Thread: Newbies 2nd razor

OK, so I bought a second razor from a web site that sells decent, second hand razors. I purchased an old Wade & Butcher razor for a good price. The delivery and service were completely satisfactory. However, this old razor is aptly named as I have "butchered" myself twice with it now. I'm not sure if it's me or the razor. It is different from my first razor; a "Michigan Farmer" that I bought professionally honed from Bobs Razors. The Farmer has a rounded end, a hollow grind and showed very little use. The W&B looked well honed, to say the least' and and had a square end. ( I'm not sure of the grind, not as forgiving as the Farmer) Should I hang it up with the W&B and just use it to practice honing, or should I stay with it and plan on an occasional blood transfusion?

I need to keep all my blood for myself while I'm learning to straight shave, so I can't help you there. You can very lightly dull the square point on the side of one of your stones (I mean your honing stones), and that will reduce the risk. Just one very light pass will take the sharpest part of the edge off, and then you can shave with it about as safely as a round point. The different grind, if it is not as hollow-ground as your other razor, should make a difference only in sound as it cuts whiskers. If it is less of a hollow grind, you may find its weight even helps cut whiskers better.

Sounds like you have a square point W&B on your hands. Square points can be a little harder to learn to use. Chances are tho, if it is like most old W&B's, that it is an excellent shaver. If it is professionally honed, I'd hesitate to do anything to it that you will regret in a little while, when your shaving technique is up to par. You might be able to find a cheap razor from a flea market that you could practice honing on. It may have spine wear and look well used, but remember it may be well over a hundred years old
Best of luck, and have fun.

I would recommend getting a few more shaves in with the Farmer.
That way you are building your skills without changing anything to make up for grind and size and so forth.
Another thing is that when your razor finally dulls and need a honing, you have the W&B to rely on while the Farmer is out freshening up.
Good luck, sounds like you are well underway to become a straight shaver

im not exactly an expert on this but ive read a lot of suggestions from people that if your new to this like myself a square tip razor is more likely to chop you up, i was warned against them until i had a good few shaves under my belt with a round end razor. as suggested maybe blunting the tip ever so slightly may help ??

just get more practice with the farmer first then work on the butcher and your face little by little.

hope this helps.

Be careful with every new razor. It takes you some month to get enough experience. But if you own a well honed and stropped W&B you will enjoy it. And you'll never miss a shave with this good old steel.