Thread: intro and question

Hey there!


Firestart put me on to this site and I've been reading and such and getting info as I'm looking to get into a SR. I'm up here in Toronto, Canada *waves*.

Lots of good info on here, and I'm getting my list narrowed down of what to get my first time out. Here's the question... for the razor, should I be going with a stainless or high carbon blade to start? I know that the stainless is harder to get sharp, but stays sharp longer. But is that suitable for a noob such as myself, or would a high carbon blade do me better to start with?

I'm not really interested in honing my own blade,at least at the start! That should save me a couple bucks on the things I need to buy list, no? And I can get to that bridge when I cross it (er... you know what I mean).

M

If you aren't honing it it doesn't really matter, especially as you haven't the experience to feel the difference on your face.

I would get what you can afford, or what Firestart recommends. You won't be steered wrong, that for sure.

Tim's advice is good. Welcome to the site! I would gently steer you to the carbon blade because, you will, indeed, end up trying your own hand at honing that blade and carbons are usually easier to hone and get sharper than their shinier cousins. Firestart is a great reference - use him as well.

Thanks fellas...

Was wondering now, what exactly is sheffield silver steel? Just another name for stainless? I will be honing eventually, but just wanted to focus on the other stuff first.

And will I notice a big difference between a 5/8 and a 6/8? My beard hairs are very coarse/tough, and I have never achieved a baby's bottom smooth shave with any blade or electric before. Does the size of blade make a big difference in how well a blade shaves? Maneuverability?

M

Welcome aboard. I guess you were looking at Thiers-Issard blades. AFIK they're still carbon steel blades. The silver part could be just from the finish they put on them or other alloying elements (most likely not silver lol).
6/8 is a good size for starting because it's the cutoff mark between small blades and large monstrosities. Even a 4/8 blade will give you a clean shave, so what really matters is what you're most comfortable with maneuvering around your face.
If there is a difference between carbon and stainless steels, it isn't very pronounced. I've had stainless blades that honed up easily and carbon blades that took me forever to hone.

Originally Posted by fuguist

Thanks fellas...

Was wondering now, what exactly is sheffield silver steel? Just another name for stainless? I will be honing eventually, but just wanted to focus on the other stuff first.

And will I notice a big difference between a 5/8 and a 6/8? My beard hairs are very coarse/tough, and I have never achieved a baby's bottom smooth shave with any blade or electric before. Does the size of blade make a big difference in how well a blade shaves? Maneuverability?

M

Size does not make the difference.
The way you use it does!!!

Originally Posted by Wildtim

If you aren't honing it it doesn't really matter, especially as you haven't the experience to feel the difference on your face.

I would get what you can afford, or what Firestart recommends. You won't be steered wrong, that for sure.

Tim, this was your post #666

Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: A2 Michigan
Posts: 666

I don't think you'll be able to tell the difference between 5/8 and 6/8, at least not for the first few months, if your skills are like most of us. That said I'd go for 6/8 - sounds like just a bit more fun and as ilija said it's got best of both worlds (why did that clerks joke came to my mind....)

With regards to silver steel - check this thread http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=15106.

So I'd join with everybody else - buy whatever you can afford and takes your fancy. If you want check with ilija or this board once you think you know what is this. You can find out your preferences later once you've mastered the basics.

Ahh, excellent...

Wouldn't you know I found the silver steel thread mere moments after I posted in this one?


I think I have enough info to make an informed choice now... time to start browsing!

One question more - at the risk of getting ahead of myself, but I haven't figured it out yet: honing pyramids? I am not fathoming what a pyramid is. (Is fathoming even a word? It is now!) I get that when honing each pass is one forward and one back and you do several passes on varying grit stones... but theres a lot of mention of pyramids and, well... what does it mean?

(The entire previous paragraph was a long winded way of me telling you I'm dense... gee, I get long winded on a saturday evening. I need to go out.... I think I will.)

There are some great resources in the documents section of the library accesable from the home page of the site. there are some great honing articles there as well as photos and diagrams.

Happy reading