Thread: Advice Needed on razor choice + other things

Hi Kris. Since your from the promised land, same as myself....I can sort you out with a razor if you want. I don't want anything for it and I couldn't really sell as it isn't pretty looking like a new one you can buy. It does work though. I've got a few like that so your welcome to one. I'll sanatize it and hone it for you. No problem. Let me know if you want it. Its easier if you email me at darren78ok at gmail.com as it will come through on my phone. I don't have a strop though...

Originally Posted by Darren T

Hi Kris. Since your from the promised land, same as myself....I can sort you out with a razor if you want. I don't want anything for it and I couldn't really sell as it isn't pretty looking like a new one you can buy. It does work though. I've got a few like that so your welcome to one. I'll sanatize it and hone it for you. No problem. Let me know if you want it. Its easier if you email me at darren78ok at gmail.com as it will come through on my phone. I don't have a strop though...

Hi Darren,
thanks for the message, ive done as you asked and sent you a quick email, id be so greatful if you were willing to let one of your razors go to a new home like that.

thanks again for the offer, hope to speak with you soon.

Kris

Yeah, no problem at all. I had your email and I did reply.

Welcome aboard! Besides a good "shave ready" razor, you'll need a strop, preferably canvas/linen and leather, a good cream or soap, a number of which are produced right there in the UK (Taylor of Old Bond Street and Truefitt & Hill come to mind), brush, styptic pencil or powder (I prefer powder) and a nice aftershave.

If you're going to purchase a starter kit, make sure you're getting quality items. For example, Pakistani produced razors are notoriously bad. If that's what's in the kit, I'd avoid it. Also, your brush should be badger's hair, or at least boar's hair. Badger hair retains water much better. Your soap/cream should be from a recognized manufacturer, such as those I mentioned above.

I say this because poor quality items will give you a poor quality shave, turning you off to the whole SR experience. Use the wealth of knowledge available here and you'll be off to a great start

Welcome to your new obsession!

Originally Posted by LAsoxfan

Welcome aboard! Besides a good "shave ready" razor, you'll need a strop, preferably canvas/linen and leather, a good cream or soap, a number of which are produced right there in the UK (Taylor of Old Bond Street and Truefitt & Hill come to mind), brush, styptic pencil or powder (I prefer powder) and a nice aftershave.

If you're going to purchase a starter kit, make sure you're getting quality items. For example, Pakistani produced razors are notoriously bad. If that's what's in the kit, I'd avoid it. Also, your brush should be badger's hair, or at least boar's hair. Badger hair retains water much better. Your soap/cream should be from a recognized manufacturer, such as those I mentioned above.

I say this because poor quality items will give you a poor quality shave, turning you off to the whole SR experience. Use the wealth of knowledge available here and you'll be off to a great start

Welcome to your new obsession!

Hi LAsoxfan, thanks for the reply, im looking to get an invisible edge starter kit once ive got the money, which seems to have a Dovo razor including brush strop and some other bits as well.

i was looking at the cheaper razors on ebay until i did some reading on here and decided against them pretty much straight away. i was wondering if it was worth getting a cheap razor later on to practice honing with rather than chance damaging my nice razors.

Hey,
You may want to check out this site as well for a starter set.

Whipped Dog Straight Razor Sales

Welcome to SRP!

Invisibleedge is a very reputable site, and any razor you get from them will be shave ready. If you are going to get a starter set from them, you can't go wrong. I'd just suggest not spending a lot on your first razor and strop.

Forget about sharpening for now. It will take a few months of shaving before you need to hone your razor, and you can cross that bridge when you come to it. For now, just focus on getting a good shave (which will take a lot of focus in the beginning).

I do like the idea of a cheep razor to practice on, but don't expect much out of a 10 dollar ebay special, as there are a variety of issues vintage razors can have that make getting a shave ready edge difficult. If all you want something to develop your coordination with the razor and hone so you don't bung up your real shaver in some newbish way, than that's fine.

Originally Posted by Krisdavie

. . .
i was looking at the cheaper razors on ebay until i did some reading on here and decided against them pretty much straight away. i was wondering if it was worth getting a cheap razor later on to practice honing with rather than chance damaging my nice razors.

YES !!!

Don't risk damaging the edge of a "known-good" (especially a new) razor when learning to hone.

That's the time to visit a local antique shop, or eBay, and get a _really cheap_ vintage blade to practice on.

Charles

Originally Posted by markevens

Welcome to SRP!

Invisibleedge is a very reputable site, and any razor you get from them will be shave ready. If you are going to get a starter set from them, you can't go wrong. I'd just suggest not spending a lot on your first razor and strop.

Forget about sharpening for now. It will take a few months of shaving before you need to hone your razor, and you can cross that bridge when you come to it. For now, just focus on getting a good shave (which will take a lot of focus in the beginning).

I do like the idea of a cheep razor to practice on, but don't expect much out of a 10 dollar ebay special, as there are a variety of issues vintage razors can have that make getting a shave ready edge difficult. If all you want something to develop your coordination with the razor and hone so you don't bung up your real shaver in some newbish way, than that's fine.

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

YES !!!

Don't risk damaging the edge of a "known-good" (especially a new) razor when learning to hone.

That's the time to visit a local antique shop, or eBay, and get a _really cheap_ vintage blade to practice on.

Charles

thanks for the message guys, that was what i was interested in really, ive very little experience in sharpening anything. Ive only ever done a knife or two but that was never incredidbly sharp.

I figured i would get myself a cheap razor and a recomended set of hones, then start practicing and working on the cheapy so i hopefully develop some ability to use hones etc, that way if i trash a $10 razor no one is going to loose any sleep over it, but in the process i hopefully learnt a few new skills.

What do you think?

im happy to pay to have mine sharpened for the time being but would rather be able to-do it later on myself if possible.