Handy Things to Have?

Hi, I'm Jordan, I'm new around here, new to straights, and eagerly watching the mail for my supplies to arrive. In all of my hobbies and in my work, I often find caring for the equipment and doing some tinkering to be the best part. Once I've gotten a handle on the shaving, I'd like to start looking into doing restorations and making scales.


A quick question for those of us who are new to it all: looking around the forums, I've gotten a good idea of the basic equipment required (razor, brush, mug, soap, strop, etc.), what else do you find handy to have around? Here I'm thinking supplies for the care and cleaning, or any of those little tips that everyone develops through time ("I like to keep a little.... on hand").

Thanks,

Jordan

Hmm, well its nice to have alcohol around to help dry and clean the blade while restoring and during regular use, also a little oil in the pivot and on blade while storing helps fight rust. I glad i had Krazy glue around when I restored my blade...I got a nice cut on my thumb but wanted to finih, so i glued it up to make it watertight and kept on sanding.:cool:

Alum block - Comes in handy for nicks. Castle Forbes pre shave - this stuff is great. Makes your shave super comfortable. Especially when shaving without a shower first.

Alcohol 91% or better, mineral oil (or camellia, aka tea seed cooking oil), newspaper for edge drying and touch-up, styptic pencil, a black marker, and a plastic pencil box with a small packet of dessicant to store my razors in.

Edit: and a pack of DE razor blades to keep my TPT calibrated...

I agree with all of the above and maybe a handheld lighted microscope.

At some point I recommend using only one razor, one hone, and one strop. You'll learn a lot when you eliminate all the potential variables and simplify things.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sticky

Alcohol 91% or better, mineral oil (or camellia, aka tea seed cooking oil), newspaper for edge drying and touch-up, styptic pencil, a black marker, and a plastic pencil box with a small packet of dessicant to store my razors in.

Edit: and a pack of DE razor blades to keep my TPT calibrated...

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TPT?

What's the black marker for?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sticky

Alcohol 91% or better, mineral oil (or camellia, aka tea seed cooking oil), newspaper for edge drying and touch-up, styptic pencil, a black marker, and a plastic pencil box with a small packet of dessicant to store my razors in.

Edit: and a pack of DE razor blades to keep my TPT calibrated...

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What do you use the marker for?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by foundlingofdollar

TPT?

What's the black marker for?

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Looks like we both had the same question at the same time. :)

TPT is the "thumb pad test".

The black marker is used when sharpening, in combination with the TNT (thumb nail test). Helps you make sure the edge is really set all along it's entire length. Also helps you learn a good honing stroke on smiling edges or regular ones on the higher grits. See the FAQS in the Honing forum section for more detail.

I'm another big proponent of keeping it simple. My current normal routine only changes if I am testing something or otherwise just playing around.

Good luck & enjoy your straights.

If you plan on doing your own honing, you will need some kind of progression of hones. This is a very personal thing so I will not even attempt to tell you what you should do here. I have way more than I need and am still learning.