Newbie needing help with purchasing 1st straight razor and some myths.

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05-28-2007, 10:26 PM
HazeGray

Newbie needing help with purchasing 1st straight razor and some myths.
I appreciate Fud’s forum post "CRITICAL INFO FOR NEW USERS." I am a new member of the SRP (I joined yesterday) and have only recently ‘discovered’ shaving. I have done a lot of research, but have not purchased a straight razor yet. I have a few questions for the shaving professionals:
- I am planning to buy a Kamisori straight razor and am wondering if that is a good brand or one to be avoided?
- How long between stropping and shaving? My morning routine affords me some time approximately 45 minutes to an hour before I shave. Can I strop and let the razor rest for an hour before shaving?
- I have read that a straight razor should rest for 24 to 48 hours before the next use. Is that true?
- I have heard that you should not wipe a razor dry. Just pat it lightly with a paper towel and never use a bath towel (terry cloth). Is that true?
Thanks for the help!
05-28-2007, 10:58 PM
AFDavis11

1. No not really a great choice, mediocre at best. You can shave with it though.

2. 45 min is ok, but stropping right before shouldn't be a problem.

3. No, myth

4. No, myth, just be carful of the direction you use, treat it like stropping.
05-29-2007, 01:26 AM
thebigspendur

Your questions were answered to the point.

The only thing I would add is instead of buying the razor you intend on buying get something from one of the guys here. You know you will be getting a quality razor that is shave ready.

You should be able to shave within 20 minutes once you have some experience under your belt. The first shaves will take the longest.

You can dry a razor any way you want as long as you dont mess up the edge. Some guys use hair dryers, canned air, towels or strop after shaving.
05-29-2007, 10:32 AM
Tony Miller

Get a shave ready razor for sure. Either a vintage one honed by a group member or a new one and have it honed. Myself, Classic Shaving and Vintage Blade all offer pre-honed new razors. Group members like Lynn Abrams, Joe Chandler, Josh Earl and other often have really nice vintage piece that are shave ready.
A popular eBay seller Altima also has nicely restored and honed ones listed each week.

Tony
05-30-2007, 01:01 AM
Creel

Welcome

I’m sure you will make good use and take advantage of the search feature to hit the key words to threads covering your questions.

To help start you off: Here is my wicked thread on post care of razors to help field a couple of them..

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showt...ighlight=reset

As for resetting the blade... I’m not so sure it is a myth as the blade does indeed reset with rest.
While barbers indeed shaved a number of people per day, the man of means of the day would have a seven day set.

Marketing or prudence there is the rub. I think the reset factor does give you an adequate excuse to get at least a second razor in due time

Good luck making informed decisions.

.
05-30-2007, 01:35 AM
Tony Miller

Ahh yes, the "second" razor. This is an important step because without a second razor how can one ever move onto his third, fourth, tenth, etc........

It's just the beginning <g>

Tony
05-30-2007, 01:41 AM
thebigspendur

And that's exactly why you should not buy a second razor or a second anything for that matter. Once you buy the second, holly molly then you loose control and become one of us poor wretched creatures. And then before you know it you'll even be wanting to shave commando style, do you want to become like Rich?
05-30-2007, 08:31 AM
xman
Quote:
Originally Posted by HazeGray

I am planning to buy a Kamisori straight razor and am wondering if that is a good brand or one to be avoided?
- Don't. You'll thank yourself later.
  
  Quote:
  
  Originally Posted by HazeGray
- How long between stropping and shaving? My morning routine affords me some time approximately 45 minutes to an hour before I shave. Can I strop and let the razor rest for an hour before shaving?

That's fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazeGray

I have read that a straight razor should rest for 24 to 48 hours before the next use. Is that true?

Well now we could argue this and what is meant by it, but since you won't be shaving more than once per day, I really wouldn't even worry about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazeGray

I have heard that you should not wipe a razor dry. Just pat it lightly with a paper towel and never use a bath towel (terry cloth). Is that true?

I wipe the blade and scales well. The edge I clean gently with a rubbing alcohol treated tissue in the stropping motion mentioned by Alan, and a few laps on the leather strop after shaving.

X

PS WOW! Look how the bullets turned out on this post.

Got interested a while ago and did a bunch of reading before going down to my local barber (he's about 90 I think) and asking for some advice. After a half hour or so of convincing him I really wanted to shave with a staight - he started doling out advice.

Starting with buying a razor; he suggested buying one for $40-$50 from this place-- www.bowmanbeauty.com - - I went with the Fromm 72R for $44 and change. I also picked up a Strop,Hone, Mug and some shave cream (3 different Truefitt & Hill shave creams)... also picked up a large steptic pencil (just in case)! The whole thing came to $162.50. I already had a brush.

It all arrived to the house in 3 days. Knowing from everything I've read it needed to be honed first, I made my way back to the Barber. He honed it (teaching me along the way) and stropped it. He also complimented me on the purchase stating that it was a great razor to start out with. That the blade was good Solingen steel that will hold up well, and that until I knew this was for me there was no sence in investing in a razor that cost anything more.

I've been shaving with it for a week now and all is well! So far no blood... and it's been everything that I was hoping for! Of course there are a lot better out here to answer questions, as I still have many... but that's the way I handled it. I think the old barber (if you can find one) is the ultimate in knowledge.

All the best!

Getting a razor from one of the members here is a great way to go. You will be able to see what your getting and know the blade will be sharp. My first transaction ended up great, and I love the new razor, gives me a point to work up to on my own restoration jobs.

Does this ever end :D

I also concur that you might want to pass on that razor and get one from someone here.
You will have no problem with the stropping.
The resting is not true as far as I have found. I have used a favorite razor for a week every day with no noticable difference.
I dry mine on the same towel that I have finished drying myself from my shower. You really don't have to get crazy about this just make sure the entire blade is dry.

Thank you all for your help with the myths that I have run across. I did not purchase a Kamisori and just received my first Dovo (a ‘Hen and Roster’) from Solingen today:y!

I will shave soon!:D

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