Thread: Imperial Razor 20507 find!

Ed, welcome to SRP.

Seems like you jumped in the pool and the water wasn't what you were expecting. SRP's really a great place with loads of info and good gents who are here to help each other out.

So far as your experience goes: Perfectly doable shave routine. Would it work for most people? Probably not. Is it the best you could attain? I'd personally doubt it. Did it work? Sure seems like it did!

Hard ark's are used with razors. They may not be the most popular, but they're definitely servicable.
Belts are strips of leather, and if yours is clean, smooth, and relatively soft then there's really no difference between that and a strop.
Canned gel is made for shaving, it definitely works, though it may not be the "best" for straight shaving, and is certainly not the cheapest option for the same quality (and better) lather.

Really, so far as money is concerned a straight razor setup to last a lifetime (except for soap) costs about as much as four months of cartridge shaving cost me--that's two razors, a strop, brush, and barber's hone. I spend about $9/yr on soap. The only thing cheaper would be to just grow a beard. (I currently have a beard, but shave my neck daily)

So far as prep goes, there are two schools of thought--heat and soften, cool and contract. Sounds like you went toward the latter, which is fine and what I tend toward.

So all that said, you may have gone contrary to recommendations for first timers, but you definitely were on the same playing field. Good luck with your journey!

Peace,
Jim