Thread: Hi I'm new here and could use some advice...

I havnt bought a razor yet or even a shave kit.
but I really need some advice on the following;

can anyone recommend to me a set of honing stones and a strop? I would like to get a used set if it's possible.

I'm looking for a really good (new) razor...I'm not interested in a $300 HANDLE!! I'm more interested in putting money on the part I shave with. maybe a good carbon blade.

are there any dvd's on using all this?

so...guys... any advice?

Hi welcome to SRP. Here is something to read that will start you out on the right track and there are many videos here. Lynn's and Heavydutysg are highly recommended if honing is something you want to get into.

Lynn Abrams "World of Straight Razor Shaving" is one of the standards here and is inexpensive and very informative.Highly recommended by anyone who has seen it.Available at many Vendors but Straight Razor Designs is Lynn's vendor site.

the easiest way to start is to buy a shave ready razor and strop and really get the stropping technique down. the edge will last up to 3 months or so especially if you are only doing partial shaves to start out and finishing with a DE or disposable. i don't have Lynn's DVD (though i have been seriously considering it for a while) but i am sure he goes over stropping technique which is one of the big factors for a newb when it comes to edge life. i bought my kit from Tony Miller at the Well Shaved Gentlemen (he is in the vendors section i believe, i think he still does kits), Kenrup at RupRazors also has some kits that people seem to really like for a good price. both are great to deal with and the razors are shave ready.

the easiest hone for me to recommend is te typical starter hone, the Norton 4/8k. i bought one and it works great. for the price it is the best deal i have come across. you can also go with coticule which you would use with a slurry and then with just water. i am dying to try one as they are highly recommended. the big difference (as far as i can tell) is that the Norton combo allows you to repair a small nick with the 4k side whereas a coticule with slurry isn't aggressive enough to take that kind of metal off. i could be wrong though. there are also barbers hones but there are so many different grits and brands i didn't bother trying to figure them out.

hope this helps.

+1 on Lynn's DVD. Over 3 hrs of great info. There is even a demo str8 shave.

Welcome to SRP and enjoy your shaves.

Dave

how many and what grits am I looking for?






go obama

One might suggest that you not invest money on hones when you have not tried straight razor shaving.If you get a real "shave ready" razor honed by a pro,and a decent strop,you're good to go for literally a month or more.By then,you'll know if it's for you and you can get into honing when you're sure.

You've got the goods so I'll just say that's it's always good to welcome new members.

X

This is certainly unusual, people try to get a razor first and then worry about stones, etc... In any case, I just wrote this for another guy. I guess it may apply to you too.

Depending on your budget and whether you would like a new razor, either the classifieds or the vendors that sponsor SRP should have a razor for you. Normally people recommend a 5/8 or so blade of medium hollow with a round point for the first razor. Tony Miller's strops have a great reputation. One suggestion that I hear over and over is not to get a great strop because it is easy to get it dented as you learn. People in this forum swear by Norton hones 4k/8k combo. I have a Chinese 12k that I intend to use for touch ups on my razors but I have not worked on it yet. I am sure that people here will tell you a lot about hones. Now, I am not sure of what kind of traveling your are going to be doing but if you travel by plane, please bear in mind that you would have to check baggage. I normally avoid that as much as possible for a number of reasons.

Al raz.

Originally Posted by aroliver59

One might suggest that you not invest money on hones when you have not tried straight razor shaving.If you get a real "shave ready" razor honed by a pro,and a decent strop,you're good to go for literally a month or more.By then,you'll know if it's for you and you can get into honing when you're sure.

The quoted above is the best advice you have received here so far. Get a prehoned razor, decide if you even want to pursue this hobby. Use your non shave time to read up in detail on hone choices and to zero in on a good price. Pick up a cheap Ebay vintage razor to practice on should you decide to dig yourself in deeper.