Thread: Anyone having trouble Down Under....ahem.

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.

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.

Originally Posted by The Kiwi

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.

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...