Thread: Hi everyone

Hi, I am new to B&B and straight razor, this site gave me a lot of info on what to buy, but I have still some things that are a bit obscure, so if anyone could give some guidance, I would appreciate a lot.

Here what I bought so far,
First Straight razor, from niegeloh I believe, have solingen write on the blade and wacker solingen engrave close to the handle. have the number 945 on the other side, close to the handle. Solingen graved on handle.

Second straight razor, a dovo, made by skilled craftman in solingen west-germany, if i believe what is told on box. Still have solingen on blade (different logo than first one tho) and dovo solingen close to handle, solingen germany on other side. Nothing on handle.

A 14inch strop, dovo solingen. Can the strop I bought can be pasted? If yes, with what? And is it the leather side or both that need to be pasted? This soap with wood bowl http://www.h-s.co.uk/shaving/shaving..._bowl_and_soap
and this brush http://www.kentbrushes.com/acatalog/AP4.html ,still from kent.

The only thing that I missing, I think, is a honing stone, witch I don't know exactly what to buy. But not in a hurry, will go in a store (razor center, they might have honing stone there, none in store at the one I went) to make my blades shave ready, so I have a bit of time in front of me on that part. And a stand for the brush. How I gonna make this brush hold upside down, i don't know .

Technique wise, I saw some video and read a bit, one thing I am still mazed a bit with, I saw some guys using both and to hold the blade, right hand for right side of face and left hand for left side. And I saw some use the same hand for both side... Any hint there for what's best for a newbe or anyone?
As for the soap and the bowl, can I use this bowl that came with the soap for building a lather or it is better to use a separate bowl for that?

Think that is all, if any other question get to my mind, I'll post it here. So thanks for your time and good shaving everyone!!

Hi welcome aboard.

I am a recent starter too, but from what I can see you have a good bit of kit there. Wackers are great razors, and the modern Dovos too. The strop you have is fairly typical and will suffice for now, you should definitely not paste it. The yellow paste in a tube is the most you should use, this is fat to condition the leather, but olive oil or mink oil is also used - though this is not essential. The soap and brush are also good quality. You can buy brush stands for very little that will hold it upside down.

You should get those razors honed before you do anything else - my first recommendation would be to send them away to a honemeister. You do not state where you are in the world, but if you let us know a honemeister local to you will chime in for sure.

As to a stone - eventually you will need something to refresh the edges, and you may even decide to start honing yourself. Most people seem to. The generic recommendation is for Norton 4000/8000 stones, and most of the instructions on the site are geared towards that particular stone. There are many other stone choices though, and it is all about personal taste. Again depending on where you are in the world, stone choice may have a lot to do with it as Nortons are only available in the USA.

I personally shave using only my right hand, many others are ambidexterous shavers. I think if you can use your left hand, its a good idea to start building up those motor skills, but when I tried it I really felt like I was going to slice the side of my face off.

The biggest thing you will need is patience - this is not an "instant gratification" hobby. It took me about 10 shaves before I was even comfortable holding the razor to my face and was relaxed enough to enjoy it. It took at least another 20 before I was able to look at my face and be really happy with what I had achieved. I developed fast too - there are guys here who have been going months and still aren't getting the shave they want. I think even the guys who have been shaving years will tell you that they still learn things.

Hope you are still awake - I tend to ramble in posts. Welcome aboard, and enjoy the journey!

Si

Those are some nice blades and quite likely a decent strop, brush and soap. To answer some of your questions;

Originally Posted by ereinion

Can the strop I bought can be pasted? If yes, with what?

Hanging strops should only get some leather conditioner to keep them supple, neatsfoot or mink oil or the like. Condition the smooth side.

Originally Posted by ereinion

The only thing that I missing, I think, is a honing stone, witch I don't know exactly what to buy.

Most of us use the Norton combination 4/8k. Some guys get buy with others including the old barber hones like the ones sold by Tilly at www.redtrader99.com

Originally Posted by ereinion

How I gonna make this brush hold upside down, i don't know .

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...550/422835.htm
http://store.crabtree-evelyn.com/acc130131.html

Originally Posted by ereinion

Technique wise, I saw some video and read a bit, one thing I am still mazed a bit with, I saw some guys using both and to hold the blade, right hand for right side of face and left hand for left side. And I saw some use the same hand for both side... Any hint there for what's best for a newbe or anyone?

Even though I can't manage it myself, I recommend learning to shave with both hands as you describe. Most guys have a relatively short learning curve with it and get along quite naturally this way in a relatively short span of time.

X

Welcome to the SRP!

It has already been suggested that you send out your razors for honing by a "Pro". I definitely agree with that suggestion!

Learning to use a hone is the most difficult of the skills and takes awhile to learn. Several people have tried to learn to hone on a good razor and ended up destroying it. I was one of those guys. Please don't make the same mistake.

Go to the Buy/Sell/Trade forum. The first sticky is where you can purchase the DVD by Lynn Abrams, the founder of this site. It is 3 hours of instruction on every aspect of straight razors. it will answer 90% of your questions.

HI, thanks for advise so far. I live in montreal, canada. I have already send the razor to be honed by a honemeister, don't know how he work tho, since he don't honed those blade very often, but he honed stuff for 8 years and other stores send me to him for the honing.

As for a practice blades, is any blade will suffice for practicing to hone?

Hello,

Welcome to SRP.

This honemeister of yours might actually have a hard time... hopefully it will turn out well

Cheers
Ivo

Just went back from the honemiester, he can't do them. He ain't have the tool, amateur !!!! Have to find one now...... Montreal canada if anyone know one around here.....

I expected that he may not be able to get a good edge, even if he had "the tool" but lacked experience with razors

PM Ilija (Firestart) - he might be able to help you out. I heard he was sick but hopefully he's getting better.

Of course, you can send to our US-based meisters of just buy a shave-ready razor from BST

Good luck
Ivo

Well, Vlad (vladsch) is in Montreal, but he hasn't shown up too much recently. I guess he's pretty busy. You could try to send him a PM or an email. I'm in Vancouver, but I can help you if you want.

X

Originally Posted by xman

Well, Vlad (vladsch) is in Montreal, but he hasn't shown up too much recently. I guess he's pretty busy. You could try to send him a PM or an email. I'm in Vancouver, but I can help you if you want.

X

What a generous offer, X

Btw, I had no idea Vlad was Canajun

Cheers
Ivo