Thread: My First Post - A Couple Questions

Hi Everyone,

I've been wet-shaving for a couple months now, but this is my first post! I've found the wiki at this site very helpful by the way! Now, I have a couple questions:

1) If my razors all came shave ready and don't have any major chips in them, is it possible for me to get away with just one hone? I recall reading something about a "spyder-something" that might work as your only hone if you're not working on blades that are damaged...

2) Also, I have an odd strop. It's made my Jemico and is one of the paddle kinds. It has leather on the one side, but the other side is a hard black surface. What would this be??? Note: I tried to upload a picture of it about 5 times, and waited a couple minutes each time, but it would never actually upload...

Other than that, thanks again for all the helpful information!

Welcome to SRP, Anthony,

And thank you for your kind words.

ad 1) What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki gives some details this question. An 8k Norton or something similar plus a strop pasted with abrasive pastes has kept people for a very long time.

ad 2) I have not the slightest idea. But the beauty of this place lies in the fact that someone will know.

Keep us informed of your progress.

Welcome to SRP! Smooth shaving to you.

If you bought your razor from someone reputable, then they are likely shave ready. If you got them off ebay, then that claim is more dubious. The spyder something you were looking for was Spyderco. If you want one for maintaining or polishing your razors, then you want the UF (ultrafine) version. Another option is simply an old quality barber hone like a Swaty. There are lots of them on ebay, they are a third of the price of a Spyderco UF, and they work better.
Sorry, I don't know about the hard black surface on the Jemico, but it's got to be either a hone or a sharpening strop. Otherwise, it wouldn't be on a paddle strop.

welcome to SRP, good to see you around here too

Originally Posted by Utopian

... Another option is simply an old quality barber hone like a Swaty. There are lots of them on ebay, they are a third of the price of a Spyderco UF, and they work better...

+1

If all we're talking about is touching up razors that are otherwise shave ready, and just need a tiny bit of TLC a couple times a year, I barber hone will keep you going for a very long time.