A pleasure to meet all of you!

Hello everyone

I have just registered with this site and wanted to say say hi!

My name is Dave and I live in Toronto Canada, and my facination with straight razors began a few weeks ago while my best freind and I were discussing the benifits of electric shavers, which I was considering buying at the time.

I currently do not own, nor have I ever used a straight, but I have been doing lots of research on the net and contacting various knife shops and tobacconists (who always seem to have a few....) and will be purchasing a straight in thext few months. (That is, if Santa doesn't bring me one!!!)

I have already had an expert in a cigar shoppe tell me a disposable is waste of money, and probably perfectly good skin, so my studying is paying off!!

I look forward to this purchase and am glad to have a website like this to ask questions to you experts!

Speaking of which, I am curious......... In my shopping, I have noticed most beginner sets contain strops, but rarely "stones". However, in just about every video I have seen of straight-blade sharpening, the host is using a stone.

So...... do I have to have a stone to keep my blade sharp??

Thanks very much, hope to chat with you all soon!!!

- Dave, Toronto Ontario

Welcome, Dave.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by juggler007

So...... do I have to have a stone to keep my blade sharp??

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This might answer your question: What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Quote:

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Originally Posted by juggler007

Thanks very much, hope to chat with you all soon!!!

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Actually, the chat is over here.

A hearty welcome to SRP. Very good questions about razors and hones.

First thing is to read through the forums on this site. Lots of stickies that have invaluable information for beginners. Also, if it's within your budget, buy Lynn's CD. It's over 3 hours long, and packed with information on most all aspects of straight razors. It really is a good investment.

For razors, I also recommend a few sources that your previous advisors would not have attempted. One sourse is the classifieds on this site. There are many, many razors for less than $75, and most come shave ready (it will state so in the ad). They are good razors at a reasonable price. Look at something like a 5/8 or 6/8 round point. That size razor is a good one to learn on. Yeah, there are some very sexy looking razors there. But you don't one of those for your first razor. I purchased my first razor from a member here. It wasn't the flashiest razor, but it was a good one to learn from. I now own 5 razors.

Kenrup (a member here) has some very good starter sets reasonably priced.

At a minimum you will need the following:

1. Shave ready razor
2. Strop (hanging is best, but a paddle will work too)
3. Brush (can be had for less than $10)
4. Shave soap/cream (personal preference)

Someone else can address hones for you because I am just starting to learn honing.

Thank you! That's fantastic advice, I appreciate the feedback!

Robin has set you on the right path. FYI, FiReSTaRT is in your neck of the woods and a few others. Meeting with members can be a great way to advance the learning curve. if I were still there I'd invite you over for tea. I used to live in Parkdale.

X

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Originally Posted by dward

A hearty welcome to SRP. Very good questions about razors and hones.

First thing is to read through the forums on this site. Lots of stickies that have invaluable information for beginners. Also, if it's within your budget, buy Lynn's CD. It's over 3 hours long, and packed with information on most all aspects of straight razors. It really is a good investment.

For razors, I also recommend a few sources that your previous advisors would not have attempted. One sourse is the classifieds on this site. There are many, many razors for less than $75, and most come shave ready (it will state so in the ad). They are good razors at a reasonable price. Look at something like a 5/8 or 6/8 round point. That size razor is a good one to learn on. Yeah, there are some very sexy looking razors there. But you don't one of those for your first razor. I purchased my first razor from a member here. It wasn't the flashiest razor, but it was a good one to learn from. I now own 5 razors.

Kenrup (a member here) has some very good starter sets reasonably priced.

At a minimum you will need the following:

1. Shave ready razor
2. Strop (hanging is best, but a paddle will work too)
3. Brush (can be had for less than $10)
4. Shave soap/cream (personal preference)

Someone else can address hones for you because I am just starting to learn honing.

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+1 Dward has provided excellent advise.
If you are looking for a hone and you have razors that are in shave-ready condition, then I would recommend a yellow coticule for the occasional touch up of your razor.

Hello and welcome from one new straight razor to another. I couldn't wait for santa, bought my razor about a week ago. Did my whole face today and still have all my parts! I have all the gear except the sharpening stones. I'm going to put off the sharpening part and send my razor out to be honed by a pro. Just until I feel I have comfortably mastered the art of the shave. Then move on to sharpening. Which means I get to shop for a second Razor! YaHoo!
danny