Thread: Practice razor?

Hi. I've been using shavettes for a couple of years & really enjoy shaving this way. My in-laws mistakenly thought I use a straight & gave me a strop for Christmas. So I'm going to go the whole hog & get a quality straight & hone for my birthday in a couple of months.
My question is, in the meantime, would it be good to get a cheap ebay razor to practice on the strop?
(&, of course, any other advice on which razor or hone to purchase would be great). Thanks

Practice is always good. You should only need a strop and razor. If you can't learn the strop how easy do you think the hone is going to be :<0)
Stropping should carry you awhile before you need a hone if you get a good hone job on your new razor.

I started with a no-name, parker-type shavette. I found that if I just took the shavette without any blades in it, it was a good tool to practice stroping, or practice a new shaving grip or shaving stroke, without any risk. I've also heard of people using a butter knife for this purpose.

If you want to get an inexpensive razor that still has a good sharp edge on it, I've heard many great things about whippeddog dot com. He sells "sight unseen" razors, so you won't know exactly what you're getting, and it may not be aesthetically nice to look at, but it will still have a good shave-ready edge on it.

Raulski
Where are you at, Gladstone where ?

Originally Posted by Raulski

Hi. I've been using shavettes for a couple of years & really enjoy shaving this way. My in-laws mistakenly thought I use a straight & gave me a strop for Christmas. So I'm going to go the whole hog & get a quality straight & hone for my birthday in a couple of months.
My question is, in the meantime, would it be good to get a cheap ebay razor to practice on the strop?
(&, of course, any other advice on which razor or hone to purchase would be great). Thanks

My Congratulations to the 'Foresighted In-Laws'! Good for them!

As Pups insinuated, learning to hone is the last of your worries, while you have been using a shavette a straight is slightly different. Please wait awhile then enjoy the experience.

As far as a 'cheap' FleaBay razor, you get what you pay for.

Just a few days ago I sent a young man home with a razor and a 'practice' razor the practice's edge had been rounded so that it is impossible to get a cut while practicing the angles, strokes etc plus not cutting the gifted strop while again practicing his stropping before actually giving it a go.

If you need a beginner's razor to practice on, give me a PM I might have something for you.

Please thank the In Laws for me!

Raulski, Gladstone, Oregon or Gladstone, Australia? If Oregon I'd be more than glad to have you come to my place for a one-on-one session on switching to a straight from a shavette. And most certainly on learning to strop properly. You got the basics with the shavette experience so the transition can be accomplished in a face-to-face meeting.

I'm in Forest Grove.

At least 3 Gladstones in Aus also
QLD, NSW & SA just to add to the concussion LOL

Razorfeld, unfortunately I'm in Gladstone Queensland. Thanks heaps for the offer. I definitely could've used the tutorial.
I don't plan to send my razor away for honing so I'll have to do some serious research in that department. To be honest I didn't even know you can damage a strop with poor technique. Being a shavette user thus far, I haven't read the threads that didn't apply to me. Thanks for all of your replies

Raulski, here is a list of Mentors in Australia. I'm sure one of them should be close enough to you to contact. There is a strong contingent of straight razor users in your country. Take advantage of one of them. This is what we Mentors are here for. There is also a separate section for the Aussie contingent.

carlmaloschneider (Adelaide/Adelaide Hills area)
onimaru55 (Sydney)
Jimbo (Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, SE Queensland, Queensland, Northern NSW)
Havachat45 (Redbank/Ipswich, QLD)
MickR (Brisbane/Redcliffe)

OK Raulski
It looks like my Gladdy mate,
I'm in NSW for another week odd
But will give you a Hoi when Im back in town should be able to help best as my limited knowledge can,
Also can look at a str8 for you to have a play with in the mean time before you buy one,
Definately don't worry about hones, as this is a whole other can of worms not required yet
Cheers Dion