Intro and plea for help

So I recently became obsessed, for a variety of reasons, with learning to shave with a straight razor. I had already purchased a pretty sketchy looking one from an antique shop as a lark, never really intending on shaving with it, but then today a miracle happened.

I was discussing my new-found obsession with my boss after which he produced a Dovo Best Quality and strop that he had purchased some years earlier and never used. This brings me to the questions:

1. I'm about 97% sure the blade isn't shave ready and it also has some oxidation or pitting or something on it. I know I need to get it honed and/or restored, but I was really hoping to not have to ship it anywhere to do so. Does anyone on this forum either a) live in the Houston area and offer restoring/honing services or b) know someone or place in said area that does.

2. What else do I really need? I've read about brushes, soaps, and stropping pastes and more. Which of the various accoutrement is actually essential to have before I embark on my first shave?




Please forgive any faux pas I may have commited in this post, but after spending some time searching the forum I wasn't really able to find a definitive answer to these questions.


thanks,
- Mashoujiki

i cant help you with who to get your razor honed by, but you should look into some good shave soap, a brush, and a strop for starters. i wouldnt bother with any pastes or hones just yet. i'm also new to SR shaving, and from what i've read us newbs shouldnt really try to hone our own razor until we can effectively strop it. i hope that helps. you should be able to find some answers in the wiki

Main Page - Straight Razor Place Wiki

and welcome to the forum!

First of all welcome!

I have read a lot of posts and noticed a few from the Houston area but do not know if any of them do honing, however , shipping is not that much $2-7.
Also there is a member Utopian who is offering honing just for for the cost of the shipping. I think ha has his quota but may be having a sign up list for the future. He is very good as I have had one done by him and it's fantastic.

Do your self a favor and send that razor out to honing
Most Guys charge 20 dollers + return shipping
Best investment you will make
Forget about strop paste
First learn to strop correctly..Start out with any soap dosen't have to be expensive. You can find a nice soap for about 3 to 5 dollers a cake . I have seen boars hair brushes for about 6.99 in wallgreens . Its not the best but it will get you started. Start cheap because you might find out its not for you .
Hope this helps you
and Happy Shaving

I'd be willing to hone it for free but I really don't have the time to do much in the way of restoration right now. (I have to build a gym for my wife, remodel our bathroom and kitchen, and prepare for her sister to move in with us for school in the fall) You'll want to get it cleaned up before the honing as the sanding and polishing will
a) potentially dull your edge and
b) be much more dangerous with a sharp edge.

As far as the quota goes, I am way beyond the three razor limit.:gaah::cry::roflmao I'm just hoping to keep up with them as they come in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mashoujiki

2. What else do I really need? I've read about brushes, soaps, and stropping pastes and more. Which of the various accoutrement is actually essential to have before I embark on my first shave?

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Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki should have most, if not all, of the information you will need to get started.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mashoujiki

Please forgive any faux pas I may have commited in this post, but after spending some time searching the forum I wasn't really able to find a definitive answer to these questions.

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There are no definitive answers here. We strive at perfection, but hardly ever manage. Now then, welcome to SRP. Stick around, there is a lot of fun to be had here.

Get your razor honed then get a strop ....

buy a cheap boar brush from walgreens or walmart and then PM me ...

I can send you a sample of Mama Bear Shave soap to get you started...

Get the razor honed, invest in a strop and then pick up some shave soap and a brush from a local retailer. In the week you will be awaiting the return of your razor, study the wiki and threads. When the razor returns, youll be ready.

Great post, I'm a fifty-two and found a similar interest and questions, too. Must have something to do with my paternal GF and watching him use the cup, brush and SR in the 60's and 70's with the bathroom door open, and his imparting enjoyment during the task without saying a word.

John

Check the classifieds, under member services, for honemeisters. It's worth every penny charged. A strop is a must, too. Check out the Vendor's Corner forum below for one.

chances are that the strop you've got is good. you can ask us specifically if you have concerns about it, but other than that do as everybody suggested and have your razor honed and you'll be on your way.

you have a strop, unless the blade is in bad shape (post pics) then just get it honed and go. yes, the brush and good cream or soap is going to enhance the shave, help your face etc. etc. but strictly speaking you could get by without it. it takes a lot away from the experience though, so unless you're too strapped fro the 20 bucks or so you should do it. get an inexpensive brush, guys have already volunteered to send you soap. i just use a ceramic bowl I had sitting around, works great I think.

as far as honing, don't sweat sending it out, most of us non-hone guys have to anyways, get whomever you have hone it to strop it as well, shave with it, THEN strop it yourself. that way you know right off if you had bad technique because your next shave will not be as good. I know Max does this automatically, but I'm sure any hone guy will strop it for you if you request.

in the week turnaround time do as suggested, watched the demos on stropping and shaving.

and whatever you do, do not look at the workshop/gallery thread EVER

Red

Hey thanks to everyone for the friendly and helpful replies. Here are some pics of both my razors:

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/281/0509091341.th.jpg
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1184/0509091341a.th.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/4296/0509091342.th.jpg
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7946/0509091343.th.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/587...091343a.th.jpg

As you can see, neither is in the best of shape. I wonder if anyone can tell me if the older one on the bottom is even worth sending out?


thanks again,
- Mashoujiki

the rust on the edge on the dovo looks bad, depending how deep it goes that may be a rust bucket material.

the one on the bottom looks like it's got better chance of getting a decent edge - there's a lot of honewear and looks like a frown too, but if yuo want to try.... I think you'll be better off picking one in the classifieds from somebody who has already honed it and tried it. even if the blade has stains/pits the main thing that matters is the edge.
i thought i saw some cheap razors from utopian,holi4pirating, hi_bud_gl... those should be good shavers irrespective of how they look.

Those look like project razors to me. Do yourself a favor and get a decent razor from the classifieds as gugi suggested, the sellers he referenced are well known and respected.

Bummer. I was really excited about getting the dovo, too...