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Hi,
I am finding it very difficult to source products in NZ. Does anyone have any good contacts for strop pastes and the like????
No-one I speak to stocks anything like water based diamond pastes or chromium oxide or paddle strops or anything other than cosmetics, so any help would be appreciated.
Suggestions so far have ranged from valve grinding paste to sand-paper. Awesome work fellas, but no.....
Thanks,
AJP
Go to a woodworking store and buy some honing compounds. They come in a stick form. The green is chrome oxide and is finer than the other stuff. Be sure to mix the compound 50/50 with some oil/hand creme/strop conditioner to dilute it. You want very little on the leather. Two pea sized drops of the mixture should be enough. Let it dry overnite.
If the razor feels sticky when you use it on the pasted strop then you have to much. Just wipe it off with a paper towel.
Some guys use automotive rubbing paste
The woodworking store should also have something called "Rottenstone" ( not pumice, it is to coarse). This also works very well and I like that the best of the above. Again, use sparingly.
Hope this helps,:)
Hope this helps
Finally another Kiwi, hopefully you will stick around. :D
I'm not sure how much luck you will have finding stuff in NZ, so you may have to order from classicshaving.com
JMHO.
EDIT: I just saw, you joined in October and I already made pretty much the same comment about the availability of shaving equipment. LOL
You can order from www.handamerican.com
He has a number of the pastes.
Thanks guys. There is a decent woodwork store here (Carbatec) so I will give them a go. I am going for the local option first as postage from the States is not so cool when it is twice the value of the product!!!
And Old_School, I hope to stick around too. First shaves have been a shocker as the blade is not sharp enough. First shave removed nothing but still managed to make skin sore. Second shave was a mixed blessing of some actual shaving before cutting a finger. I need some serious improvement in level of sharpness to even attempt tackling the chin!!!
Hi Gluegun,
There's a few shaving supplies places here in Oz - I don't know what shipping across the Tasman costs, but feel free to PM me if I can help.
James.
Thanks Jimbo,
PM sent.
Apologies for reviving an old thread for my first post, but I just wanted to let Old-School and Gluegun know that another New Zealander has joined up.
Gluegun, I am interested to know how you got on finding a local supplier, espicially for honing compounds.
Trying to find quality shaving gear (actually any shaving gear) at reasonable prices here is turning into a bit of a nightmare. I know of one place that has several strops and a couple of new Dovo's. However, their cheapest strop is a very basic dovo strop for NZ$250!!! You don't want to ask about the cost of the razors!!
Unfortunataly, between the exchange rate and the cost of shipping, buying through the US is turning into a rather costly affair.
Welcome to SRP.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Kiwi
Just thought I'd quickly say, even with the exchange rate the way it is for that kind of tin, you should quite easily be able to get yourself a refurbished and shave ready straight from BST (Pun intended), a good strop from Tony Miller, some of Colleen's wonderful soaps and a copy of Lynn's DVD. All shipped.
I was surprised when I checked the exchange today, coz just a couple weeks ago, it was the strongest I seen it in a very long time.
Good luck.
EDIT: If you haven't already, you should sign up for the NooB giveaway.
Good to know there are some others from NZ on the forum. As for getting anything besides crap brushes and some modest shaving creams there really isn't much in NZ. Total salon supplies (look them up in yellow/white pages) have a strop for about $70 i think, not sure on specs though. Trying to find a hone is pointless as even if they can get it in for you it costs between an arm and a leg. Classic shaving is your best bet as you can grab a bunch of things all at once rather than getting them from separate suppliers, i.e getting a hone and a brush and strop saves you money than trying to buy cheapest from multiple sites.
Only my 2c really, if you do find a place in NZ with stuff pm me please, I'm in palmy so supplies are pretty scarce...:shrug:
I thought this thread was about straight razor shaving below the belt. Imagine my reaction to the thought of that!
Hi Old-School and Shimmy.
Yes you are right the exchange rate is the best it has been for quite a while, although it is still surprising just how much it adds on when you are getting several things.
I ordered some things from classic shaving a while ago but am kicking myself that I didn't get a few extra bits at the same time. In particular I wish I had got some diamond pastes as the postage doesn't really justify ordering them on their own. Will just to wait untill I have saved up for another purchase.
Shimmy, I am just down the road in Wellington. There is actually a reasonable selection of soaps, creams and brushes here. Let me know if you want something picked up and I can always post it up. Otherwise let me know if you are coming down and I can let you know the best places I have found to look. But yes as for hones or strops don't even bother looking.
Kasperitis, lol, sorry to disapoint!
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Kiwi
I wasn't disappointed. I was relieved. :-P
Kasperitis, you weren't the only one who clicked on this one thinking "bikini area" shaving...
I'm certain there are folks on this forum who would readily admit enjoying a good video of lovelies str8 shaving "down under".
(if you have anything worth sharing, PM me!) :w
Just a bit of an update on the local sourcing front.
Carbatec (.co.nz or 09 274 9454) do a couple of honing compounds. They will ship out a catalogue to you, which is great too if you are into your woodworking.
The first is a polishing paste by Pfeil, and comes in a 450g tube for $39 (+ around 30% to include conversion from AUD and postage). The other is an unbranded blade honing compound and comes in a bar. This is $20 (+30% etc) for 180g and contains chromium oxide and "other" abrasives.
Both could work, but like any of the other products I have found in NZ it is hard to know what grit size we are looking at e.g. Rotorua Lapidary do a very fine grit product called Crystalite A (or something similar) that is used for polishing rocks. I asked them if they had a spec on the grit size, but this was clearly too hard.
I don't know.
In the end I have gone with a pre-pasted strop with diamond compounds and taken the hit with the multiple ordering from the States (Yes, over-cautious would be fairly accurate!!!!). Now please excuse me while I check my account......
In OZ (Sydney) there is a place in a big mall near bondi junction, called the Shave Shop I think. They had a couple of Dovo's and some yellow paste, perhaps they ship. Just another option. I'm here on a little vacation, (avoiding some Canadian winter I went from -26C to +26C), and found this shop by accident.
Gotta go, I'm off to the beach.
G
Gluegun,
Thanks for the update. Looks like you have put quite a bit of effort into this as well.
I took a hit a short while ago a got a norton 4/8k in, but would really like something to finish with. I actually have some Dovo red and green paste which I got at the same time that I am yet to try out, but I have also resigned myself that it will be back to importing something from the US. I really need a better strop to so I may go knocking on Tony's door. Gonna have to save a few pennies first though.
Gomez, thanks for that, I think I have seen a website for the shaving shop. Hope you are enjoying the holiday.
I'm amazed nobody has said it already. Some of you have hinted at it but my auld man would be ashamed of me if I DIDNT take the bait and say...
"I've never had any troubles down under. No sir, i've never had any complaints ;)"
Well come on, someone had to say it. It may as well be me :D
:roflmao
Hey Kiwi,
Another option for a strop is on trade-me. Not the old, scuffed, nicked and nasty ones, but there is a lady who sells new shearing strops. It's no good as is, but can be modified with a swivel and decent handle. $20 buy now price. Let me know if this sounds likely for you and I will let you know how I went with it. There are a couple of things I would have done differently, but I have ended up with a pretty decent strop, all things considered. Photo's available on request!!!
The downside is you don't end up with a Tony Miller....and that would be a shame. His 4 sided paddle looks like a good all rounder if you want something for pasting and a side left for plain stropping.