Thread: My new tools and a hello

Welcome to SRP. Your brother set you up with some nice gear. First, ask your brother if the razor was honed by someone that knows how to hone straight razors and shaves with them. If the answer is no, send it to someone for a professional honing. Check the Classifieds forum here on SRP or send me a PM. Next, get a decent strop. An Illinois 827 can be had for from $35 to $45 dollars and will do the job until you are sure you won't cut an expensive strop. When your ready for a good strop check out Straight Razor Designs or other online vendors that sell and hone straight razors for a better strop if it's in your budget. Don't worry about honing for a few months. Learning to shave with a straight razor is challenging enough that learning to hone at the same time can be over the top. You can probably get over a year with your first professionally honed edge if you don't damage it and use chromium oxide paste or diamond sprays on a leather or canvas strop just to refine the edge whan it starts tugging, which would be in a few months. Other tips are to be sure and wipe the blade dry. Ya may not want to use your mother's hand towels though, you may cut them up. Water, shave cream/soap and or finger prints will rust the razor. Be sure to wipe them off. You can practice making shave lather as often as you like until you get good at it. You don't have to shave it off every time. Watch lots of vids and ask us lots of questions. We're her to help you along. When you start shaving, just start with your side burns until you get comfortable holding and moving the razor around. Finish your shave with what ever your using now. Good luck.