Local honing

Hi everyone. I'm just getting into wet shaving and have picked up a straight razor at a local antiques shop. I am wondering if anyone knows someone who can hone and is local to me. I'm in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada and don't mind shipping it out within Canada but I'd rather not have to deal with cross-border issues and - ideally - would really like to find someone I can actually see in person. I understand if that is not possible as well.

Thanks all and I've been enjoying the posts I've been reading. My razor is a "Crown and Sword" with ERN 1166 on one side of the handle. It's got zero pits and is fairly straight and I'm pretty sure would be capable of shaving. The scales are rough and the blade has quite a patina on it but I'm sure it can be brought back.

BTW, for any other newbie's wanting a lesson, the guy who sharpens knives and axes may not be able to sharpen a razor. That was a $7 lesson!

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Originally Posted by chworby

Hi everyone. I'm just getting into wet shaving and have picked up a straight razor at a local antiques shop. I am wondering if anyone knows someone who can hone and is local to me. I'm in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada and don't mind shipping it out within Canada but I'd rather not have to deal with cross-border issues and - ideally - would really like to find someone I can actually see in person. I understand if that is not possible as well.

Thanks all and I've been enjoying the posts I've been reading. My razor is a "Crown and Sword" with ERN 1166 on one side of the handle. It's got zero pits and is fairly straight and I'm pretty sure would be capable of shaving. The scales are rough and the blade has quite a patina on it but I'm sure it can be brought back.

BTW, for any other newbie's wanting a lesson, the guy who sharpens knives and axes may not be able to sharpen a razor. That was a $7 lesson!

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For shipping it out, SRP member floppyshoes is listed under "Member Services" in the classifieds. Details can be found here:
Honing and Restoration Services (CANADA) - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

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Originally Posted by chworby

BTW, for any other newbie's wanting a lesson, the guy who sharpens knives and axes may not be able to sharpen a razor. That was a $7 lesson!

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It could have been a much more expensive lesson. I've read of many horror stories of such sharpeners completely destroying razors.

I hope it was only a $7 lesson - I guess I'll know when someone who knows what they're looking for looks at it. I'd like to get into restoring and do this one but I think I'll buy a really cheap one that's in really rough shape and make all my mistakes there. Any thoughts on that? I don't have a wood/metal working background - do most of you have that or just an interest in razors?

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Originally Posted by chworby

I hope it was only a $7 lesson - I guess I'll know when someone who knows what they're looking for looks at it. I'd like to get into restoring and do this one but I think I'll buy a really cheap one that's in really rough shape and make all my mistakes there. Any thoughts on that? I don't have a wood/metal working background - do most of you have that or just an interest in razors?

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I think it depends on how far you want to go with a restore. I can clean up the blades pretty well with sandpaper (400- to 2000-grit) and have a basic honing set to sharpen razors, but I think I'm a ways off making the scales (handles). Check out "The Gallery" forum to look at some full restorations:
The Gallery - Straight Razor Place Forums

There's also an informative section in the wiki dedicated to repairs and restorations:
Category:Repair & Restoration - Straight Razor Place Wiki

If you were to post a photo of the blade and the scales members could more easily say whether your razor is worth the $ to salvage.

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Here it is. There isn't much rust - if any - mostly just patina. I don't know what the scales are.

I've never 'forumed' before so I don't know how these pictures will turn out.

I think that is salvagable. I'd probably put new scales on it sooner, rather than later.

Yeah, I've read about scales and I am very far away from being able to do that. Would refinishing take out the 'crown and sword' etching? And who's a good person for a full restore? I kind of want to wait until I can do it myself but I may be waiting years for my first straight shave if I do.

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Originally Posted by chworby

Yeah, I've read about scales and I am very far away from being able to do that. Would refinishing take out the 'crown and sword' etching? And who's a good person for a full restore? I kind of want to wait until I can do it myself but I may be waiting years for my first straight shave if I do.

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A good polishing with Maas polish should have it looking really nice, if not quite brand new. It should not take out the etching.

You can buy plain plastic scales for not too much, and use the small nuts and machine screws instead of peening brass pins.

You need to post over in The Workshop forum to get some more detailed advice on the DIY re-scale.

I too recommend floppyshoes for honing and/or resto and new scales. He did a great job with my great grandfather's razor.

I am in Winnipeg and have been dabbling in staright razors for about 6 month.. repair, learning honing, doing some restoration, and clooecting scrap ones to practice my repair skill on. I have been toying with the idea of casting replacement sets of scales out of epoxy or something similar. I have a crown and sword razor similar to yours but with original scales that are made of hard black rubber with a raised crown and sword logo (pic attached). I am going to try to cast these scales and if it works I will send you a set for free.
Dave

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Originally Posted by dgstr8

I am in Winnipeg and have been dabbling in staright razors for about 6 month.. repair, learning honing, doing some restoration, and clooecting scrap ones to practice my repair skill on. I have been toying with the idea of casting replacement sets of scales out of epoxy or something similar. I have a crown and sword razor similar to yours but with original scales that are made of hard black rubber with a raised crown and sword logo (pic attached). I am going to try to cast these scales and if it works I will send you a set for free.
Dave

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That would be great, Dave. I like the way yours look - very classic. I was thinking along a wood line but if they turn out like yours that would be awesome!

How is the learning going? I was also considering doing the same as you - buy cheaper ones to get started on and make mistakes on them. On the other hand, it might be good to try sometime in this lifetime!

Actually it is going very well. I can't imagine ever going back to using
disposable multiple edge blades. Your post makes it sound like you haven't had a chance to try straight razor shaving at all yet, as you are waiting to get your razor honed. If that's the case, there's another option... the first thing I tried was a straight razor handle that uses one half of a disposable safety razor blade. I picked one up from a local barber supply place (very cheap). You snap a disposable safety razor blade in half and it fits into a holder that slides in and out of the handle. It allows you to practice your grip and stroke (with no blade in it), and then you can load it with a blade and get a feel for straight razor shaving. It doesn't cut as wide a swath as a true straight razor and the corners are a little sharp but it gives you a feel for the process. If you want I can send you mine so you can play until you get yours honed to the point where its usable.
I am at a crossroads myself trying to figure out if I am going to start honing and repair/restoration for others (as there's likely no money in it) but I would be willing to hone yours for you if you're interested. Myself, I started with a new bought Dovo style razor, then started picking up worn used blades at antique stores and learned some honing/repair/restoration. Now I have about half a dozen that I use on a regular basis, none spectacular but all useable.

I will send you a private message.
Dave

Hey Chworby!

I know this is a fairly old post, but if you're still interested in straight razor shaving/restoration, I'm in Regina myself and I've done some scales and such. If you're interested in getting new scales (if you haven't already) or just want to talk shop, then send me a private message and we can chat!

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Originally Posted by chworby

That would be great, Dave. I like the way yours look - very classic. I was thinking along a wood line but if they turn out like yours that would be awesome!

How is the learning going? I was also considering doing the same as you - buy cheaper ones to get started on and make mistakes on them. On the other hand, it might be good to try sometime in this lifetime!

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Given the age of the post and how long it has been since the guy even logged in here, odds of contact are pretty low.

I know, but it's worth a try.

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Given the age of the post and how long it has been since the guy even logged in here, odds of contact are pretty low.

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Sure.

It's only been 2379 days since he posted in this thread, so he'll probably be back any day now!

Hey hey - 2379 days isn't all that long!

I did get it restored - and then found that my skin cannot stand a straight shave - nothing but pain and stinging - so I've gone back to the double-edged safety razor. So I've got 3 pretty fantastic razors that sit in a box doing nothing but looking good.

Thanks for the post though. And if I can get my skin sorted maybe I'll need your help maintaining these razors.

Hey! Welcome back!

The reason that I initially started with a safety razor and then a straight was because of the skin irritation that I was getting from my 2-blade Gillette Atra cartridge razor. A properly honed straight razor should cause less irritation for most people. Are you certain that your straights were competently honed?