaves (or even 1 if you mess up the edge), as you get better you may be able to go for 100-200 shaves. Get a strop that has a fabric component and use it.
Last year I did about a year of shaving with a single razor and only stropping (I shave every other day though).

For best results do as Lynn suggested and get somebody to show you in person how to strop and how to shave.

I'd get a nice linen and leather strop, I prefer linen over canvas these days. I'd also get a Shapton 16k for starters, it's good for touch ups. Later I'd get a Norton 4/8 for a 'full' honing (i.e. more than a touch up).

[EDIT] Bit confused by the ad, is the razor stainless steel or carbon steel?

Only the scales are stainless steel, everything TI makes these days is c135.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gugi

Only the scales are stainless steel, everything TI makes these days is c135.

---

Oh right...