Thread: anxious to start

Today I received my first straight in the mail (Jim's Vintage Blades Dovo deal, honed by Lynn). I have not yet received my strop. I am really excited about getting started. Should I:

1) Just be patient and not use the razor until I get the strop.
2) Shave once without stropping.
3) Use an alternative stropping method (cardboard back of note pad?; leather belt?; newspaper?)

The last thing I want to do is harm my new razor, so I am willing to be very judicious if you think it best.

Thanks for your advice.

Michael

Lynn will tell you that razors he hones are good to shave and that may well be true.

I'm a proponent of steel memory and believe you'll get a better result from stropping.

Although a proper strop is your best option many have stropped on smooth belt leather and the like. You just want to take your time and make sure you're not dragging the edge of the blade over the edge of your strop, improvised or otherwise. Many's a n00b, my own self included) who's messed up a great edge through bad stropping. Take your time and pay attention and you should get by on a simple replacement until your hanging strop arrives.

X

Since you asked, wait for the strop. I don't let anything touch my face without stropping it first. Seeing how it was honed by Lynn, you may try an experimental shave just for kicks. Light pressure and proper angle are the keys. After that first shave, you will definatly have to wait for the strop. Unless you're really comfortable with your technique (sorry, I'm assuming you're new at this), go the easy way, avoid those different techniques and wait for the strop. Newspaper on flat tile square is only for ultra-fine polishing after a good stropping, a belt may work but it has to be smooth, not ave that factory finish on the surface and use the side without the holes to avoid ridges on the blade. Rubbing fine sandpaper over both sides may help. Cardboard from a notebook? Wow!
Ernest

Hi.

I'm very new to straight razor shaving and only have a month of experience. Here are some of my thoughts and opinions from one newby to another...

It seems there are two aspects to shaving. One is to actually shave and the other is to hone/strop the razor.

If I were to start all over again, I would watch one of the internet (you-tube) videos that show the techniques of how to shave. Next, I would get a completely dull and blunt-edged razor (so dull that you could not possibly cut yourself with it) and would just lather my face and practice scraping the lather off. It's important to know how to handle and position the razor against your skin while looking in a mirror. Remember, these things are Extremely Sharp and a gross error could leave you with a serious slash in your face.

Next, I would watch one of the videos that shows how to hone and strop. I would then practice stropping the blunt razor just to get the feel of how it's done. This might prevent you from damaging your new razor and strop.

After this, I would lightly strop (just a couple strokes) the new razor then try to shave just the sideburns and cheeks of my face. Do as much as you're comfortable with but, don't push your luck if you're feeling uncertain. Finish-off the shave with a disposable if necessary. Practice a little every day until you gain ability and confidence.

If you're starting off with a professionally sharpened razor, you probably won't need to hone it for a while. If possible, get a junker razor and practice honing it. Maybe try honing your blunt razor. I've discovered that junker razors often have warped or bent blades and it's hard (almost impossible) to get an evenly sharp edge so, don't get upset if you're unable to make the edge perfect.

This is not the way I did things as, my father showed me how to straight save in the mid 70's. I did it a few times back then and had the benefit of someone to show me how. My father was a tool and die maker and I briefly worked as a machinist and have the benefit of basic metal-working ability.

I started with a new (but not shave-ready) razor and had to endure a few days of trial and error to make it shave-ready. I simultaneously learned to hone/strop and shave over a period of two weeks. I now have one professionally sharpened razor and three old razors that I reconditioned myself. They are all equally sharp and each seems to have a different personality. I rotate through them each day and can get a shave better than with a disposable blade. Shaving takes about 15 minutes but, it's going a little quicker as I become more adept.

At this stage of the game, I'm learning about the different styles of razors and in due time, would like to build my own custom set.

Finally, I gather there is a DVD available here that provides straight razor information. I'm tempted to get it myself but, don't know what topics it covers...

Sorry for the rambling post...

Take Care

Ray C.

Originally Posted by xman

I'm a proponent of steel memory and believe you'll get a better result from stropping.

I believe this to be true from experience as well. I'd suggest waiting for the strop.

Originally Posted by Ray C

Hi.

Finally, I gather there is a DVD available here that provides straight razor information. I'm tempted to get it myself but, don't know what topics it covers...

Ray C.

Lynn's DVD "The World of Straight Razors" is truly comprehensive. It covers pretty much everything a new shaver needs to know - razors, hones/honing, strops/stropping, shaving, resources, minor restoration, etc. Its about 3 hours long and for less than $20 its maybe the best money I've spent on this whole process. I highly recommend it.

For major restoration, Bill Ellis offers a CD on his site Billysblades.com that is comprehensive on that subject.

Just my $.02

Jordan

I would shave once without the strop. That way, you'll have a baseline for what it feels like to shave with a straight and if you have problems after you strop, you'll know you botched the stropping (which is a common mistake).

I would wait for the strop. I strop before each shave, between each pass, and then afterwards before I put my razor away. I haven't felt the need to hone it in quite a while (2 months) and it still shaves great, however, every couple of weeks I give it a few strokes on each side of my Hand American "Old Dog" pasted split-hide hanging strop (chromium oxide on one side; boron carbide on the other), which keeps the razor really sharp between honings. I use an Original Heirloom No. 2 from Tony Miller for regular stropping on a daily basis. I think proper daily use of a good quality strop is the key to keeping the edge keen, aligned and free of corrosion. Just my opinion, though. I'm sure someone out there has a different take on it. BTW: My Dovo came with instructions that seemed to place less emphasis on stropping and even went as far as to recommend not stropping before each and every shave. That didn't work for me. In my own experience, stropping is crucial.

Originally Posted by xman

Lynn will tell you that razors he hones are good to shave and that may well be true.

I'm a proponent of steel memory and believe you'll get a better result from stropping.

Although a proper strop is your best option many have stropped on smooth belt leather and the like. You just want to take your time and make sure you're not dragging the edge of the blade over the edge of your strop, improvised or otherwise. Many's a n00b, my own self included) who's messed up a great edge through bad stropping. Take your time and pay attention and you should get by on a simple replacement until your hanging strop arrives.

X

I agree fully to what xman has said. I also had received a blade from Alex in Holland and ruined the edge due to my bad stropping. Luckily I was very good at honing (dont know how, just came naturally) and was able to get that great edge back. Its good to have a benchmark though so when you do eventually hone your own razor, you know how good it should be.

Dont be afraid though, ive got real good in a very short space of time. It's just a case of being confident in yourself and do a ton of research online etc. Speak to your local barber too (if you have one) as I picked up a wealth of knowledge from mine.

Graham.

Hi Guys,

I actually shave with each razor I hone, so I am pretty sure on the shaving part when they leave. Now......all of us have different beard types and different abilities and techniques when shaving and stopping.

I have always told people, just to send me back a razor and I'll rehone it for them and send it back. No additional charges. This does not include razors that people have either dropped, chipped or screwed up honing themselves.......and trust me they have come back that way more than the other........lol.

Thanks.

Lynn