Thread: Seeking Guidance: Looking for my first straight razor!

Something I want to be clear about : the sacrificial blade and leather would be just "training dummies" they should no be used for actual shaving

Originally Posted by Risible

Thank you so much for your detailed response!

I had no idea that the strop and prep were also so important, I thought cream was just cream but it seems I was wildly mistaken. Thank you very much for your recommendations, I will look more closely at getting some soap and a brush while I look for a razor so that I can start learning ASAP!

I looked through the BST section early and it did not seem very active but maybe I just haven't figured out how to use it correctly yet. I will take another look through it thank you.

When I eventually start and my razor needs to be honed again where should I locate a "BONA FIDE COMMUNITY MEMBER"? Is this something you just make a post about and somebody replies with an offer?

Thanks again for all your help!

Risible

Yeah that is one way.

You will also as time goes by, notice that some guys hone a lot of razors for other members. Once you have enough posts for PM privileges, you can reach out to those guys, particularly those in your area. Sometimes there are meet n greets where members from a particular geographic area get together to swap lies and razors, and demonstrate or compare methods. Discussion forums are great places to meet enthusiasts in your area, many of whom are happy to have noobs visit for impromptu lessons and demos. Most straight shavers are incorrigible evangelists and enablers.

Most guys, by the time they have sent a razor out two or three times, decide to rock their own thing. Some guys start with two shave ready razors and when the first one is dull, they try their hand at refreshing the edge, while using the other one that is still sharp, for shaving. It might take a couple of weeks to get your first really satisfying edge. You won't save money. Well, you COULD, but you won't. Stones can get rather expensive. Your first 12k or natural finisher might easily cost 5x what your first razor costs. Or you could go with lapping film and get set for about $30, but only if you get the right stuff, and there is a lot of garbage out there.

Anyway, there is honing, and there is honing. Your gateway drug is simply refreshing your edges when they have grown a bit dull from normal use. In that case you only need a finishing stone such as the popular Naniwa Superstone 12k, or maybe 12µ <EDIT I meant to say 1µ not 12µ) type 261x plain back 3M lapping film over a 12" x 3" x 1.5" acrylic plate from TAP Plastics. A whole kit typically calls for 5 grades of film or synthetic stone, sometimes 4, and this lets you take in ebay rescues and hone them up from scratch. You really don't NEED to do all that, just equip yourself and learn how to refresh your edges on a good finisher, and buy all new to you razors in shave ready condition.