First try at straight shaving

I just bought a Gold Dollar razor from ebay and a Filly strop from Ruprazor. I got it the other day, and fixed and honed the very unevenly ground razor using a diamond stone, up to 1500-grit sandpaper, and a chromium oxide-pasted piece of leather spray-glued to a piece of MDF which I call a paddle strop.

I realize that's not an ideal setup, but it is out of necessity due to my being a ministry school student with no money and no income. I would like to get a real shave-ready razor, but I literally do not have $100 right now, so I must make do.

Today I finished honing the edge with the pasted "strop", and to my surprise it actually passed the HHT. Having never seen a shave-ready razor, I don't have any idea if it's really sharp, but being a woodworker, it is probably the sharpest thing I have encountered. So, I had a go at shaving with it, using canned shaving goo in the absence of real soap or cream. Did a WTG pass followed by a ATG pass, and the result was about as good as with my dulling Gillette Fusion. Just one significant nick on my chin. Not bad at all for a first attempt, I'd say.

Hi mysticofjesus,
Welcome to SRP!
Thats a pretty basic setup you have there!!
Several members have used the Gold dollar razor to good effect and as long as you are happy with it then fine!
It,s difficult to assess the quality of your strop but if it keeps the razors edge sharp then thats fine too!
All in all you seem to have pulled it together through being pretty inventive.
Just one note of caution-It might be better to save up and get your razor honed to shave standard by a pro so that you know what sharp is.There are members of this site who would be able to do this at a reasonable price.
After that see if you can get a second hand strop in the classifieds of SRP.
Well done and congrats on your first shave.It can,t be easy gathering your kit on a low budget.
Regards
Noggs :)

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Originally Posted by noggs247

Just one note of caution-It might be better to save up and get your razor honed to shave standard by a pro so that you know what sharp is.There are members of this site who would be able to do this at a reasonable price.

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That would indeed be nice, but right now I already don't have enough money for gas and laundry for the rest of the year (tuition plus room and board is paid for already), and I have zero income, so saving up will take some time at this rate. ;)

As for the strop, I do have a Filly, and I'll use the rough side of that for paste when needed. I already had that MDF "paddle strop", as I use it for honing woodworking tools (chisels, plane irons, etc.).

welcome to srp. looks like you're doing very good. have fun.

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Originally Posted by mysticofjesus

I just bought a Gold Dollar razor from ebay and a Filly strop from Ruprazor. I got it the other day, and fixed and honed the very unevenly ground razor using a diamond stone, up to 1500-grit sandpaper, and a chromium oxide-pasted piece of leather spray-glued to a piece of MDF which I call a paddle strop.

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At first welcome.
This statement confuses me.
I thought Ruprazor sells "shave ready " razor? Am i missing something?

I believe the razor came via an ebay vendor and the strop came from Ruprazor.

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Originally Posted by Bruce

I believe the razor came via an ebay vendor and the strop came from Ruprazor.

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That is correct. Got the razor for $8. :tu

It's going to be hard to track your progress if you're new to this and already tried to hone your own razor. I can't even imagine the different variables that may be involved...


Good luck!

sounds like he honed it and it actually worked on the first try.........dunno if it was skill or sheer luck

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Originally Posted by BAMARACING8

sounds like he honed it and it actually worked on the first try.........dunno if it was skill or sheer luck

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This is believable. When I started, I did exactly the same thing. I honed an antique store razor up to 2k wet dry and then crox and it shaved well.

nice!............. didnt know that was doable with all the talk of using it seems like 6 diffrent stones then crox and then strop........but then again it is also something i have not attempted yet..still waiting for that barber hone to come in so i can do a touch up one one of my razors...hope i dont wreck it

Kudos for making what you have work! Marine Corps background? Assuming you cannot afford even the cheapest antique store barber hone to finish your edge on, which would definitely improve it, I can recommend moving up the grit to 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper on a thick piece of glass. You will be amazed that your razor can pass HHT after that alone. But, it won't shave as smoothly as a truly honed blade, that's where your CroOx paddle and good stropping will come in to smooth out the edge. Don't skip the linen. If you PM me, I have lots of old barber hones and would gladly send you one gratis.

Welcome and am glad to see your having good results with what is available to you. :gl:

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Originally Posted by Croaker

I have lots of old barber hones and would gladly send you one gratis.

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And that is what SRP really is all about !!!!

Good on you Croaker,

The barber's hone will really help to smooth out the edge...

Croaker, that offer is greatly appreciated, and a PM regarding it has been sent. Thank you.

I used to have some 2000 and 3200 grit automotive sandpaper, but that's gone now, and I couldn't locate any at the time. I also don't have a linen strop. Maybe I'll try to figure out how to make one.

I have done a bunch of woodworking with hand tools and hard, exotic, blade-dulling woods. So, I have a lot of experience with general sharpening from that. Nothing quite as demanding as a razor, but at least a razor has the spine there to help keep the bevel right.

As far as the results, I've stopped doing my chin with the straight razor for now, because I just nick myself too much. On my cheeks and jaw, the shave is normally not quite as close, and not quite as comfortable, as a Mach 3. I have no idea how much of that is technique, and how much is the equipment.

Thanks everyone.