Thread: Sound advice for newbies

I'm getting a razor from Randy, and I'm currently honing deficient.
I'm looking at a 4 sided paddle from Tony. .25, .5, and 1 micron paste on three of the sides, then an ordinary daily strop on the fourth side. Are the three paste sides for touch-up?
I guess my understanding is that you hone a blade rarely, like once or twice a year, touch up every couple of weeks with pasted strops, then use a standard strop on a daily basis. Am I off?

Mike

Mike, That sounds about right. Although you will find it depends upon the razor each is different.

Originally Posted by TMike

I guess my understanding is that you hone a blade rarely, like once or twice a year, touch up every couple of weeks with pasted strops, then use a standard strop on a daily basis.

That should work pretty nicely actually. Each gentleman is unique as is each razor so you might find some alteration as time goes by, but it sound sound() as a starting point.

X

Thanks guys, good to know I'm on the right track.
Heck, its good to know I can be taught (In your face! Friggin' high school guidance counciler)

I 100% agree with getting a shave ready razor from a master. As for learning to sharpen up front or down the road...well that depends on the person. Starting with hones takes concentration, starting with pastes takes the ability to follow instructions accurately and at least from what I have seen has a pretty high sucess rate. 50-60 shaves....well, I have owned razors honed by the best of them and no where near approach that number of shaves.

As time goes on with this opinons are formed, opinions are modified, opinions are tossed aside. I once felt you needed a way to touch up a razor and unless really into the honing thing could get away with sending one out a few times a year. I now really feel everyone should eventually learn to use some kind of stone as well as strops. Even a barber hone will be fine for touchups with practice but a Norton does offer the best bet.

I think if one reads Joe Lerch's posts and possibly AF Davis' you can see how a person progresses through many thoughts on honing as he learns. Suggestions arev just that.....something to get you started. Practice will help you develop your own path.

But, starting with a quality, shave ready razor.....I am 100% with Charlie on this one!

Tony

I'd have to agree with superfly. A shavette has been a really cheap option for me while slowly building up everything else I need. Commiting to straight shaving takes time and a newbie doesn't need to buy much gear to find out wether it's for him or not.
Fork out $15 for a shavette and you'll get a pretty good idea in the first few months if it's for you. Even a low end blade from a member will set you back a bit then add the price of a strop and the $$ soon mount up.

I dont agree...a str8 gives a different shave...face feels different after shaving...how can you know if you like something if you use an immitation...

I've been using a feather for about two weeks. It *definitely* feels different than my regular shave, and I'm hoping to get a regular straight soon (once I get a strop and supplies from Tony) to see how different the str8 is from the feather. I have noticed that when I shave with the feather, I usually go about a day and a half before I start feeling any sort of growth again as opposed to my normal "have to shave every morning or I look like a street bum" routine.

I've been alternating, I'll shave every other day... first in the morning when I get up, then a day and a half later in the evening before I go to bed, then vice versa. The feather is scary sharp and seems to shave far closer than anything I've ever used. I'm only doing two passes though. Haven't been brave enough to try that third pass.

-- Gary F.

I have a razor from Lynn and two from Bill. These are really great shavers.
My first attempt at honing and stropping was on a 6/8 Bengal. Great result for me. I tried it first and it was awful, the edge looked good but wasn't close.
20 laps on a 6000 waterstone, 20 each on 1 and 0.5 micron pasted paddle strop and then 50 passes on leather hanging strop. Great shave.

I've since tried reviving a really dirty, nasty, rusty Dorko. Cleaned up and polished nicely but still needs more honing, pasting, stropping yet to get near where I want it to be. An on-going project and a good tester.

I've since leather stropped Lynn's and Bill's straights, no degredation at all.
Still very sharp and great shavers. I'm not rushing, no pressure to speak of and keeping the blade really flat with spine / heel leading.

No problemo for me..yet..

Gary

Great read, I have been hiding here for a few days now taking in as much info as I can in my spare time and have been picking up quite a bit. Charlie, A.K.A. Clarman gave me some rather sound advice in regards to shaving and I'm very appreciative. I'm just sifting through all of the information trying to figure out what will work for me. Until I become rather experienced at shaving I will be content to just hide around here soaking up info and occasionally posting in the off topic forum as I know it will be quite sometime before I can contribute knowledge of any real value to this forum. Thanks too everyone who has pointed me in the right direction, and a very appreciative thank you to Clarman for taking the time to talk to me in regards to the intracicies of shaving with a straight. I'm sure I will have more questions as soon as I recieve my razor, until that time I will continue to learn.

John