Straight Edge Razors from now on

I got turned onto Straight Edge Razors towards the tail end of my last semester of college, when one of my suite mates comes to me (knowing I was a knife collector, and that I had my honing jig with me) asking if I could hone his straight edge - I turned him down, knowing that there was a significant difference between sharpening a knife and sharpening a razor. He had the strop, and now I suspect that's all he needed, but I had no idea where to even begin with the thing at the time.

I did however ask how he liked it, and he told me to give it a try. I swore a vendetta against Gillette that day - or at the very least to switch to a straight edge.

I just finally gathered the money to buy everything, and I'm about to pull the trigger. So, while doing some last minute research, I found you guys and decided to join.

Welcome, don't go crazy with cost or quantity.

Good choice on joining and as stated no need to break the bank to get started. Lots of good items in the classifieds that will do you well or give one of the sponsors a try.

Either way enjoy and we are all here to help

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Originally Posted by dyimages

Good choice on joining and as stated no need to break the bank to get started. Lots of good items in the classifieds that will do you well or give one of the sponsors a try.

Either way enjoy and we are all here to help

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Truer words were never so well spoken... You can definatly get into it without breaking the bank. Later on you may enjoy breaking the bank but you can find real help here and the classifieds hold some really exceptional deals for getting started.

Great to have new blood, no pun intended, at SRP

Welcome. Glad to have you aboard. I am just a little envious because I didn't start using a straight until six months ago at the age of 67. You have all those years of enjoyment ahead as you become a master with a straight razor.

If you can get two razors, I suggest getting one vintage off the SRP Classified and one new from a place like Straight Razor Designs. I have three new Dovos from SRD, honed by Lynn Abrams, and they are wonderful. I think it is nice to have both a vintage and a new razor for comparison. Be sure to read all the stickies and Wiki on purchasing and using a straight razor. There is a wealth of materials available here on SRP and it can get you going in the right direction.

Good Luck and Happy Shaving.
;)

Welcome aboard! Don't toss your Gillette quite yet; there's a learning curve and you'll want to have your old familiar method available. The sensible approach (not that we all took it) is to start straight-shaving the broad, easy planes of your face (sideburns and cheeks) to get the feel for the tools, and expand your range as you get more comfortable. In the meantime, use your old method along and under the jawline, under the nose, under the lip, over the Adam's apple... the weird places where it's bumpy or your beard changes direction.

There's a $40.00 Genco on the Classifieds right now. At 9/16 it's a hair under standard starter size of 5/8, but they're good blades. Plus this one has jimps (good for traction) and a round tip (good for not slicing what you didn't mean to slice). Ask any seller if they think the blade would be good for a beginner. If they can't give you an opinion they don't know enough about razors.

You can click on the Community drop-down at the top of this page and see if there's a member near you. If you're in western Colorado, you're welcome to check out my collection and see what would work best for you.

Best wishes and happy shaving!

Welcome! I'm new here, too, and the community is so helpful. I started with a Dovo 5/8 from SRD, and I don't regret it a bit. Good luck!

Welcome, feel free to ask any questions that will surely arise. The people here are friendly and willing to help. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by mbrowne5061

I got turned onto Straight Edge Razors towards the tail end of my last semester of college, when one of my suite mates comes to me (knowing I was a knife collector, and that I had my honing jig with me) asking if I could hone his straight edge - I turned him down, knowing that there was a significant difference between sharpening a knife and sharpening a razor. He had the strop, and now I suspect that's all he needed, but I had no idea where to even begin with the thing at the time.

I did however ask how he liked it, and he told me to give it a try. I swore a vendetta against Gillette that day - or at the very least to switch to a straight edge.

I just finally gathered the money to buy everything, and I'm about to pull the trigger. So, while doing some last minute research, I found you guys and decided to join.

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Welcome to the forum! You found a great home for straight razor shaving!

Thanks for the warm welcomes, and I apologize for starting this whole new thread for my introduction (just noticed the "Member Introductions" sticky at the top - my bad).

I don't think I'll have enough to buy two razors starting out, but I may just ask for a second one for Christmas and point the family to the classifieds here. I am going to be buying myself a nice strop though and then take my sweet time with it, being very deliberate (I already got the straight-motions down from knife honing, so as long as I go slow, nicks in the leather *should* be rare). I'm also going to invest a little in nicer after shaves. I'm thinking Proraso for the shaving soap, and for the Aftershave I'm deciding between Thayers Witch Hazel (though I'm trying to figure out what exactly the difference is between the After Shave and Astringent, other than the name and price) and Osage Rub.

I use Thayers Cucumber witchazel, and keep the bottle in the fridge 'cause it feels so good cold. GNC stocks it consistently, though drug stores don't. Thayers has a website and many flavors; you can get a pack of trial sizes. Some have alcohol (making them astringent) and others don't.

By Christmas you may have a sense of another grind or brand you'd like to try.

I always suggest that people practice stropping with a butter knife to build up a little muscle memory. There's risk to your new blade as well as to the strop. You probably know that but I just can't help myself :deadhorse:

Enjoy the ride.

Actually, that's a pretty good idea - I didn't think of practicing with a butter knife... guess that horse isn't quite dead yet...