Thread: Want to get started with straight razor shaving

Hey everyone, I have been wanting to start using a straight razor for some time now. I'm just fed up with my mach3, the blades dull far too fast and cost way too much.

I bought a De Fi blade on ebay quite a while ago but it's not sharp enough to shave and I don't have the tools or experience to do it. I think it's a 4/8 or 5/8, but I haven't measured it. I don't really like the feel of the razor though, it's too light for me. The razor is nice and tight in the scales and the blade edge does not touch them.

I have been using a brush and soap for quite a few years now and I love it. I started out with my dad's synthetic brush (thing is 48 years old now) but i've moved on to a cheap bristle brush ($5). I actually liked the other one better but the handle cracked and the stuff that holds the fibers is dried up and cracking. I use Williams Shaving Soap and had also used a tub of Truefitt & Hill at one point. I'm thinking of ordering some of the soap I've seen recommended here (Colleen's and Mama Bear). At some point I will buy a better brush, just not yet.

Oh! How do you get the stench out of those boar bristle brushes? That's another of the reasons I liked the synthetic brush better.

I wait at least 2 days between shaves because otherwise my face hurts, and if I shave the next day my neck will bleed.

So basically I'm in need of a shave ready razor and a strop at the very least. I do have some Fromm strop paste somewhere. I'm going to buy a scuttle (I currently use my empty Truefitt & Hill tub for my soap) and a better brush sometime in the future.

What would you all recommend? Any additional advice?

Here is a link for a site that sells some very nice scuttles, and from what I read (on another site) they can and will personalize it for you. Georgetown Pottery: Shaving Scuttle

Their phone number is 866-936-7687
Their email is [email protected]

Ash

Originally Posted by elvisland

Oh! How do you get the stench out of those boar bristle brushes? That's another of the reasons I liked the synthetic brush better.

I wait at least 2 days between shaves because otherwise my face hurts, and if I shave the next day my neck will bleed.

So basically I'm in need of a shave ready razor and a strop at the very least. I do have some Fromm strop paste somewhere. I'm going to buy a scuttle (I currently use my empty Truefitt & Hill tub for my soap) and a better brush sometime in the future.

What would you all recommend? Any additional advice?

Here is a link for a site that sells some very nice scuttles, and from what I read (on another site) they can and will personalize it for you. Georgetown Pottery: Shaving Scuttle

Their phone number is 866-936-7687
Their email is [email protected]

Ash

As for your brush, you can soak it in some borax soap a few times and that should help.

As for a razor: if you are interested in an entry-level razor, then Kenrup has an entry-level razor and strop that you can purchase.
If you want a razor from any of the other vendor sites, most offer professional honing services for an additioinal $20 or so. This should put your razor in shave-ready condition.
The Georgetown Pottery scuttle is a nice piece of pottery work and does the job nicely. The third generation scuttle that is currently for sale is a little small for me but the second generation scuttle seems to have a much better depth for my needs. The G2 scuttle is not made so water can flow under the bowl but I do not find this to really impact the heat of my lather.

Oh, and your current blade can be sent out to one of the honemeisters to have it cleaned up and sharpened. It is made of good steel, just needs some work.

Good luck! Let us know if you have any other questions...

Check the Vendor's section here, and here, and here. The scuttle is a nice item, but a luxury you can put off for a while. What you need to get started is a well-honed, shave-ready razor, and a strop. The Wapis are 5/8+, and pretty hefty, especially with the original metal scales. The DA's are 6/8+, but a little more hollow-ground than the Wapis, and with plastic scales. Tony Miller's apprentice or travel strop is excellent value, but you might want to put that off for a while. Whichever one you order the razor from, you should probably send in your current razor to them to be honed, and shipped back with your order. All three of these gentlemen are respected members here with a recognized reputation, the kind of people you would like to do business with. I have 3 Wapis and 2 Double Arrows myself, and they are really good shavers, can't go wrong with either.

For a brush, any of the Syntex (white) brushes on this page is a good buy. While there's nothing quite like a good badger brush, these are a good inexpensive substitute, and they don't smell..... To spread out the shipping costs, you might want to check out the Arko shave sticks, and also the other soaps and creams, which are excellent.

I have personal experience with the specific people and products mentioned above, and I'm quite happy with all of them. FWIW, YMMV, etc.

Originally Posted by fritz

...Tony Miller's apprentice or travel strop is excellent value, but you might want to put that off for a while. ...

Just to be perfectly clear, you do need a strop of some sort to get started. But if you're on a budget, you might get one in the kit from Kenrup, and wait a little for Tony's.

Originally Posted by netsurfr

Oh, and your current blade can be sent out to one of the honemeisters to have it cleaned up and sharpened. It is made of good steel, just needs some work.

Good luck! Let us know if you have any other questions...

Thanks for the advice all of you. I'll find a different razor to use for practicing honing later on and send the DeFi out for honing when I get a chance.

I'll be sure to pick up a strop also.

Any other things I may need or advice for me?

Ash

Originally Posted by fritz

Just to be perfectly clear, you do need a strop of some sort to get started. But if you're on a budget, you might get one in the kit from Kenrup, and wait a little for Tony's.

You can actually get away with using newspaper to strop for a short time while waiting on a strop... I won't recommend anything other than a Tony Miler strop. They are easily the best value in strops I've seen.

As for razors, I started with a De-Fi, they are very smooth shavers.
Yours looks like it has a bit of a frown, so I would strongly encourage you to send it to a professional, and I would suggest getting a second razor as a back up. Several members here sell Wapis, which are heavier razors, and reasonably priced, or you can watch the B/S/T section with reasonable confidence.

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

You can actually get away with using newspaper to strop for a short time while waiting on a strop... I won't recommend anything other than a Tony Miler strop. They are easily the best value in strops I've seen.

As for razors, I started with a De-Fi, they are very smooth shavers.
Yours looks like it has a bit of a frown, so I would strongly encourage you to send it to a professional, and I would suggest getting a second razor as a back up. Several members here sell Wapis, which are heavier razors, and reasonably priced, or you can watch the B/S/T section with reasonable confidence.

Which of Tony's strops would you suggest? I noticed he offers a practice strop for an additional 6.50 which I would definitely get.

As far as razors, from what I've read here I think i'd like to go with a 1/4 to 1/2 grind instead of a full hollow. Any suggestions on where to get something like this? I'll be sure to let a professional hone the razor I have and any razor I get, I'll practice and learn in time but I want to start out with something done right.

One last thing, I had trouble with taking a good picture of the end of the razor. The 2 I took came out ok but I had to take them at a slight angle. Anyone have some advice on how to get a better pic?

Ash

Originally Posted by elvisland

Oh! How do you get the stench out of those boar bristle brushes? . . .

Dawn dishwashing soap took the "weasel butt" smell out of my badger brushes.

My wife suggested it to me. They use Dawn at her veterinary clinic on some of the patients with . . . odor problems. Works pretty well.

Scott

Whats with the wigs????

Originally Posted by Don

Whats with the wigs????

Suspect it's spam. Oddly enough he's been thanked twice.