Thread: Just Starting

Hello everyone. I'm new to straight razor shaving and this forum looks like a good place to come up to speed. I found myself increasing dissatisfied with the quality of shave from my Mach III not to mention the never ending expense. I started looking at other options and concluded that I could either have an electric chew my face off or shave with a deadly weapon. Who wouldn't want to learn the art of shaving with a weapon. And thats why i'm here.

I purchased an HM Christiansen off ebay for 15 bucks. Wasn't sharp enouch to cut butter. So i began some basic research into honing and found that there's a lot more to this. Most of the opinions here detail taking things step by step so thats the approach i'll take. I've got plenty of time to pick up honing down the road.

From what i've read in the forums, it looks like i'll be sending out some PM's to buy my equipment from some members here. I look forward to mastering this skill and meeting some new people in the process.

chris

Hi and welcome to the forum. I would keep an eye out in the B/S/T forum for a shave ready razor. Kenrup sometimes has beginner razors at very reasonable prices and has beginner strops also.
Traveler has nicer vintage razors that he has reconditioned and speaking from experience, they are beautiful (a little pricier, but beautiful). The downside is the price, the upside is that you can return the blade if not satisfied and he provides free honing (you pay the postage both ways) as often as you need it. The honing feature can be a definite plus if you are just starting out.

Good luck, keep us posted on your progress.

christiansen should be a good razor and yes you'll need it honed before you can shave with it. there are many people who provide honing services for a modest price, if your razor doesn't have any issues, like chips on the edge, rust/pitting it can probably go straight to honing.
read the stickies if you haven't yet and that should get you started.
you'll also need a strop - tony miller has great strops and recently kenrup has started making nice looking strops as well.

enjoy

Thanks for the info & advice. I've contacted both gugi & kenrup and i'll start from there.

cel