Thread: Wish I found this place sooner

Originally Posted by MGNero

Thanks guys any advice about the leather conditioning on the strop? Also should I use a paddle strop or a hanging strop is there any huge difference between the two?

First, Sorry about you grandfather's passing. You really hit the jackpot with razors though. He left you some nice stuff, and you are a real mensch for taking over the tradition.

Strop conditioning? Many people just rub the palm on a strop just before use, and that's it. I have tried this and I find that it warms the strop, softens it and increases draw. I also use Fromm's strop dressing sometimes and I find it to increase the draw of the strop significantly, then for the effect to fade over a couple of weeks. I'm using a Dovo Russian Leather strop.

-----Michael

Thanks MJ I appreciate the compliment. Do you use the new strop straight out of the box or do you apply any of that dressing.

Also does anyone have any idea what type of hone that is in the pictures because I don't know if I can use that for basic sharpening or not.

Thanks again everyone this nooby appreciates it,

MGNero

BTW that F.W Engels 'Leader' you have there is easily a top 2% razor. If none of your razors are professionally honed, I would suggest sending it out as it will be a great refrence point when it comes to maintaining the edge of your other razors. Good on you for embracing your grandfathers legacy too!

Yeah the engels does need a little work though especially on the blade because there are so many knicks in the blade towards the end. Just curious what is a 2% razor? I assume it's a good thing.

Great collection... I saw my grand, grand father shaving with (tat old times provided) army razor which he kept. I would never forget him shaving even I was just 3 at this time. Welcome in the club!

A 2% razor? Just a very unscientific determination of quality based upon my own experience. Take it with a grain of salt. Worth a pro hone IMO.

question are you cutting the business card with the razor ,if you are you could very well damage the edge of the razor . the two side hone is a barbers hone used to touch up razors on the fine side 8 to 12 strokes is all that is needed then strop. i and others would love to see the rest of the hones your granddad left you !

I did that when i first found some of the razors then I stopped after doing some more reading. Now I test the sharpness on my arm hair which is turning my arms into patches. I will post the hones after i go home so unfortunately not until march sorry! They are pretty cool looking there is a belgian waterstone in the collection.

edit: do I use water on the barberstone or is it a dry hone.

the strop question i like the hanging strop for regular maintenance and a paddle strop for using with chromium oxide.

Originally Posted by MGNero

I did that when i first found some of the razors then I stopped after doing some more reading. Now I test the sharpness on my arm hair which is turning my arms into patches. I will post the hones after i go home so unfortunately not until march sorry! They are pretty cool looking there is a belgian waterstone in the collection.

edit: do I use water on the barberstone or is it a dry hone.

sounds great the arm hair test is a good test for most people. i can talk to you for days about hones. just remember when finishing a razor is alot like shaving you have to use a lite touch.