Thread: Sound advice for newbies

Well Jim I couldn`t aggree more
I went the other way before I found this forum and I recon that I`m probably a couple of hundred down and still need a few items
I wish I had found you guys earlier
Kind regards Peter

My advice in this case would be for a newbie to get a Shavette, and start learning honing and stroping right away, referencing to a DE blade sharpness. You have to learn that sometime. As for the lasting of the hone job, I have to touch up my razors every 7-10 shaves. That is far from 60-90 shaves, and I think it depends on the coarsness of the beard.

Nenad

I started learning to hone right away......it worked for me.

As usuall, I took the other route...I learned to hone before learning to shave. Bought an e-bay special (actually not a bad razor--a Silberstahl) and spent several evenings with it on my Arkansas stones. As you might imagine, it took awhile to bring a dull razor to shaving sharpness on an Arkansas Black. However, I did it and in the process learned how to hone, learned that shaving is indeed the best test for a sharp razor, learned that I needed a faster hone (not necessarily better)...quickly bought a Norton 4/8K, and later, to check my honing skills bought a Lynn honed razor.

Just another data point,
Ed

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.