Thread: Hey everyone!! New to srp!

welcome to srp sounds like you got a good razor. I don't know much about the hone. Williams is OK. I like proraso preshave and soap for normal skin (green label) and as for post shave (moisturizer and aftershave balm as well a once a week there face scrub) Baxter of California. you can get free samples of their products but shipping cost $5 something from their web site Baxter of California | Mens Grooming Sets hope this helps you

1. looks like you already have good razor, but you need to send it for honing to someone. You can find someone near you
Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds
Also you can find some great vintage shave ready razor in classifieds.
Or you can purchase new razor from SRD or other vendor (look at vendors section)
2. I use l'Occitane cade aftershave balm, you can also try Proraso pre/after shave.
3. Personally I don't like Williams soap, but it's cheap so it worth to try.
4. Illinois strop must be good
5. I'm never used arkansas stones, but I heard good feedbacks about them

Thanks guys for all the info!! Never thought I'd get such good feedback! Glad to hear I got a good razor, I need to post a pic if I can figure it out, I'm guessing it would be like a 4/8? It's very light, and the blade seems really thin. I was kindve interested to try a 6/8, a little bigger, with a little more weight to it. I'll check out the vendors y'all posted and I'll definitely be getting some new soap and aftershave. The Williams doesn't smell good at ALL that's for sure lol. There's not much here in town that offers a lot for straight razors, (rumor is they are illegal for barbers to use, don't think that's true though), but I found an old barber in town that has used a straight razor for 46 years. Unfortunately it's been so long since he's used one he couldn't really give me any tips on honing. But he explained the mircoscopic teeth etc very well. He even still had the razors he learned on!

Anyways, on the box my razor reads:

J.a. Henckels
Twin works solingen Germany.

On the razor it reads:

Tonsorial gem
F.a. Clauberg
New-York
Made in Germany.

Maybe y'all can tell me a little info on it? When I look for my next razor, what should I look for in the vendors? Brand? I know to make sure it's "shave ready". It doesn't have to be vintage or anything. I just wanna make sure I get a good one

Originally Posted by Imfast101

Thanks guys for all the info!! Never thought I'd get such good feedback! Glad to hear I got a good razor, I need to post a pic if I can figure it out, I'm guessing it would be like a 4/8? .... <snip>... He even still had the razors he learned on!

Anyways, on the box my razor reads:

J.a. Henckels
Twin works solingen Germany.

On the razor it reads:

Tonsorial gem
F.a. Clauberg
New-York
Made in Germany.

Maybe y'all can tell me a little info on it? When I look for my next razor, what should I look for in the vendors? Brand? I know to make sure it's "shave ready". It doesn't have to be vintage or anything. I just wanna make sure I get a good one

So just the box says Henckels? the "tonsorial gem" by Clauberg is a nice little razor that will shave very well. quite often over the years things get put in different boxes... you know like your cds and dvds ... what matters is what is on the item inside.

for brand new razors you will find Boker, Dovo and Thiers-Issard... all three companies make good razors. then there is Hartsteel and dozens of custom makers.
we have a list of "new" razors that will not hold an edge, for love nor money. unfortunately some of them are modern incarnations of once great razor brands and capitalize on the name. just check the wiki before you buy.

Originally Posted by Imfast101

I found an old barber in town that has used a straight razor for 46 years. Unfortunately it's been so long since he's used one he couldn't really give me any tips on honing. But he explained the mircoscopic teeth etc very well.

The 'microscopic teeth' is wrong misconception that made its way into the barber's manual. Good razors honed well don't really have teeth.

did the pictures work? not sure if anybody saw them!

i guess i shouldve included in that reply, how do i remove what looks like tarnish? it might be little rust spots coming up that i can feel. maybe you can see in that pic. im debating getting that dovo. i really liked the wood handles tho, but the bismarks blade is pretty i did some research on the net, looks like i should look for high carbon steel and full hallow. keeps edge longer? sorry for all the questions, i mostly always double check info; but i do appreciate all the help! ima go ahead and send my razor off to straight razor designs, im guessing they are good. when i do that i might just go ahead and buy another, along with some new soap, and maybe some aftershave. i definitely need some, but theres so many choices! and i dont wanna go around smelling like an old man lol

Ok I will try to answer with my clumsy English razor looks good after light polish and honing you will have great razor - SRD one of the best places to do so. About steel - I prefer carbon steel I think it more soft and forgiving and easier to strop, but stainless will hold edge longer, about hollow ground I still didn't make my personal opinion. If to chose between Dovo and Thier I prefer Thier just because I didn't like gold on the blade and Thier has clean polish blades.

damnit idk why i just dont make one big reply, but a lot of yall said that boker and dovo are pretty much the same, well all three makers that is. does anyone have any preferences over the other? and why? i like the boker arbolito too. seems nice.

Sounds like the razor you have is more than fine. Just ship it off to be hones.

Illinois strop, mine was cheap and fine 2nd was creased. Take a moment to read up and inspect your strop, its the main thing to keep the hone away. Speaking of which, I have no clue on your specific hone.

From:
Hall's Pro Edge - Choosing the Right Arkansas Stone Grade
and you description of color and a barber recommendation, you probably have the best arkansas for the job.

Williams was not bad for me to lather, and did not feel bad on my face. But it smells like a chemical factory IMO.

I am sure you will come across lots of recommendations, so I will provide an anti-recommendation. Something of a minimal baseline IMO:

Bath or hot water soak the face.

tiny dab of conditioner rubbed on face

lather

shave

rinse

coldest the faucet gets rinse

Personally the cheap van der hagen luxury shave set has seen me though the first 5 months of learning