Can't wait

Just starting out can't wait to get my first straight. I went with a Hart Steel razor and a strop from West Coast Shaving. They're great to me and have awesome customer service. I thought about getting a cheaper to start with but I have such an obsession we DEs I am sure this'll be the same. Any suggestions from experienced shavers out there? I've been shaving with DEs for awhile and have good technique and I was wondering if any of that (blade angle, attention to shave etc.) makes the change easier?

My hart razor was actually one of the more difficult razors for me to learn to use. The weight and stiff grind make for a very unforgiving razor, I find more hollow blades much easier and better for someone just starting out. That is only my opinion though hopefully you won't have my problems. One word of advice is to use a very light touch, the lighter your touch the better your shave will be.

@ theheckler- honestly I was hoping I'd get the, "it was a dream/breeze to shave with" answer lol. I appreciate the help and I'll go easy on the touch. I had to learn that the hard way with a Merkur with a feather. After that shave I thought I was gonna need a tampon to stop the bleeding!! Thankfully I got the hang of it pretty quick and now I enjoy BBS shave on a regular basis with my DE.

The transition from DE to str8 isn't that bad, but you will have to learn a few things again. The angle is quite different, remember 30 degrees for a str8 is about max, but a good target to shoot for. The lighter the touch the better. +1 heckler!!

Read lots of the wiki's about caring for your razor, stropping it and how to maintain your edge between honings. Make sure your razor is truly 'shave ready' or it will be the worst you have ever had. Trust me, you don't want to shave with a str8 that isn't really shave ready.

Good luck mate!! Happy shaving!

M

This week I received a new 6/8 Hart satin finish razor to go with my 6/8 Hart polished razor. I shaved with the new razor right out of the box without even stropping it. It was an A+ shave. I love the heavier weight of Hart razors. If you use a light touch, the razor does all the work. I found it very easy to use and would place my two Hart razors in the top echelon of my razors along with a 6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot, a 5/8 "en vogue 105" Black Micarta, a 13/16 J. A. Henckel 72 1/2, and a 5/8 Filarmonica Doble Temple 12.

I am thrilled that we have at least one US company making straight razors. IMO, I find the Hart razors to be well made, excellent shavers.
:rock:

How light is a light touch? Don't try to shave the barbs, try only to wipe away the shaving cream. The barbs should come away with that.

Also, don't count on BBS right out of the gates. Technique counts for the greatest share of your shave quality.

I agree with mjhammer about the razor's need to shave ready. However, the _only_ way to test that is to see if it shaves your face nicely. Start with the spot below your sideburns. If it pulls at the barbs instead of cuts then it's not shave ready.

Good luck and enjoy.

Thanks guys for the tips. I'm waiting as wee speak for my package to be dropped of. I'm gearing up for the fun!

Please keep us posted on the shave!

As far as I know hart razors are the only production razors that actually come shave ready so you shouldn't need to worry about that. I didn't mean to alarm you my hart steel is one of my favorite razors and an excellent shaver it just commands respect and a light touch.

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Originally Posted by thehekler

it just commands respect and a light touch.

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That actually holds true for any straight razor. The minute you forget that you will be cut.

I'm even planning on taking the day off work so I can use that bad boy. I looked at a lot of straights but I didn't really like the ornate look of the majority of them. The Hart Steel razors were right up my alley as being a beautiful understated piece of art and I had the means to get one. The fact they are American made is just icing in the cake.

Rog,

I'm not the authority on the topic, but I've seen alot more threads talking about the heavy grinds being easier if one has trouble w/ the hollows. It certainly was the case for me - and the love of heavy metal continues, though I also love the extra hollow. I'm speaking to one seller now about another wedge. I share your love of the understated appearance. The only reason I went w/ another was if I didn't like it - it would be easier to sell a big name, rather than the Hart. I very much want a Hart in the rotation.

You'll find the guys here will be extremely supportive for your effort. You need 3-5 skills right up front, beginning w/ the actual shave - the beginner threads are great. Do what feels comfortable, finish w/ your previous method. The skills will come. Lather making - Mantic has vids that are good there. STROPPING. Glen's 3/11 beginners tips thread is so good I've copied it down and paste it in communication w/ all noobs. I wasn't/am not a quick study here, but am loving my shaves. You'll get great help here, and soon have the best shaves of your life.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DLB

This week I received a new 6/8 Hart satin finish razor to go with my 6/8 Hart polished razor.

I am thrilled that we have at least one US company making straight razors. IMO, I find the Hart razors to be well made, excellent shavers.

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DLB, Balrog, I've done a little research there, since I was unfamiliar with Hart razors.

I must say!! Wow!! I love that they are all Quarter grinds. Now I understand some of the references to the 'heavier' steel. I thought they were great. They want a pretty penny for them, but I would absolutely love to have one in my rotation.

How do they shave in the real world? Good? I hope so. They look like they sure should.

Anyway, Impressive razors in my eye. Very cool to have it made here at home too.

Happy shaving!

M

@DLB which do you like better the satin or the mirror finish? Seems to me the satin represents the hart "no frills" approach to razor making better than the mirror but I'm looking to buy one of the new 7/8ths they have and want some ideas. I figure now is a good time as they just sent me newsletter with a code for 10% off any hart steel razor so it's now or never. I don't know the rules on SRP but if anyone is looking to buy one and wants the code send me a PM and I'll give it to you hopefully you can save too.

I wish I had that code a few days ago. Lol.

First impressions: while I don't have anything to compare it to I'll try my best. The razor is beautiful! Excellent craftsmanship. I rinsed off the blade and was very careful not to touch the blade edge. I made some great lather with Proraso as I use this as my benchmark with all new equipment. Lathered up and got started. I Started off doing just one side of my face as Lynn posted in the beginners forum. As I put the blade up it was a bit awkward just getting used to the maneuvering. My angle was a bit too shallow though and I was able to discovered that using DE's for awhile. A little adjustment and I was off and running. The shave on that side felt good. I was cautious and respectful of the blade. I finished up, washed it off dried it then put it away until I cleaned up with the DE. After my usual post shave routine I policed up the area and got set up to strop the blade before applying the oil that came with the razor. I was very careful with the stropping but did manage to nick the leather very slightly. Did about 30 passes wiped it off then applied oil and put it away.

I can feel the difference on the side of my face with the straight as opposed to the DE. Both are smooth but the straight side is what I an only describe as "buttery" smooth.

Now a few questions. By nicking the strop did I damage the blade? I plan on stropping with the canvas side and leather before tomorrow's shave (can't wait!).

Any thoughts on my progress are appreciated. Thanks.

The times I've nicked my strop didn't seem to affect the blade, but every experience is different. With a wedgey grind it's pretty unlikely. Hold the blade so you can see a reflection off the edge, and move it so the reflection travels along the whole length of the edge. If there's a little distortion along the way it should show up.

I always repeat the advice to practice stropping with a butter knife before stropping the real razor. It's kind of an odd motion til you've done it for a while, and good to build some muscle memory before doing the real thing.

Glad to hear you're enjoying your new razor and this whole indulgence we share. Good luck tomorrow. I imagine you'll sleep fitfully, willing your whiskers to grow grow grow.

+1 roughkype. Gained a smile from me!!

M

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DLB

This week I received a new 6/8 Hart satin finish razor to go with my 6/8 Hart polished razor. I shaved with the new razor right out of the box without even stropping it. It was an A+ shave. I love the heavier weight of Hart razors. If you use a light touch, the razor does all the work. I found it very easy to use and would place my two Hart razors in the top echelon of my razors along with a 6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot, a 5/8 "en vogue 105" Black Micarta, a 13/16 J. A. Henckel 72 1/2, and a 5/8 Filarmonica Doble Temple 12.

I am thrilled that we have at least one US company making straight razors. IMO, I find the Hart razors to be well made, excellent shavers.
:rock:

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Wow! It sounds like your Hart razors are keeping some good company. I'm glad to hear you like them so much. I've found that I have a distinct preference for heavier grinds, so I'm seriously considering selling off my full and extra hollows to fund a new 7/8 Hart.

Congratulations on your Hart steel razor.

I too like the look of their razors and was contemplating purchasing their Walnut 6/8 Satin Finish Square Point as I like the minimalistic but purposeful looking design and I prefer the look of square points to round.

I actually emailed Hart Steel a week or so ago regarding different razor grinds other than the Quarter and judging by my reply from them they have different grinds and designs in the pipeline but I was given no specific time frame other than keep watching their website.