Imperial Razor 20507 find!

Found this old blade in some junk my father in law and friend dropped off at different times.It had some rust and black stains that I cleaned off,then I ran it over an old hard ark stone I use for knives.Then I stropped it on an old leather belt I have.



I keep a full beard,so when I shave it's only my throat or neck if you like.So my first shave with this razor violated all your rules.I shaved my entire neck on the first try I used canned jell and a hot towel.

So what's with all the prep and money?

It's because we're all just bunch of fools that never tried to sharpen it on a hard ark and strop it with a belt....:P Either you're smarter than the entire community, or your question can only be answered by experience. Don't spend the money and you'll never find out. :) A puck of Mitchells ain't really any more expensive than canned gel.

Enjoy your shaves sir.

Ok who peed in your Captain Crunch?If this is how this board works,I'll go elswhere.

Many apologies Edwardd. I really didn't mean anything by it. It's hard to put a fun tone in typed words. Which parts are you not enjoying spending money on exactly? SR shaving is pretty affordable overall. The extra prep gets you a better shave, and several people use/have used Arkansas stones, and have used old belts to strop. I'm assuming if you're just shaving one small part of your neck, that it's not enough to really matter whether the razor is optimally sharpened. I noticed when I shaved my goatee off, that my perception of what was sharp and not sharp changed dramatically, when using the razor on my chin whiskers.
I hope this is more in line with your expectations. Please don't judge SRP by my previous comments. There are alot of great guys here, who probably have better advice than me too.

Yeah ignore Regularjoe! I do! Lol

Honestly the prep is up to you, i have a crazy waste of time prep before i shave, just so i can squeeze that last bit out of the "perfect shave". Once your into using a straight razor, it's like falling in love, your always chasing that perfect moment. Or rather that perfect edge/shave. My Prep is cheap but long...My only warning is: if you continue using a straight razor you'll end up beardless! Eventually.

I think a large part of the prep is for the experience and to make shaving more enjoyable. As others have mentioned A lot of people here are looking for the perfect shave not merely a serviceable one. I personally am still working to attain the perfect shave and have many miles to go on the "straight road". I also like doing it because it honors the history of my grandfather and the way shaves used to be. Anyways best of luck to you.

Thanks for all the replies people.I guess I should have given more back info to start.

A few years back I got a bad flesh eating skin infection and spent 3 years on antibiotics trying to kill it.As of now it's in remission but can come back.One of the things my doctor told me was to avoid using disposable plastic razors for shaving because they collect bacteria.Which would bring back the infection.His only answer was for me to use a straight razor that can be sterilized between uses.Thing is I live on a fixed income and can't spend a bunch at one time so finding that old imperial was great,you can't beat a free quality razor!Right now I'm looking for the serviceable daily shave,later given more funds I might persue the perfect throat shave.I have some nasty scars on my face from the infection so the beard stays.


For now I just need to learn what my grandad did and used on a daily basis for his shaves.Doctors orders ya know!

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Originally Posted by regularjoe

I'm assuming if you're just shaving one small part of your neck, that it's not enough to really matter whether the razor is optimally sharpened.

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No it's my entire throat from one ear to the other and all the way down to the base of the neck.

Well, sorry to hear about your troubles. I'd suggest spending some extended time reading information posted previously by other members. There's a little Google search icon below your notifications. You can type in things like "Arkansas versus barber hone", or "will an old belt work?", "Why beard prep?" and it'll send you to previous posts from other guys that asked the same question, and what the general concensus was. I haven't tried it with those to make sure. It's just a suggestion. The routines people use are what works for them, but if you find something else works for you, and it's cheaper, that's great. I use an India oilstone for part of my sharpening regimin. There's not too many people advocating that. But it was free. I hope you enjoy it here.

Justin

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

If moneys an issue or you don't want to invest in something you don't know if you like yet, there's lots of ways to save money. I made my linen strop from an old pair of jeans by the instructions in the library on SRP. And a paddle strop from a leather guitar strap and a piece of wood. To top it off my shaving soap in a bar of goats milk soap in a regular mug with a little baby oil or cream. Everything there i already had, just thought it was junk. All works great.

Maybe later i'll upgrade, but in the old days very few people had the stuff most of the guys here on SRP has.

Wish you the best.

Thanks for all the input people,it means alot to me.My father and grandfather passed before they could teach me how this all worked.So on docs orders I'm kinda on my own trying to learn how to shave at 43 years old.Tax money is coming so maybe I can buy some things to upgrade.I'm thinking a paddle strop in place of my belt, a brush and soap and maybe a new razor and hone.Not much available in our valley,so is the web site on the header of the forum good for ordering from?

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Originally Posted by Edwardd

I keep a full beard,so when I shave it's only my throat or neck if you like.So my first shave with this razor violated all your rules.I shaved my entire neck on the first try I used canned jell and a hot towel.

So what's with all the prep and money?

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I am very positive we do not have rules how to shave, we have guidelines to help newbies so they can develop the skill properly as it takes time and it is not automatic success from the first try. For what it's worth I did full shaves from the first try and had very good success.
As far as all prep and money, it is up to every member to decide what to do with their funds, and how much prep to do and so on. Some are minimalistic when it comes to creams soaps preshave splashes etc, some people like to try all kinds of products who are we to judge? Over time people discover what works best for them, some need no prep and some need more prep, it is all individual depending on skin type and beard type.

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Originally Posted by Edwardd

Not much available in our valley,so is the web site on the header of the forum good for ordering from?

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You in "The" valley? I grew up on "The" river in OR, up the gorge from Portland.

Antique stores can yield some interesting finds, and there are quite a few SRP members in your neck of the woods. So far as reputable dealers online there are quite a few.

The classifieds here offer great deals on all shaving equipment, and sold by the same guys who are giving advice and helping one another out.
There's also a section in the classifieds for vendors who sell everything from hobby forged razors to hones and strops.
Then there's a whole host of websites including but in no way limited to...
Classic Shaving
Straight Razor Designs
Vintage Blades
Gem Star Customs
Whipped Dog - A favorite "bargain" dealer.
and lots lots more.

I've done business with a couple of those listed, but have no stake in any of them.

Just stay away from ebay. If it's new, it's trash. If it's vintage it's a toss up, and if money's tight no sense gambling it a way when good, tested, cheaper alternatives abound.

Best of luck,
Jim

So after searching the Rogue Valley it looks like online is where I will get my gear.The barber suppliers did not know what a straight razor or shaving soap was.I had to refer to Clint Eastwood in the Unforgiven movie to give them a clue!

I realy like Lynn&Don's site so this will most likely be where I start.

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Originally Posted by 111Nathaniel

My only warning is: if you continue using a straight razor you'll end up beardless! Eventually.

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say it aint so! actually while getting a couple friends into SRs i considered shaving my goatee so i could learn how to shave my chin and upper lip along with them.. but, meh.. :)

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Originally Posted by 111Nathaniel

My only warning is: if you continue using a straight razor you'll end up beardless! Eventually.

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Nope to many scars on my face from the infection.Beardless will never happen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ezpz

say it aint so! actually while getting a couple friends into SRs i considered shaving my goatee so i could learn how to shave my chin and upper lip along with them.. but, meh.. :)

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I wear a goatee as well...only for the wife though.

edwardd, i think that as others have posted before its we are all in search of the perfect shave. i tend to look at it as a zen thing, one step leads to another, the journey. but then again i could just be full of poop. but i find that one isnt as good without the other.