Thread: Here's my first straight razor! Now what...

Originally Posted by RezDog

There are members that are from all over the world, so don't discount sending or taking it to someone quite so quickly.

It's just that I don't know such place here where they have expertise in razors. Even if there is such place, I just don't know where. I also don't know a place abroad that I can send it for honing, and I'm not sure if I can get it back, considering the strict customs regulations.

Also, I need to learn honing myself at some point. So, even if not to be used right now with this razor, maybe I better get some stones and start practicing.

These are some of the locally available honing stone brands (though I'm not sure whether I can find all of these in the needed grades):

Kanetsune
Taidea
Ruixin
Kaishun
Uusharp
Mannesmann
Wüsthof
Buck
Spyderco

Any brands you see here that you can suggest? What grades would I need to get?

I also saw an antique adjustable stropping stick, but its leather had several deep cuts on it. It was for less than $10. Maybe I should get that too?

Originally Posted by Grazor

A NOS Iberia for $43 is a very good deal. Rarer than the Ern and good shavers. Condition is everything though. If it has been stored correctly and has no rust, I would be on my way back there right now.

I had already decided to buy that one too, after seeing the post from Leatherstockiings! However, it was already past open hours. I will go there again and get it once they open.

Just a thought, there must be some old time barbers around in Turkey still. Might be worth asking around, see if any can help you.

Sent from a moto x far far away

Originally Posted by Grazor

Just a thought, there must be some old time barbers around in Turkey still. Might be worth asking around, see if any can help you.

Hmm... I don't think there would be any barbers here who use straight razors. They probably all use razors with disposable blades. Even if there are barbers who ever used straight razors, they probably wouldn't know anyone who would hone such thing anymore. Even in the old days, I'm guessing they used to buy cheap ones in bulk, and only strop them, and discard them once they were blunt, and start using a new one. That said, if I see any authentic looking old barber shop, I can ask.

Off the top of my head, member Frans is in the Ukraine and well respected. He may be willing to provide his services.

Search through the members based on location, I do believe there are members in Bulgaria as well. Most likely there is someone from Turkey who can at least point you in the right direction for equipment.

I would wait until you get back before I started honing them. You really need to find someone with razor honing experience or you run the risk of ruining those nice razors. Honing is a skill all to itself. The proper hones mean a great deal. Good luck whatever you decide to do. I know first hand how hard it is to wait. I also know haste makes waste is true also.

I had a small discount for the Iberia, so it cost me $40 to get this, and its edge seems to be flawless:





I also bought this old stropping tool. The cuts on the leather are too deep for the strap to be saved, I guess. I shouldn't use this without changing the leather, right? Anyway, I'm willing to refurbish this old thing. It was only $8.5.





It seems that I will start using the Iberia, and the Ern will have to wait until it gets honed. Now the question is... Would it be enough to get a cheap stropping leather (or use a belt) to start using this Iberia? I have a feeling that I already know what your answer is going to be...

If you are going to try to hone those yourself, please read up on honing with tape. Those razors are too nice to be ruined by incompetent honing, which happens far too often. If you tape the spine, and replace it regularly long before it wears all the way through, you potentially will prevent decades of hone wear during your very first honing session.

Originally Posted by zeedl

Now the question is... Would it be enough to get a cheap stropping leather (or use a belt) to start using this Iberia? I have a feeling that I already know what your answer is going to be...

Yes, you know!

The thing is, the quality of your shave initially depends on the quality of the honing but from then on the quality of the shave is maintained by your stropping. Unfortunately, you cannot keep a good edge if you are stropping on a poor surface.

a professional honing is only as far away as a mail box,,, they have postal service in Turkey, and buying cheap crap hones just makes you spend bad money,, learn to shave after its honed then learn to strop right now with a decent strop or make you a newspaper strop for the time being. Tc

Excellent deal on those 2 razors. Looks like you will need to replace the leather on that strop before using it on your blades. Listen to the advice here and see if you can get help honing. If you manage to find an old school barber, perhaps they still have their honing equipment and can help you out. Straight razors were not meant to be disposable items, so even if they use shavettes now, they may have had experience in the old ways.

Without a mentor to assist you one on one, you are taking a big risk damaging the razors honing yourself or at minimum not achieving the desired shave ready results. That ERN is a wonderful razor, but it will require some work to remove the edge damage. Maybe someone else here can provide information on those hone brands you suggested, but I am not aware of their viability for putting a quality edge on straight razors.