Thread: Getting Started on the Cheap

Hello,
Like some of you in this forum I am an SR newbie. While I’ve enjoyed using a cup and brush for many years I’ve just made the leap to the straight razor. In the past month I’ve acquired three razors; one from eBay, one from craigslist and one from an SRP member. All were in need of help, none of which would even cut the hair on my arm (shall we say, butter knife blunt). I don’t own any of the proper hones or stones and my Tony Miller strop hasn't arrived yet. I was excited to get started but not having the right equipment I had to go into MacGyver mode.

I’ve been a woodworker for many years and have sharpened tons of hand tools, so I know some things about putting an edge on steel but not to the extent of a razor (although you can shave your arm with one of my plane irons). So I got industrious (might I add primitive) and got out some 1200 and 2000 grit wetordry sandpaper and an old pair of denim blue jeans. After taping a piece of each paper to a counter top and wetting them down I went to work. I used the pyramid honing method and a very light touch between the two papers and the jeans for stropping. After some effort I actually got all three razors to pass the HHT and they shave GREAT.

I don’t mean to imply that this is by any means the correct way to take care of your razors but it did work for me, at least enough to get started. My real strop will be here tomorrow and I surely intend to get a real hone. In the mean time this is getting me by.

One more thing I’ve learned… pink lather is bad.

Best of luck and skill to all.

Pelkey