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  1. 06-04-2008, 07:58 PM #1
    timsackbutt
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    Default Newbie questions

    Hello,

    I'm a complete beginner with straights... in fact I don't even have a razor.. yet.
    I do have one coming soon via German eBay, a Revisor 6/8, and I have some bids open on a Friodur, and Noelle, neither of which I expect to win, but you never know...

    I do have good kit in brushes and soaps and mugs, since I got into DE shaving a while ago. One motivation to get into openrazors is the fact that I'm married to a Böker (not of the Solingen variety but the name does have certain resonance around this forum). But I don't want to get ahead of myself. I need to get a strop and would appeciate some advice on that. It's easy enough to find one on eBay but what sort of quality can I expect? Strops by Tony Miller have been recommended via B&B.

    Took a good look at the local Henckels Zwilling shop here in The Hague, where they had several razors available, but the woman there did not have a clue about them. Also very pricey. There are some vendors in Leiden (Scheerwinkel) and Breukelen (Barbershop Classics) here in Holland that I may look into. It seems I might do well to avoid the Koordenwinkel in Antwerp according to some postings here???

    Honing... yes I'll get my razor(s) honed properly before I start and I'm not intending to do that myself just yet. Will be needing a bit of advice on that.

    So basically I need a strop and learn how to use it, and some moral support which I'm sure will be abundant!

    Anyway, greetings from an expat Aussie in The Hague.
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  2. 06-04-2008, 08:33 PM #2
    psdarby
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    Default

    First off, good luck with your ebay aquisitions. I hope they work out well for you. As far as the strop goes, TM would be a good choice. Most really good strops are made of Russian leather, and even a used one in fair condition can usually be reconditioned. I personally use dovo and TI strops and find both brands work very well for me. Hope this helps.
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  3. 06-04-2008, 10:02 PM #3
    Jimbo
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    Default

    Ditto on the Tony Miller Strop. I had the opportunity of seeing and using Tony's Latigo yesterday (thanks Bill), and it's the goods, let me tell you. As far as learning how to strop, there's a few videos around and plenty of threads on the mechanics of it. For example, check out Scott's (honedright) video: Stropping


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  • 06-04-2008, 11:11 PM #4
    Bart
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    Welcome to SRP.

    I'm not affiliated with the "Koordenwinkel" in Antwerp, but it saddens me that they seem to have a bad reputation on this forum. I' ve bought my first razor at their online store and have visited the shop a few weeks later. I personally know 2 people that followed the shaving course hosted by the "Koordenwinkel". (One of them is a professional hairdresser, that wanted to extend services to her male customers, with the treat of a good old-style shave). The owners, Robert Chevalier and his wife, are very forthcoming people that truly run their business with their heart, which has become a rare quality in modern days. Their honing methods are considered controversial by some on this forum, although their method gives good and consisting results. They follow guidelines from Dovo, the famous German razor company. You can bring your grandfathers old razor to the store and they will hone it for you, for free. They don't even expect you to buy anything, although it is hard to resist, 'cause they carry a beautiful line of all sorts of nostalgic products, all of outstanding quality.
    Sorry to linger on about this, but I like to set the record straight for them, because they have not deserved their reputation.

    Dovo sells good strops. You're very likely to nick your strop a couple of times during the learning phase. Therefore it is often advised to buy a basic stop from one of the reputed brands, whether that's Tony Millers, Dovo, or TI. I find it important that it has a canvas side, 'cause that really makes a difference. Some people never strop on canvas, though. But if you haven't got one, how are you ever gonna find that important issue out for yourself?

    Revisors and Friodurs both are superb razors.

    Kind regards,
    Bart
    Last edited by Bart; 06-05-2008 at 08:00 AM.
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  • 06-05-2008, 05:40 AM #5
    timsackbutt
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    Well perhaps next time I'm in Antwerpen I should take a look at the Koordenwinkel myself instead of relying on 2e hand information. In fact I am going to Antwerpen later this month. A good excuse.
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