'newbie' signing in

Hi all, I'm a 29-year old Belgian (Antwerp to be exact) male, been shaving since my 15-16th year and Mach3 was my big revelation (still is my preferred razor), however it never gave me satisfaction nor a decent smooth shave to my likings (still have to shave twice a day if I want it smooth :/ )

So, in search of a better way to shave, I stumbled on all your wonderful sites and well, while I didn't knew these razors still existed (last time I saw one was an old one with the handle broken in an old toolbox of my father when I was 9 :( ) , being thoroughly victimised by the incessant Gilette-Wilkinson brainwashing and the non-existence of choice in all mens-ware stores, I sure am glad that I can still 'go back to the roots' and hopefully enjoy a much better shave. :)

currently I bought myself a beginners badger brush from shavemac.de as well as soaps and a nice cup and stand for the brush (given the fact that my bathroom is very tiny, these seemed an excellent choice), so that, in attendum of the razor, I can already learn myself to make lather and apply/use it with my currently used M3. (sorry if this comes over as heresy to some of you but you'll just have to deal with it. ;) )

So currently I still need strops and (a) razor(s), as well as some other things no doubt, suggestions would most definately be welcomed. If possible I'd like to purchase a razor from one of you honemeisters so that I know that I'll get a decent one. :)

My big *but...* is the following: ever since my 16th I've been a beard-man. I've had various kinds of beard types from goatees to full beards though since about 6 years now I do trim them all down to 1-3 mm depending on wanted look & mood (to get that more stubbly manly look mostly, ohlala :roflmao ) So anyway at times I do need to shave *between* regions where I do keep hair e.g. a soulpatch within a full beard or a ringbeard, so I'd need a razor that I can use for these finer jobs that will accomplish that (do keep in mind that fine is relative given that I use an M3 for this job right now) . The question is: does this call for a spiked point or would a rounded point razor be fine?

Anyway, nice to get to know all of you, thank you for the reviews and helpful threads you posted here and on other sites that I've been reading so far. Any and all info you can give will be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

Harold

PS one of the main reasons of going towards 'lesser' amount of blades for me is that I tried the wilkinson quattro and it just tore up my face, at least with the M3 it only makes my face really sore the second shave.

Hi Harold,

Welcome to the forum.....:)

For a razor and strop kit check out
www.thewellshavedgentleman.com

This is the site of forum member
Tony Miller, he sells first rate
strops and shave ready Dovo straights.

For a vintage blade check out

www.billysblades.com
This is the site of forum member
Bill Ellis (urleebird ) He has some
really great shave ready razors

or...http://shop.writerferret.com/

This is Joe Chandler another forum member
who sells vintage shave ready razors.


Hope this helps.....


Terry

The smaller blades sizes like 4/8 would be perfect for a job like this. Many of the razors in this size come in a french point which is like half of a round point, and offers the precision of a spike tip without the risk. They look like this (9/16 french point).

Edit: There is a new 4/8 french point revisor on John Crowley's store.

Welcome aboard Harold. You may also want to check out Bill Ellis' shop. He has some spike-points in the 5/8 range http://www.billysblades.com/Entry%20Level%20Razors.htm for $45 (approx) a pop. Bill definitely knows how to hone'em, just ask Josh (JLStorm) :cool: As for strops, someone already mentioned Tony's shop as THE place to get'em. Good luck, enjoy and look into the coticules, as they'd be a local resource for you.

what I was wondering about: given that there seems to be a much wider variety of choice in the 5/8 range would the 4/8 really be a better choice or could I do just as well with a 5/8?

thx :)

I'll look into those 'belgian stones' but honestly I had never heard about them before.

Every choice is a compromise. The 4/8ths are a bit better at trimming and edging, the 5/8ths are a bit better at general shaving duties. It's up to you. I'd get one of both.

Harold, the difference in width between a 4/8 and a 5/8 isn't all that significant. Actually for precise work, I'd worry more about the length of the blade. A DD Dwarf may be a good idea (I think X was selling one but I don't know if he sold it or not). A good coticule will put that final polish on your edge and make it sharper than had you gone with the Norton 4/8k, which is the most common hone used here, especially for restoring older blades.

ok, so I just bought me that 4/8 french point revisor. (it does look like a really nice blade and I tend to trust my gut when it says something's right), let's hope my gut doesn't gut me first of course ;) )

next I'll be looking into strops: I'm thinking wellshaved gentleman Heirloom #3 Standard Hanging Strop at first, together with a pre-pasted 4 sided paddle strop? That way I do have as much of a regular hanging strop as possible but should I butcher it, then it's not too much money down the drain, compared to those higher end models. (the pre-pasted paddle strop since I certainly won't be honing anytime soon)

Does this seem like a correct choice to you guys? Thx for the advice so far. :)

Harold

edit: also is there some place where you can buy a little box to put your razor in or something? :|

Welcome Aboard Harlod.

I hope your experience here will be enjoyable. I know that even with myself just starting out it has been a blast to look through here and talk with people. Whether it be my honing lesson on video with Randy, to talking with Simon in Scotland about strop and seeing his on video, or talking with Ilija who lives down the street from my work. There are many people around this forum that have a HUGE amount of information (almost too much to listen to in one sitting especially at the start)

But I hope you stick with it and enjoy the calmness that this should hopefully bring to your shaving needs.

Harold,

The #3 hanging strop should be just fine.
I seriously doubt though that you will do
any serious damage while learning to strop.

As far as the pasted strop, may as well order
it now, but it will be some time before you
actually need it.

When you get your stuff and begin to strop,
go slow, take your time. Speed is not a factor.

I wish you luck. I'm sure that you will do fine
with your new found hobby......:)


Terry

could anybody here also tell me how an old shaving mug like this would be used?

http://i14.ebayimg.com/04/i/08/34/97/66_1.JPG

do you fill the bottom with hot water so you can make your lather in the heated 'bowl' near the top?

It would appear that way but I'm not
positive. It seems like you would work
the lather up in a seperate bowl or
mug, then finish whipping it up in this
one. Keeping the brush in the upper
part between passes.


Terry

Actually, what you have there is a moustache cup. The bar is for keeping a gentleman's handlebar 'stache out of his java.

Glad you got the 4/8 French point. It should be excellent for what you want it for. I've worn facial hair most of my adult life, and that one is great. I had a couple and sold them as they were wedges and I couldn't seem to keep them sharp. Oh how I wish I would've kept them now! I have a Double Duck Dwarf and it's good for going around a moustache/beard as well. I wore a full beard for many years and put all my str8s on a back burner and mostly used a Merkur HD slant bar for upper cheeks, neck, and lower lip. A year and a half ago I played John Adams on stage and apart from side whiskers, was clean shaven for the first time in 28 yrs. That got me interested in using the straights again. This forum was a Godsend. I've learned honing and shaving techniques that I wish I knew years ago. For our current play, J. B. Priestley's AN INSPECTOR CALLS, I wearing a handlebar moustache and muttonchop whiskers. Best wishes in your new hobby, oh and welcome to SRP!

An old friend of mine lives in Antwerp. Anja owns Agora Press. Being a small world, I don't suppose you know her?

no, sorry :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by harold

could anybody here also tell me how an old shaving mug like this would be used?

http://i14.ebayimg.com/04/i/08/34/97/66_1.JPG

do you fill the bottom with hot water so you can make your lather in the heated 'bowl' near the top?

---

That mug is awesome! I wish I had a 'stache to keep out of my java. :)

You're getting all the goods and in good order from these gents. I use my 3/8 French Point for those detail jobs and it works like a dream. If it's not ready I'll use a 5/8 spike to equal effect, but it might not be quite as comfortable to handle. Good luck keeping the strop pristine. I'd say go slow and be very careful for the first few months and you should be out of the woods. I put a few nicks in my 361 last year, but it doesn't affect the performance of the strop. Maybe someday I'll trade it in for one a n00b (yours truly) hasn't damaged, but the trouble is it works so well that I'm loath to part with it.

X

G'Day all, I've been lurking around this site for some time now and have now taken the plunge and am hoping I don't sound like a goose but I have two questions.

1. With the pyramid honing technique, I know the first two are for 4k and 8k but what does the last represent?

2. I have read most of your advice about strops but before I found this site I bought a two sided leather hanging strop with the reverse side being caborium? or similar, feels like sandpaper. The salesman said it was to replace using strop pastes but I havn't heard any of you guys using one of these. Have I been taken and will it stuff up the edge of my razors?

Any help would be appreciated.

with regards to the paddle strop, thewellshavedgentleman.com gives me choices between 'smooth' and 'balsa' what should I specify for a paste-only paddle?
edit: after some searching it seems 2 balsa and 2 smooth would do it, with the balsa sides for the 1 and 3 pastes :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aussie

1. With the pyramid honing technique, I know the first two are for 4k and 8k but what does the last represent?

---

Not sure what you mean. There should be two numbers, the first one is the # of passes on 4k, the second is the # of passes on 8k. You'll do a pyramid sequence like 5/1, 5/1, 4/2, 3/3, 2/4, 1/5, 1/5 then test. FYI the pyramid is really only intended for use on the 4k/8k norton or similar grits, once you get higher its not really needed.

Harold,
I usually suggest balsa for the fine pastes, not the coarse but that is just from my experience with them. Maybe some others here have used them the other way, with balsa for the coarse paste.

In theory the balsa is harder and would be closest to using a hone since there is no give than leather would but it gives less a feeling of draw because of this. It works as effectively but just does not feel like there is any drag on the razor.

Tony

Thanks for clearing up the pyramid, I've seen other sequences that were similar to

1/1/5, 2/1/5, 3/3/5 etc.

That's what was confusing me:gth