Setup Advice

Greetings all and thank you in advance for any advice.

I just made the move from DE razors to a straight. Here is what I have acquired so far:
11/16 Blue Bell 99 square point save ready from Shaving Shop
Illinois 827 Strop
Yellow and White Strop paste
Chinese 12K Wet Stone with a stone holder

I have been using a Tweezerman badger brush and Colonel Conk's shaving soap and mug for my DE shaving and am happy with that.

I just bought a Square Point Henckels Friodur No Stain on Ebay for $95. It’s listed as new but we will see when I get it. I don’t expect it to be shave ready and am planning on mailing it out to a hone master. I may play around with having it rescaled also.

My questions are as follows:
1. If I start with shave ready razors will the 12K and non-pasted strop be sufficient to maintain a good edge?
2. If it will not, should I get a more course wet stone or a 2nd strop and use diamond or chrome oxide?

I was planning on sticking with my DEs and only using the straight once a week or so. . But am now only using my straight razor.

Thanks again,

David

welcome to SRP

sounds like your good to go
what brand pastes did you buy? there not the same color coding

Welcome to SRP, David,

You have a very nice setup there for a beginner. It will be interesting to learn how you will get a long with the Henckels. I love mine, but we do not usually recommend razors this size to beginners. That said, I would, so let us know how it goes.

As far as the hone is concerned, yes, it should keep you going for a long time. WRT the hone and the pastes (I presume they are Dovo pastes, in which case you will not actually need them, I think), cf this article here: What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki. It should contain all you need to know about hones and pastes for the time being.

Additionally, you may want to skim Shopping list for beginners - Straight Razor Place Wiki, as it should give you some clues why you should not normally need any coarser hones, pasted strops, or diamond spray. It should be said, though, that "need" is a very relative term when it comes to straight razors and their equipment... ;)

Do keep us updated.

Regards,
Robin

I got the Dovo paste - http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522944/196078.htm

I used a little of the white on the linen side and a good sized glop of the yellow on the leather. I heated up the strop by rubbing my palm on it for a few min and then worked in the fat the same way. I waited a day or so before using it. At first, it seemed to have a heavy directional grain. Pulling the razor from the handle to the hook seemed much smoother and pulling it back. I have been rubbing it vigorously with my palm to try to break it in and it seems to be working better now. (My girlfriend heard me doing that in the bathroom and offered to help with whatever was going on in there. :))

I got the 5.5 Blue Bell as a good beginner. I have read that the carbon steel and the 5-6 size was easiest to start with. I was going to wait a while before getting a 2nd but the Henckels seemed like a good deal if it is in fact new and free from defects. I have only shaving with a straight razor for about a week but so far I have not had any nicks yet. The shave on my cheeks is far closer and smoother than with my DE (A 1953 Gillette Tech and a Merkur Classic). I am doing two passes but have not got the angles on my neck down just right yet. It’s still a close shave but not as close as with my DE yet. I suspect that will change as I get more proficient.

I will keep you posted as I progress. I find myself rubbing my face during the day – buttery smooth!

Anyone have any suggestions on where to send the Henckel out to be honed? I saw the post with a list but didn’t know if anyone had any recommendations. Also – any recommendations on aftershave?

Thanks again for your advice.

Well, excellent. I'd refrain from using any more paste on that strop. It should have plenty of draw out of the box, anyway.

Rubbing your face may be tempting, but I would not do that, either. Unless you have sterilised them, your hands will be full of germs, and your face full of micro cuts - a rather nasty combination.

Several members offer their services in the Classifieds: Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds.

You can sort the reviews by rating like this: Aftershaves Lotions/Balms Reviews - Straight Razor Place Forums. The two best ones I have so far tried are http://straightrazorpalace.com/after...have-balm.html and http://straightrazorpalace.com/after...ve-lotion.html. I got a bit carried away with my Castle Forbes reviews, I think. I would give them 9s instead of 10s these days, but if used together with the preshave and cream, they will be very hard to beat.

Regards,
Robin