Thread: From your experience...

Gents,
I'm looking into, rather eagerly I might add, acquiring a str8 and strop to learn the art of the straight razor shave. I travel full time in my profession, and will be for at least another year, till I am ready to head overseas. I currently use DEs (I swapped to save money!) and get very good shaves with them, however the "mystique" has disappeared and I find myself looking more and more across the fence. However, because of my travels, I would like some help in gauging the practicality of undertaking this endeavor, especially since I already have an "itch" to restore old razors. I had a hobby of finding the vintage DEs, cleaning them up, and using them or passing them on - but they're hard to find now. So without further ado, here are the questions.

1) In your estimation, would the whole endeavor be practical at this time?

2) Which style of strop would be better, hanging or paddle? I have been looking at TM's apprentice strop, however I notice many people recommend a paddle for travel.

3) For the occasional touch ups, what would be the best means for my situation? Are the pasted paddles messy? Would a good stone be a more viable option?

4) Which style of hones would be the most conducive to travel, low maintainence, and preferrably non over honing (atleast till I learn the art)?

5) Are there any other considerations you can think of that I haven't mentioned?

I appreciate any and all advice in this matter.
BJ

welcome to SRP!

if you are going to be traveling a lot:

keep the initial cost of the razor low... things can get lost in luggage and the bag will have to be checked

look into Tony's vegan strop as it should be able to take packing better tan a leather one

for touch ups and light maintenance a yellow coticule is all you really need and is pretty good at preventing the over honed wire edge.

get two or 3 inexpensive (relatively) razors... and to minimize dampness issue consider stainless ones

You're not the only traveller aboard SRP so it sure can be done, just don't try and take them in your carry-on.

Syslight has given you some great advice. I'd follow it. Just make sure you pay for a quality coticule.

X

Thanks for the advice. I would like to clarify that I travel in a van (my family is with me) so considerations with flying with a razor are seldom an issue. However, that was very good advice and I'll keep it in mind as I will be flying solo to Alaska next Oct for a month. A yellow couticle for the touch ups, but what if I wanted something to do a little restoration on the side while on the road. I often see a lot of straights in the antique stores I visit across the country, and would like to pick some up and given them a second chance at the good life. Would a BBW be an easy stone to travel with or would the Norton 4k/ 8k be better? And what would be "best" for a bevel setter - a DMT, Shapton, or Norton 1k? I'm trying to get a good idea of the setup (and costs) of what I'll be purchasing in the future (year or so) that will work well for me on the road. I travel just about 350 days a year and would like a hobby to bring with me.

BJ

In your situation I might recommend a D8C for lapping, a D8E for setting bevels and removing chips, a Norton 4/8 for sharpening and a Chinese 12K for finishing. A regular hanging strop and some chrom ox.

Yes, theoretially you can fix razors with the coticule, but any significant chip and you'll be spending hours to get it out. But I've taken out 1/2 bevel deep chips few times just a coticule.
I think the 1k level hones you mention are fairly similar in speed, although I've only used DMT. I'd say start with either the norton, or the coticule and see how far you get with that and ad the 1k level hone later if you decide you need it. My pick would be the coticule because (1) I like the feedback and the nonporousity better (2) Doesn't need lapping as often as the norton does (3) doesn't need soaking.
I like the vintage belgians where the back is blue - fewer stones gives me the illusion that I'm in control of the HAD.

Originally Posted by JimmyH-AD

In your situation I might recommend a D8C for lapping, a D8E for setting bevels and removing chips, a Norton 4/8 for sharpening and a Chinese 12K for finishing. A regular hanging strop and some chrom ox.

+1 I consider these to be solid recommendation.
And oh by the way, WELCOME to SRP!