Thread: What this Newb learned his first year.

Originally Posted by Jaxx2112

New straight razor user here, where do you recommend finding the above replaceable straight? I've been having trouble using my brand new Dovo Carbon steel straight, and i want to have a basis to judge my razor on.

Ebay seller "Dridiot" sells them. He doesn't have the Derby brand replaceable straight in stock right now, or the already-broken-in-half Derby blades to put in it, but this one: BLACK FILARMONICA Barber Razor - 1/2 Double Edge Blades - eBay (item 260474237668 end time Nov-07-09 08:28:02 PST) should work just as well, but you do have to snap the blades it comes with in half. I think classicshaving.com also sells replacement blades. They sell replaceable blade straights, too, but are quite a bit pricier than the link above.

Thanks for the props, guys, it's still every bit as much fun now as it was a year ago.

And I hear ya about bald arms, legs, etc... I went from looking like a wookie a year ago to a shorn sheep today.

Excellent writeup.

I am at it less than a year but can still say everything I have experience with (just about all but the HHT) makes sense to me. It is nice to see it all written down like that!

Ah yeah -- I moved step 11 to just after step 14. I am now in a regroup and holding pattern on honing! Have five Naniwas (step 13) but can't get them to sharpen anything. I already have that Coticule (step 16) but am not sure what to do with it. I bought it early on when I read it could do anything -- thought I was saving some money!

Has it been a year already! Our little Floor pizza is all growed up! (sniffles as he wipes tear from eye). Great review, it needs to be wiki'd. Heres to many more years with us!

LoL, yup, we grow up so fast, don't we? And it's still just as fun as it was the first day. Few hobbies have managed to keep my interest to this degree.

Nice post.... I was just going to post a comment on how my shaves are getting better and better 3 months in to the game, but this says it all.

Good post. In #9 you talk about honing. One should endeavor, soon after starting, to get a plan together about how you are going to accomplish the maintenance of a sharp edge. It is the next important task after learning to shave with a straight and learning to strop.

Thanks,
R

Originally Posted by riooso

Good post. In #9 you talk about honing. One should endeavor, soon after starting, to get a plan together about how you are going to accomplish the maintenance of a sharp edge. It is the next important task after learning to shave with a straight and learning to strop.

Thanks,
R

Oh, that's a great point...

For me, webbed fabric (which is a bit different than a traditional linen strop. It's nylon, to start with.) is unbeatable at maintaining an edge. I have two blades that are currently undergoing a long term experiment: just how long can I maintain an edge up to my (admittedly OCD) standards with just webbed fabric and latigo strops. These two blades haven't seen the stones in a long time. I think a guy could use the same blade every day for six months without having to return to the stones if he just stropped it with webbed fabric and latigo daily. YMMV, of course.

When webbed fabric and latigo no longer quite do it, I do a few laps on a chromeOx'd leather paddle strop, then back to the fabric and latigo. Unless a guy is going to pick up honing as a hobby, if the chromeOx'd leather doesn't bring the edge back, I'd send it to a honemeister at this point. Otherwise, it's time to hit an 8k stone or coti to refresh the edge. Rarely have I ever had to go below 8k to touch up a blade that was no longer shave ready due to normal every day use.