First shave and hone... All done..

Great post! I love seeing the pics of the restoration you did on the razor! I need to learn to hone soon because my razor is going to get dull real fast!

As for soap, I now make my own. My first secret recipe batch is still curing, but should be ready in about three weeks. I plan to test it out myself to see how it lathers, and if it looks good, I should have a few 2 ounce free samples to send to whoever wants one. I could always send one to you for feedback to see how you like it, and all I ask in return is honest feedback. I will keep you in mind when I'm ready to ship them out if you want.

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Originally Posted by BigJim

My nearly two year old son is fascinated by my razor stuff. He has not seen me shave yet though as he's been in bed when I've shaved so far. Awesome story, and too cool to hear about his reactions.

If I were you I'd cut out a little wooden razor for him. Why not? I don't think it's morbid at all. It's a great bonding time for father and son.

So far as the mug soap goes there are a ton of options out there and I've never used the brand you mentioned BUT: There's Van Der Hagen (VDH) available at most pharmacies and Wally World locations. There's also Williams Mug Soap (WMS) available at most pharmacies, and grocer's (Hy Vee is where I've found it the cheapest $.90). The VDH has a light almond scent. The WMS has a citronella scent that reminds me of summer--a big plus as spring fever is in full force right now. Both of these are around a buck a puck and readily available instead of the stuff that smells like a foot!

Also, I don't know what brush you're using, but I've read about some guys whose brushes smelled bad for the first several shaves...once they were broken in the stink wore off too. Is this a possibility? :shrug:

Finally, I'd love to know how you got those pics of your blade before and after honing. They're the first I've seen at such magnification and a great example IMHO of what a blade looks like before and after honing.

Peace,

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That was my thought as well, Making him a little wooden one. My wife, daughter and son were out and about today and I had the house to myself, so I thought I would give myself a light shave.... just wasn't the same... Thanks for the encouragement BigJim

I am a photographer... Although I am disabled and have several hobbies photography is by far my favorite and so I shoot portraits, weddings, landscapes, even Numismatic Macro... Going to be adding straights to my list... I have a macro set up that is awesome; Canon 5d, Macro flash, 100mm macro lens and a flip 50mm 1.4. You have a LOT of vignetting, but that is easily solve by shooting wide then cropping it out. This wasn't my best.. it's out of focus but i was a little hurried. I will have to go through some of my images

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Originally Posted by Lazarus

Your post reminds me of something we all know but I continually forget which is that we are always teaching our children even if we aren't aware of it. They will, just like your son, mimic what they see as adult behavior. That places a sobering amount of responsiblity on us to model good behavior.

I have been in Colorado my entire life except of the 7 years I spent out of state for college and law school.

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Oh yes... i completely agree... we are the models for our children even if we are saying nothing at all.. Even when we don't see them, they are always watching us... Heheh, we were eating dinner one day and I was talking to my daughter at the other end of the table... the little guy always has to sit by me.. but I didn't really see him at the time but my wife got my attention to look at him.. and she said every time i took a bite.. he did too.. and if I took a drink so did he.. if I made a hand gesture he followed... I wanted to see it but when I stopped to look he stopped too and looked the direction i was.. ahahahaha.. gotta love em...

Thank you all for your suggestions, I will deffinitely have to give them a try.. especially the soaps... Might be good to have some variety.. I have to admit though I am hooked on soaps.. I use a sub par grade one and liked the end result... (cept the smell) so I can imagine getting some decent ones.. Just a few riiiiight? :hmmm:

Already have three razors.. what's a few more soaps :idea:

Isn't the Norton Kit 220/1000 combo with 4000/8000 stone the same as barber stones? I know I want one with a higher grit so I can polish it further..

My brush was a cheapo Boars bristle special.. no name brand... i haven't anything to compair it to as of yet.. but it definitely has the foot smell.. Although i did try and wash it and it started to shed so i didn't know if I was getting rough...I have to REALLY work it to get a lathe though.. if not for that i would have already taken my pivtures of me Lathering up in the VA fountain today.. :banghead::banghead: Thants ok.. plenty of opportunity still I think..

Next project.. Wooden straight.... well that and get better at shaving..

Oh and I read somewhere on here that you can run some sand paper on a strop to "flatten it" sort of speak mine has the texture of cobble stone.. miniature version.. the skin isnt smooth at all... I was looking a a paddle style.. I like the hanging one because it looks neat...

Your camera setup is awesome...but makes me a little sad as I won't be able to duplicate your edge shots for my own honing. I've got my eye on a jeweler's loop though...just have to scratch together the funds.

The Van Der Hagen brush is one a lot of guys use (myself included) when starting out. It sheds like a dog in spring for the first half dozen shaves, but other than that I like it. It's got some backbone (some guys think too much) but no bad smell. You can pick it up at WallyWorld or your average pharmacy alongside the VDH soap and WMS. Sometimes you'll find a VDH kit with brush, soap, and bowl for around $12. Not a bad starter by any means.

The Norton 4k/8k is not the same as a barber hone. A lot of guys use the Norton 4/8 for honing and it's on my wish list right now. Barber's hones are no longer made and were never rated in grit like modern stones. Some guys claim their barber hones are as low as 3k, while others claim theirs are more like a 12k. The majority seem to be in the 8-10k range and great for touch ups when your razor gets dull. Read through the threads in the Hones forum and you'll find a bunch of info on the barber hones. They're another thing you can pick up for around $10 that will be a great tool.

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Originally Posted by Nervin

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Oh and I read somewhere on here that you can run some sand paper on a strop to "flatten it" sort of speak mine has the texture of cobble stone.. miniature version.. the skin isnt smooth at all... I was looking a a paddle style.. I like the hanging one because it looks neat...

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I've been trying to sort out my stropping lately and have found the hanging to work better for me, but you can always lay a hanging strop on a table and Wha-la you've got a bench strop! Your strop should be smooth (consistent anyway) and not have waves or wrinkles in it. My Shumate strop has an odd texture to it, but it's consistent and clearly intentional. Every other strop I've seen has been smooth...some a little suede/microfiber looking, but still smooth. What brand is your strop and where did you get it?

Peace,

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Originally Posted by SpicyJem

Great post! I love seeing the pics of the restoration you did on the razor! I need to learn to hone soon because my razor is going to get dull real fast!

As for soap, I now make my own. My first secret recipe batch is still curing, but should be ready in about three weeks. I plan to test it out myself to see how it lathers, and if it looks good, I should have a few 2 ounce free samples to send to whoever wants one. I could always send one to you for feedback to see how you like it, and all I ask in return is honest feedback. I will keep you in mind when I'm ready to ship them out if you want.

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I would most definitely try it out... and I am always told that I m blunt so no problems on an honest feedback.. heheheh definitely let me know I would be glad to try it out..

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Originally Posted by BigJim

Your camera setup is awesome...but makes me a little sad as I won't be able to duplicate your edge shots for my own honing. I've got my eye on a jeweler's loop though...just have to scratch together the funds.

The Van Der Hagen brush is one a lot of guys use (myself included) when starting out. It sheds like a dog in spring for the first half dozen shaves, but other than that I like it. It's got some backbone (some guys think too much) but no bad smell. You can pick it up at WallyWorld or your average pharmacy alongside the VDH soap and WMS. Sometimes you'll find a VDH kit with brush, soap, and bowl for around $12. Not a bad starter by any means.

The Norton 4k/8k is not the same as a barber hone. A lot of guys use the Norton 4/8 for honing and it's on my wish list right now. Barber's hones are no longer made and were never rated in grit like modern stones. Some guys claim their barber hones are as low as 3k, while others claim theirs are more like a 12k. The majority seem to be in the 8-10k range and great for touch ups when your razor gets dull. Read through the threads in the Hones forum and you'll find a bunch of info on the barber hones. They're another thing you can pick up for around $10 that will be a great tool.



I've been trying to sort out my stropping lately and have found the hanging to work better for me, but you can always lay a hanging strop on a table and Wha-la you've got a bench strop! Your strop should be smooth (consistent anyway) and not have waves or wrinkles in it. My Shumate strop has an odd texture to it, but it's consistent and clearly intentional. Every other strop I've seen has been smooth...some a little suede/microfiber looking, but still smooth. What brand is your strop and where did you get it?

Peace,

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Actually, another option to get a micrope look at your edge quickly (not as great of a quality but cheaper than a camera set up) a USB Digital Microscope. I see them on ebay all the time.. 200X and 500X.. the 500 is around 50 bucks and the 200 a cheaper price.. Just make sure to get the one that has a stand a lights. My dad uses one for his prospecting and to look at black sand for Nano gold.

The type of strop I have is a Selective NY strop.. heheheh it has the texture of a micro Rhino IMHO... definitely not smooth..

Hey Nervin, I slid your pics over to this thread:http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...tml#post771373

In your second picture which hone is that off of? Is that after the 4k, or after the 8k, or after something else?

Thanks,