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I've been thinking about "What about when I'm on the road" and just purchased a paddle strop.
Since my initial contact with the Straight Razor retailers was West Coast Shaving, I got a Harold 81Ri from them.
I saw some for about half the price on e-bay, but I didn't know about what sort of quality I would get.
There seems to be quite a bit of initial output (moneywise) when you first start this, isn't there?
There are so many options to wet shaving that you could purchase for a long long time before you got to a place of contentment. Many people want to try so many different things and before you know it you have quite the collection. There is just so much cool stuff out there it is easy to get lost in trying everything.
Basically you can get away with one razor, a brush and a strop. Then be good for life*. 2 razors are recommended for incidents of the dropping/faucet variety, as you have learned.
*May need a hone for touch-ups, or pastes, etc. But you can just ship them out to the honers.
It's always good to go for quality stuff...
Everything else is just learning preferences/exploring the multitudes of options and the benefits there in. I have heard of people buying alot and then minimalizing their collection to just what they prefer.
If the intention is to be cheaper than disposable cartridge razors, in the long term it might be cheaper. Depends on the razor, strop, hone, brush, choice of cream/soap.......and how bad the 'sickness' is. :)
I think it's got me bad...Quote:
Originally Posted by quicksilver
Although I intend to get another razor so that I will have on in the house when I send my first razor back to SRD for free honing, I already ordered a Norton stone set.
The Norton Waterstone Woodworker Package (220/1000, 4000/8000, flattening stone, tray, and Woodworking DVD) for $140 just seemed like too good a deal to ignore. Maybe I can use the DVD like a frisbee.
Hope that takes care of my frenzy for a while.
The acquisition disorder is a cruel mistressQuote:
Originally Posted by howdydave
Like all addictions you will find you need another fix sooner than you expected ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by howdydave
Your new hones will tide you over for awhile, but then the itch will return!
A paddle strop is good to have no matter what IMO. I actually use it occasionally simply because I don't feel like a have the dexterity to use the hanging strop at that time:)
Hello... my name is Dave and I'm an addict! ;)
From my years of experience I will tell you that the Norton set will do everything you need with the exception of the flattening stone. Not that it doesn't work, but they go out of flat and then you have to flatten them to get back to normal. A Dia-Sharp D8C 325 will last years used properly, and doubles for honing kitchen knives.Quote:
Originally Posted by howdydave
As for honing the razors. The 1k is slower than the naniwa or shapton, but it does the job. You'll rarely need the 220 unless you're correcting a badly chipped edge or a frown. The 4/8 is a great workhorse and knowing what I know now, if I were you I'd make a resolution not to buy another hone until you can shave well off edges you've honed to the 8k level.
Anything above that is icing on the cake, and if you can't get an edge to shave well @ 8k you're not ready for a 12k. The hones can become a greater acquisition disorder than anything else I've come across. Don't ask me how I know. :)
I don't even intend to USE this for quite some time.
It's the old:
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Howdydave, the first step in curing your RAD is acknowledging you have a problem. Unfortunately coming here is like a compulsive gambler going to the casino for therapy. I would try to set some ground rules to keep your disorder under control.
I always found poverty to be an excellent cure.
The addiction can be the cause of said poverty.Quote:
Originally Posted by howdydave
It can be a vicious circle
That's the operative word. Then you go to an antique store, buy a few razors and next thing you know, you're elbow deep into the honing section of the forum. :gl:Quote:
Originally Posted by howdydave
Just remember.. Your beard can only grow so fast.
That's true but I have needed to shave twice in a day, just saying. Tc
We have a prophet in our midst!Quote:
Originally Posted by dinnermint
I just got a new e-bay cheapie for about $12 to make all of my early mistakes on!
(Gold Dollar 208 Carbon Steel Shaving Cut Throat Straight Razor Barber Salon 6/8")
There were some serious issues with the quality of this razor but if it's a piece of junk, I primarily got it to learn how to hone anyway.
Heh, it's a very popular story with us. I would recommend W.H. Morley & Sons and Schumate razors. Both fine razors that usually sell for cheap.
I figured that if I need anything finer than my Norton 8k, some Chromium Oxide 0.3 on the back of my paddle strop should take care of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
When I was looking at a video on honing on youtube, there was a commercial about the top 8 straight razors on the market in 2016.
I was amazed to see that the Gold Dollar came in as number 6!
Quote:
Originally Posted by howdydave
What were some of the others? Curiosity.
Maybe they were just in the top selling because their dirt cheap and most new guys want to save money. Yet saving money is not cost value. Walmart sells a lot of low priced items too, doesn't make them a good value. But hey it's your money, Tc
That sounds right. They don't differentiate between straight razors and shavettes. They are probably going by SALES.Quote:
Originally Posted by tcrideshd
see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eng0HSF_IIs
Even I know that this is a crock of crap!