Thread: I am so impressed - All Newbies looking for a cheap start should go here

Go to the forum, In Auction talk... ebay etc. and click on the one Wapienica razors ( I think this is the link http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=9950 )
Last Thursday I purchased the razor, Stop and hone set and then also the arkansas hone. Item codes 130093642056, 130093668130 and 130095325502. The total cost, including shipping to me was £17.50 or about US$ 34.00 so I thought what the hell do I have to lose.
Well item was delivered so fast given that it comes from Poland.

Ok so it is not shave ready but I got the hones, knowing it wouldn't be based on what I read.

Ok so they were delivered and I gave it 30 strokes on the arkansas and already starting to get a decent edge (If you are new please research this like I have been, you need little or no pressure) followed by 100 strokes on the slate type hone and 20 laps on the strop. Thought I'd give the hanging hair test a go.

Ok so I thought this was actually a load of old bull but it actually worked so I could not get to the bathroon fast enough.

Had a long hot shower, followed by a good old lather up and another 10, very slow and gentle goes on the strop, rinced the lather off in the hot shower (ok so I know this isn't saving water but hey, shaving was far to important to me at the time given my level of excitement... The hanging hair test really works, Holy *%^&,..... sorry digressing again ) followed by another good lather and a shave. Now if you've read some of my other posts you'll see I was using a shavette, not any more, straight will be the only thing I ever use again. I've never had such a close shave and when I said it was BBS before, how wrong was I?

I am truly converted and for £17.50 and think this should definitely be a reccomendation to all new users. I'm even half tempted to buy all the stock, sharpen them up and sell them as shave ready kits but I've really not got the time.

I think this is perfect for the newbie but as always, research everything you will do first as I can imagine a bad experience would put you off.

Anyway, as always this is my own opinion but top e-bay seller I think.

those wapenica's are indeed pretty decent. I had the pleasure of honing one for a member. It didn't take much and turned out very decent.

I've done 2 so far, one for me and one for a friend. Both have been laughably easy to hone and both shave easily as well as any of my exotica.

I ordered another 4 this morning as it happens, 2 for my stock and 2 to give to friends as presents - I'm making up some basic starter kits with hanging strops and hones from the same seller.

hey guys, first real post but have been lurking, sorry looking(!) for a while.

currently using shavette but have wanted to get into the real deal ever since my girlfriend's grandpa gave me his old solingen "somefa" (5/8). since then have picked up a joseph rogers straight (ebay item no 290090937037) and a pair of wapienicas to practice honing. SO, not sure if these questions should really go in the honing section... but:

1. what is the arkansas stone used for? bevel-setting, or generating a final polish on an edge? (i.e. what sort of grit level are we talking?)
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currently i have no honing gear, but think i need the following: strop; pasted paddle strop; and a norton 4000/8000 stone. however, my questions are:

2. would it be wiser to invest in the arkansas stone plus hone and strop combo from wojciech (aka "open razor" on ebay)?

3. in what order would i use the hone and the arkansas stone?

4. are there any uk/europe-based honemeisters if i wanted to get one of the antique straights sharpened for comparison?

cheers and just wanted to say this is a great site
Dave

Definitely still get the Norton if you were considering one.
I'll leave the pasted strops to others, I've tried them but am no expert in their use; I've seen one that was made by Tony Miller and was pretty impressed by it, however.
As for Wojciech's hones,
The jury is out on what to use each for; Get the Norton, then get a couple of the others from Wojciech (he is a member here, Wojtec76) to play with. I have one of the Arkansas stones, but haven't tried it yet, perhaps send a PM to heavydutysg135 he did get to play with one a little, and apparently got good results. The strops, IMHO are very useable; the plain strop (the one he sells as a combo with a hone) is smooth, the other one, with linen, is a coarser leather, like the Russian leather Illinois strop.
Hope this doesn't muddy things too much for you.
John P.

Originally Posted by dM/

hey guys, first real post but have been lurking, sorry looking(!) for a while.



4. are there any uk/europe-based honemeisters if i wanted to get one of the antique straights sharpened for comparison?

cheers and just wanted to say this is a great site
Dave

Yup...me. If you need my services send me a PM and we'll talk.

hi john / alex

sorry for the slow response and combined response below:

1. alex: may have to take you up on that offer. bit snowed with work and other bits and pieces but will probably pm you re. the joseph rogers (ps: saw the coticle video via B&B - think i will be stropping just a little slower! )
2. john: i think the norton is a no-brainer; many people here seem to use it so if i have problems and ask questions, there will be fewer questions back about about whether I have done something silly like use a very low grit stone to polish, etc! So, assuming I get the norton, and wojciech's strops:

- would I need anything else to get a relatively usable shaver? (i.e. not convinced i can afford/justify a coticle right now...), i.e. will 4000/8000 then the strops be enough?; and

- you mention two strop types below. would you adivse getting both? and if so, in which order are they used?

cheers,
dave

I got a couple microchips out then went a few laps at 4k, a few at 8k and finished on my barber hone, and even for my new hands, the Wapienica sharpened just nicely, and it's possibly the best shaving razor I've tainted so far.

Dave,
It is quite possible to have a razor, and just the Norton and a strop. Many people do exactly that even now. Some folks feel they get a slightly more refined edge as they go to higher and higher grit stones, pastes, and the like, but I do not feel they are necessary. A Norton 4k/8k used properly followed by a plain strop, also used properly, will serve you quite well. The rest is just gravy, so to speak; I think most folks use pastes primarily to refresh the edge between honings, anyway...your face is the best judge of what you like.
As for Wojciech's strops, they are dirt cheap, so you can try both if you like and have money left over for a spare. I'm still experimenting, but the order I use them is: rough strop/linen first, (still playing with the leather/linen order on that one, as it is a rough leather strop) followed by smooth leather. Others here have tried these and can back me up need be, but it's also quite possible to go straight from the Norton to the plain smooth leather (no linen) version he sells. I would compare it to an entry level Dovo strop, perhaps. I've also put conditioner on one of mine, mink oil, but different strokes for different folks.
Hope that helps a little?
The razors are great shavers, and if they had prettier scales or names better known on the collecting market, I have no doubt I could not afford one.
John P.

As inferred, price alone isn't the reason these razors are an exceptional deal for newcomers. They take an edge/hone so damned well they will have newbs thinking they know how to hone and strop well
I am thankful that my filarmonica 3/8 was there to remind me I'm new to this.