Thread: New to process and couple questions from a purchase.

I visited the site straightrazors.com and was not pleased with the products I purchased. I realized only after that I made a hasty bottom of the barrel purchase. I found this forum and site afterwards.
I got the starcustoms beginner razor from there. After one shave can't seem to sharpen or strop an edge keen enough to shave with again. Is it the cheap razor in the beginners pkg or improper beginner stropping?

As a review of their product not only can I seem not to strop or hone an shavable edge back to the blade with strop or stone. The brush also fell apart after one week. Literally the bristles fell completely out of the handle. I have no idea if the strop in that package is ok or how much that matters.

This is a link to what i purchased. http://straightrazors.com/best-seller-buffalo-horn-shave-set/

What should I try? Anyone with experience think it's the blade? Or is it just my inexperience in honing and stropping? Perhaps not the correct wetstone?

First of all welcome to the site. Now if your new to the sport of straight razor shaving and maintaining I would suggest going on the internet and watching all the good videos there on the subject. Lynn Abrams and others have a lot good info. on shaving and maintaining the razor. Honing and stropping a straight razor is a lot different that knives I have found. Improper stropping will dull a blade and even though I was good a honing knives I had to learn all over again honing the razor. All so the folks here at the place will be glad to help if they can. again welcome

I can't say that I've ever used that site, but I do recall several discussions about it in the past. Try doing a search at the top right side of the page for threads about the site and see what others have said. To be honest, there are things about it that send up red flags to me, particularly the lack of maker's mark on the blade, but having not purchased anything from them before, I'm reluctant to say that they sold you an inferior product (again, search for other threads). Also, it is very easy to roll the shaving edge when you're first starting out, which may require professional honing to repair; I would strongly encourage further research on the quality of the blade before sending it/paying someone to hone it, though.

Be sure to check out the "library"/wiki at the top of the page, especially the information in the beginner's section- arguably the most thorough and helpful source of information on wet shaving anywhere. There is also a section somewhere in there that lists brands/locations of origin for sub-par razors. Good luck!

There are a few threads on the subject here on the forum. This one should be informative http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...azors-com.html . I'll let you draw your own conclusions after you read it.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

There are a few threads on the subject here on the forum. This one should be informative http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...azors-com.html . I'll let you draw your own conclusions after you read it.

Bob

Looks like what I suspected. My hasty purchase was a bad one.

I guess I will begin more reading on here to find out what the best beginner blades that will hold an edge are and where to find them.

Any opinions on how important the strop is? I would hope that out of all the useless crap I got that might be usable. :-P

I did watch many videos over stuff as suggested previously. My first shave actually went very well. And I am fairly certain I wasn't horribly stropping.

Well, not to worry too much as others obviously made similar errors. Stuff happens. If you are going to buy a brand new razor, buy it from a reputable vendor that hones it to shave ready before sending it out to you. There are such vendors listed in members services here.

If you get a shave ready razor, do not strop it before your first shave. That will let you know what a shave ready razor feels like. If it feels duller on your second shave after you have stropped it then you know your stropping is not as good as you think. Most of us get that surprise when starting out. A strop and good stropping technique is essential to helping maintain the edge on your razor. The better you are at stropping the longer the time between having to hit the hones.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Well, not to worry too much as others obviously made similar errors. Stuff happens. If you are going to buy a brand new razor, buy it from a reputable vendor that hones it to shave ready before sending it out to you. There are such vendors listed in members services here.

If you get a shave ready razor, do not strop it before your first shave. That will let you know what a shave ready razor feels like. If it feels duller on your second shave after you have stropped it then you know your stropping is not as good as you think. Most of us get that surprise when starting out. A strop and good stropping technique is essential to helping maintain the edge on your razor. The better you are at stropping the longer the time between having to hit the hones.

Bob

Can you link me to the vendor list or member services part of the site? Having a difficult time finding the specific place you are typing of. Any vendor you yourself have used?

Thanks

ignorantdevil,

I am sorry to say you've been burned with your beginner straight razor package.

From what I can tell from the photos and the descriptions of the products you purchased, and from the various reports by our members here of these products, you are better off shopping elsewhere. What to do now? I don't know, really. If you can return the set, that would be ideal. If not, I would take my loss and start all over again by visiting a prominent vendor noted here at Straight Razor Place.

Or you can visit the Classified section here for a quality used razor. Along with that, buy a quality although relatively inexpensive strop, a good badger or boar bristle brush, and a good shave soap or cream to give you a good start. Read all the research material here, and ask questions.

You need not learn to hone immediately; there is plenty of time for that. What's important now is to have a quality beginner set, learn how to strop properly, and how to shave properly. Take your time. We're all here to help you.

Obie Gives good advise. Mine would be lose the username unless you want to remain an ignorant devil forever!
More help will be forthcoming with a name change, I think

Originally Posted by ignorantdevil

Can you link me to the vendor list or member services part of the site? Having a difficult time finding the specific place you are typing of. Any vendor you yourself have used?

Thanks

Sure, Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds mostly honing services. The advertisers on here, like Straight Razor Designs to name but one, are reputable. I have used 2 different vendors for new or new used straights, The Classic Edge Shaving Store Your Straight Razor & Knife Specialists. and Home and both are members here.

Bob