Thread: A few questions from a beginner.

Originally Posted by zazathedog

Thank you all for your detailed replies.
I live in the UK, Scotland; a few month back I tried to find shops for razor equipment and such, I did not find anything in my town(500k plp). I would then have to send my razor by mail to some unknown and hope he does a good job.
Concerning the stropper which one should I get? I would like something that lasts and correct quality, preferably that can be ordered in the uk.
This razor is worth around 100$, so I tihnk its a decent one: any ideas on how much I will get charged for a proper hone?

As for the honing, check here: Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Just at a glance, there are a couple members that offer services in the UK. I'm sure other's might know more about those people, but I'm sure they will do a good job for you. I'm not sure about sources for a strop in the UK, but I bet someone will chime in

this is an option

www.strop-shop.co.uk - hand made straight razor strops, razor pouches, shaving accessories, vintage razors, razor honing and restoration

I remember when I got my first razor, I lucked out it was ready to shave with. Getting your first strop is a hard choice to make. I have purchesed new ones and used, and I must say new is better. I favor the 3" wide ones, there easier to use than a 2 1/2" . I also like my Theirs Issard box strop. You have 2 sides to use and a good storage place for you razor. As for hones, I like my Norton 4000-8000 water stone, its plenty wide and has a good base to keep it in place while using. Look at it as a investment, the money you will spend now will pay you back many times over versas throw away blades. And the total rush of shaving with a straight razor is pay in itself. Keep watching the you tube vids about shaving, honing ,and care of your razors. You be an old pro before you know it.

It's just a strop, no need for the "per" on the end.

As others have said Straight Razor Designs (by the same awesome dude who runs these forums) is a good one. RupRazor sells some good strops. Tony Miller sells good strops. Illinois, Dovo, etc etc etc. Have a look at those links other members have sent you. That will solve a lot of your confusion.

I can think of a couple SRP members right off to top of my head in the UK and who do a good job honing. People here talk a lot, and give reviews of the service they get freely. You will not have a difficult time verifying the skills of someone here who claims to be a honemeister.

Again, it is hard to tell you what the hones you need will cost when you don't even know what hones you need. Do you know if your blade needs a bevel reset? Just a touch-up? Something inbetween? Does it have microscopic chips, which can turn into BIGGER chips with careless honing?

No one here can advise you when you don't know what you're trying to accomplish.

I think it would be a good idea for you to look at the "Honing" forum. Have a good long read through there, and you will notice something.

Quite a few of the posts are newbies who have attempted to hone before shaving or stropping. And in many cases, they have completely destroyed their razors beyond the capabilities of all but the most experienced and patient honemeister to fix.

And the SUCCESSFUL newbie honing threads are usually people who started out with a shave-ready blade, got used to using it, and then started small - just doing touch-ups.

Leaping in at the deep end is unlikely to render good results.

I'm a newbie too, and I wish I'd had the know-how to fix my razor once I dulled it, because I like to be self-sufficient and do things myself. But I didn't. So I sent it out, because if I tried to do it myself the results would almost certainly be poor.

If you really just can't do that, then at least get a second razor shave-ready so you have some kind of a reference point. And again, have a look through the links others members have offered before you touch razor to stone.

I am very pleased to see the great support I am having here; I saw that strop-shop.co.uk offers honing service, so that would be a first starting point in terms of places I can get my razor honed.
I tried to find more info on my razor: its a Thiers-Issard french brand, Le Dandy(ref picture in first post)_(one of the only razor makers in the E.U, with some in Germany). My blade/model is one of the first which was designed in the 1850, and sold abroad(i.e USA).
Here is an old ad sheet: http://www.thiers-issard-sabatier.co.../1109_g(f).jpg
However, I have not found what kind of honing needs to be done, I think it has had a first honing job done with low grade stones; when I pass my index on the blade there is not "friction". I can see a few micro ships(since I can see it with my eyes these are maybe bigger than micro ships, you can see it on the picture I attached with my first post.
Quality wise, its worth more than 130$, so its a good razor.
I can definitely see some kind of honing, when I flick the blade in the light. But I also know its not sharp enough to shave with. Maybe the bevel has been done . . .
I wonder if I can get it sharp enough with a strope? I guess not :P
I will go through more threads so I have a better idea of what kind of strop I need and where can I get the blade honed.

Is it a new 'Le Dandy'. TI's stuff is still pretty good, love that ad by the way. Neil Miller has a very good rep and one day I will avail myself of his services. As yet I've only had experience of Steve at the Invisible Edge and if Neil's as good (and I have no reason to believe he isn't, his posts here are great), then you won't be disappointed. Good luck.

Why don't you simply head over to the Wiki and read the honing section? It will answer all your questions, and more. If the blade has chips in it (if they are visible with the naked eye, they are not micro chips but an indication of a real problem, eg someome hitting a faucet with the blade). In any event, send the razor out to have it professionally honed. There are several vendors in the UK (or elsewhere in Europe) who offer honing services.

Price says little about a razor, by the way. TI have been known to have shoddy quality control in the past, and some of their razors are certainly not worth the money that was charged for them. Whether or not your particular razor is good can only be found out by shaving with it.

Instead of reading random threads, read the Strop Reviews - Straight Razor Place Forums. Most of them were written by senior (as in long time, not 100 posts) members of this forum, and will tell you a lot about the quality of the reviewed strops. You can also sort the reviews by various ratings, using the category tools link.