Thread: Learning new things

Yes, shaving with, honing and stropping a straight razor all look deceptively easy to do properly. Once I got a handle on those things I did find the whole thing a rewarding experience. Much more so than any other form of shaving.

If you are getting a new razor to learn to shave with, consider that current production straight razors have earned a hit and miss reputation for factory edges being "shave ready" out of the box. Some may still need a final tuning to be good to go.

Bob

One of the first things you will need to learn is that there is sharp, as in so-called "shaving sharp" where the blade will remove arm hair at skin level, and there is actual shave-ready sharp, where the razor will be capable of giving a reasonably close and quite comfortable face shave in the hands of a reasonably skilled user. After being stored for so long, it is likely that they could use a touchup on what we call a finishing stone or film.

Here is a good test for you to try. Sweep the razor 1/4" ABOVE the skin of your forearm. If it is crazy insane sharp it will "treetop" nearly every hair it encounters, without disturbing the base of the hair or making any faint "tink" sounds. Extremely unlikely you would have this level of edge as it is very difficult to acheive in the first place, and 15 years of normal oxidation would knock it down a bit anyway. Next level of sharpness would have the razor getting several hairs in one pass, but with enough sound and hair shaft disturbance to notice. This is still pretty darn sharp. Next level would be where the razor gets one or two hairs per pass. That is a good edge and most skilled honers can get a razor this sharp if they really want to. But maybe it doesn't treetop at all at 1/4" above the skin. Well, if it will treetop at about 1/8" then it should still give you a decent shave. This is about the level of sharpness most guys mean when they say shave-ready, and is a typical level of sharpness for a professionally honed edge. A pro can't spend hours on one razor, obviously, so sharp enough to give you a decent shave is sometimes all you get. Now if it won't treetop at all at 1/8" but it still mows hair down quite well at skin level or maybe treetops at barely above the skin, it will shave if you do your part but it isn't what I would consider shave ready. You can shave with your pocketknife, but it won't be nothing nice, probably. Now this treetopping test, like pretty much all sharpness tests, is rather subjective and depends a lot on your sweep technique, and hair length and texture, but generally the metrics I have listed will be in the ballpark. And your personal results should be repeatable from one razor to the next.

The sharpness test that matters the most of course is the actual shave. However, until you are reasonably skilled in the use of the straight razor, that test won't mean very much. This is why it is best to learn to shave first, with a verifiably shave ready razor, and only then attempt to learn to hone a razor. You need that point of reference and some experience in wielding an actual shave ready razor.

Your razors should be quite satisfactory for shaving, once they are tested and found to be shave ready, or more likely touched up by a knowledgeable honer. Lots of guys regularly shave with razors that are 150 or even 200 years old. 100 year old razors are rather the norm. I don't recognize the "Flic" brand but Gotta is a recognized trademark and the quality should be satisfactory. Vintage razors are very popular for several reasons, not the least of which is cost. A new Solingen razor is going to start at around $90 or so for sort of an entry level blade, as an example. But a razor from the 20's or 30's might be found in good shape for 1/3 that price, if you are lucky and search diligently.

Practically NO new razors, in spite of claims by the maker, are actually shave ready. Well, very few anyway. Unless the vendor honed it prior to the sale. Some few do, and many do on request. Sellers of vintage razors often present razors as shave ready when they are in fact not. The average ebay seller does not know what shave ready means, and could not possibly make an edge shave-ready, and probably doesn't even know how to shave with a straight razor, and 50/50 chance doesn't shave at all, being of the fairer sex. (Some few, very few, women do shave their legs with straight razors, yeah, but still this is pretty rare.) So take claims of shave readiness with a grain of salt, and verify a seller by asking on this or another straight razor forum. Razors offered for sale shave ready in Buy/Sell/Trade sections of online forums are usually a safe bet since reputations are at stake and the seller is known to the membership in general. There are guys who take in honing, some for free just cause they like to do it, some for money, which can be very cheap as in around $10 or $15, or some that charge quite a bit more. This may just be a cost you have to bear, initially. After one or two outside honings, you should be far enough along that you can learn to hone your own razors.

So anyway, looks like you need a proper strop, and also to have one or both of your razors honed. I assume you already have a good shave brush and know how to make a good lather, how to stretch the skin, map your face, regulate your pressure and manage the shave in general. If not, you have a little more homework to do, but I think you will find that it is all worth the effort to be a part of this very manly and elite world of the straight razor.

Good Luck, and Happy Shaves!

The one message I seem to keep getting is don't assume - several things - the razors.i have I took to save them from a landfill. The previous owner was clearing out cupboards and didn't want them. Flic razors were made by Max Voos in Germany for export. Mainly to Australia and New Zealand. At the time they were supposedly a better than average razor. They may not have been used for 50 years plus and there is no way I would shave with them now. Would rather shave with a rusty spoon. They do not pass any sort of test. It was more a remark that even after all those years they still held some sort of edge and still able to remove hair off my arm.
Yes I will need a strop and a good brush, I used one with a double edge butterfly razor for years. Have most of the holding skin etc enough to not cut my own throat too badly. As far as honing goes after seeing the prices on these brand razors in similar condition I plan on buying one or two cheap old razors to learn to hone on. Stones for honing looks like a whole new nightmare but again research and comment from members here will be used to help make decisions.
I will look for someone to hone them at least the first time so in the future there will be a good starting point for me.
As I said I don't plan to rush this and stuff it up. I may even see if I can find a barber that does shaves

Welcome and glad to see you have been doing some reading and learning. You mensioned that the razors shave hair on your arm. Testing a razor (which you will learn) with arm hair is what is called tree topping. See if the razor will cut the hair 1/2" above the skin. With the hairs standing up and nothing to support them besides themselves a decent edge will grab abd pop the hairs right off. When it cuts the hairs standing is when your sharp. But this is only one test and you have to learn what your feeling and seeing and hearing when its done.

I have a Flic razors and find it a decent razor. Vintage is all i own. And learning to hone take time, days, months, so dont get in a hurry. Shave with a pro honed razor only when your new. And if you buy new be sure to send it out for honing as shave ready is not a factory machined edge.

If i knew where you were i might be able to help. Many here are willing to help but without even knowing what part of the world your in...

Thanks as I said earlier it is all about learning I have the time and enjoy developing new skills and playing with new toys.

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Thanks for posting the pic of the Flic razor. The telltale sign of quality is that it has a 3rd pin. It seems that in the old days a razor having a 3rd pin was a sign that the manufacturer took some pride in his work.
I think you have 2 good quality razors to start with.

You've come to the right place to learn! There are lots of members here that really know what they're talking about when it comes to razor honing and are very willing to help.

I also came to razors from a knife background. As said, some of the skills translate, but many do not. I've found razors to be a very different animal when it comes to honing. One of my big "light-bulb" moments was realizing how little pressure it takes to flex the blade and raise the apex off the stone.

Videos are a great start, but they don't help with the subtle feel of the blade on the stone and how your hold and stroke affect the edge.

I got serious about learning razor honing five or six months ago and am just starting to consistently get edges close to ones honed by folks here on the forum. I complicated things for myself a bit by working with multiple grinds, brands, and blades that needed restorative honing . If you stick to one or two blades for practice you'll likely get there sooner.

Not all knife guys give up . Enjoy the journey.

I haven't read every single post all the way through but I know from what I posted it sounds like you're having a lot of people say "don't do this don't do that" and it can sound like people are trying to discourage you but it's actually quite the opposite. At least that's what it sounds like I'm saying when I say it... know what I'm saying? seriously though I think most of us didn't come here because we said "hey I think I want to do that " I think a good portion of the people came here because they were already straight shaving but had questions about one thing or another or were looking for information about a razor or a strop, or stone etc. At least I know that's how it was for me. I guess I can't really speak for anyone else but I think you'll find that most of us came here with what we had managed to learn on our own or what someone showed us and then said "whoa I guess there's a lot more to this than I realized." He was actually quite humbling for me to find out how much I didn't know. That is where the cautionary posts are coming from. You'll do fine. People just want to see you succeed and they really do genuinely want to help you get there.

Thanks for the encouragement. I found that getting a superfine edge on a knife was also about touch and feel depending on the knife and stone. I expect razors to be even more subtle. Is nice to have my suspicions confirmed.