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  1. #1
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    Default The Art of Shaving

    I bought a Thiers-Issard razor from there. Is this a good razor? Also, I was told to hone after every four shaves? Is this accurate?

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    Senior Member blabbermouth LegalBeagle's Avatar
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    Mickeymor,

    I don't have any personal experience with TI razors, but they have a good reputation. As I understand, the AOS razors are generally not shave ready. If you search the forum, you'll see a number of people who have said that these razors are difficult to get properly honed, but once they are, they hold an edge well and give a very nice edge.

    As for the recommendation that you need to hone after every four shaves, I think I can confidently say that is not accurate. If you're having to hone that often, you're doing something seriously wrong and your razor will show significant wear very quickly. A properly shave ready razor, if stropped with good technique and used with equally good technique should not need to be honed for 4-6 months... Even then, it should only require a touch-up, not a complete bevel set, etc.

    Good luck, and tell us how it goes!

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    Bill S (10-25-2010)

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    . Bill S's Avatar
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    You have a very nice razor that will do a fine job for you. Unfortunately, the AOS store staff doesn't always have the correct information. For example, the are informed that their straight razors are sharpened by the factory. This may be technically correct, but does not tell the whole story. Their razors have received some sharpening, but they are not what we consider to be shave ready. The fact is, you would be well served to send your razor out to a professional for honing before you use it. That is the best starting point.

    You will not have to re-hone after four shaves, assuming the razor doesn't get damaged in stropping or something like that. It will be months before it really needs a re-honing. From time to time you will need a minor touchup to bring the edge back to a shave ready condition. This can be done with a strop treated with an abrasive (generally diamond spray or chromium oxide) or a very fine grit sharpening stone/hone. I am deliberately not going into any detail because there is a wealth of information in the SRP Wiki and in the forums. A quick search will provide way more info than can be readily digested. I suggest sticking with the threads in the Beginners area to get started.

    Welcome to SRP. Keep asking questions and you will be up and running in no time.
    Last edited by Bill S; 10-26-2010 at 02:31 AM.

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    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
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    You already have the correct info above...


    But just for clarification, the AOS guy was only partially off of what TI tells them
    The actual info sheet with a TI razor says to shave several times before stropping, then recommends their TI paste on the strop that should be used to "dial" in the edge when needed after that, along with clean leather stropping...

    And right there in Black and White it says "Ready to Shave " BUT we know better

    So he was thinking pasted stropping = honing which the way TI words things could be easily mistaken



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    The Electrochemist PhatMan's Avatar
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    Mickeymor,

    I have found (for me) the C135 TIs are excellent shavers.

    The only slight downside I have found (& others have found as well) is that they need a bit of work to 'dial them in' correctly.

    hi_bud_gl has mentioned, in a recent post, about un-even bevels on current TIs, and this will need sorting first if your razor suffers from this.

    I would suggest sending it to be honed professionally, where they will set the bevel and give you a superb edge.

    Once 'dialled in', they (for me) shave superbly; in addition the edge lasts significantly longer before touch ups are needed than other razors I have.
    (They also seem to like 0.5 micron diamond paste on felt for the touch-up)

    Enjoy your C135 TI

    Have fun !

    Best regards

    Russ

  8. #6
    Senior Member okiwen's Avatar
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    Default Was in the store recently

    I was told to "Find someone that sharpens knives" and have them sharpen my razor. I was frustrated that I have not gotten a good shave yet. Very uncomfortable. I may have to keep trying though.
    Last edited by okiwen; 10-26-2010 at 10:16 PM. Reason: A bit of clarity

  9. #7
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by okiwen View Post
    I was told to "Find someone that sharpens knives" and have them sharpen my razor. I was frustrated that I have not gotten a good yet. I may have to keep trying though.

    That is absolutely positively the worst thing you could possibly do....

    DO NOT let anyone that does not shave with a straight razor daily TOUCH your razor...
    Most all knife guys have no idea how to sharpen a razor..

    The fact that you even posted that advice, is a sign that you haven't read the Beginners Tips and the Wiki on this Forum, that are designed specifically to protect you New Guys from BS advice just like that...
    Last edited by gssixgun; 10-26-2010 at 12:22 AM.

  10. #8
    Member Bodach's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by okiwen View Post
    I was told to "Find someone that sharpens knives" and have them sharpen my razor. I was frustrated that I have not gotten a good yet. I may have to keep trying though.
    You've recieved some monumentally bad advice. From everything I've read you cannot compare the way a knife is sharpened to the way a razor needs to be sharpened for a quality shave.

  11. #9
    Senior Member okiwen's Avatar
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    Default You mis-understood

    Quote Originally Posted by gssixgun View Post
    That is absolutely positively the worst thing you could possibly do....

    DO NOT let anyone that does not shave with a straight razor daily TOUCH your razor...
    Most all knife guys have no idea how to sharpen a razor..

    The fact that you even posted that advice, is a sign that you haven't read the Beginners Tips and the Wiki on this Forum, that are designed specifically to protect you New Guys from BS advice just like that...
    I was not posting this as advice. This is the advice that the man at AOS gave me. I figured that he just worked there but did not shave with a st8.

    Thanks though. I was frustrated in that I thought I had purchased a shave ready to learn with and now I will have to take the time to it hone first. Was hoping to get a bit of mentoring if I found someone in the area. No luck yet, still trying.

  12. #10
    . Bill S's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by okiwen View Post
    I was frustrated in that I thought I had purchased a shave ready to learn with and now I will have to take the time to it hone first. Was hoping to get a bit of mentoring if I found someone in the area. No luck yet, still trying.
    Your plan to get a shave ready razor is the right way to go. Think of this as just a little set back. I suggest that you find a top Honemeister and send your razor out. It shouldn't take too long to get it back and it's relatively inexpensive. Only then will you know with some certainty that your razor is sharp enough, which will free you to concentrate on shaving.

    At some point you may decide to take on honing your own razors but now is not the time IMO. Now you want to minimize the variables and overcome the learning curve.

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