Thread: Hey everyone!! New to srp!

Newbie here. Didn't really do a whole bunch of research before I started shaving. Got an old henkels twin razor from an uncle, a little smaller than normal razors, smaller than 6/8 for sure. Anyways, went and grabbed a mug, soap, badger brush, strop and fine hone from local barber shop. (not much selection). Got home, put some soap on hone, did that, then stropped it canvas back first then leather, AND GOT TO IT! lol surprisingly it wasn't bad at all. Hasnt been used in prolly 30-40 years. Didn't cut myself, it did a good job. I figure with practice and getting it "shave ready" will prolly give me a much better shave though. Used some lotion moisturizer I had for face cause I don't know what else to use. Anyways, what brough me here is this:

1)Id like to purchase a good, shave ready razor. One that I can learn with, grow into, and use for years.
2)What do I use for an "after shave" per ce, or moisturizer.
3)Good soap? I think what I got is called williams.
4)Got an Illinois strop, is that good?
5) hone is have feels super fine. I just threw bag away today. The label said something like Arkansas hone. Small white stone. Any good?

Id really appreciate any help, or direction. Luckily I didn't have a bad experience lol but if someone can point me in the right direction and lead me to getting a good razor and setup that'd be great. Thanks!! Glad to join the group!

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

Welcome to SRP!
Good job so far, your uncle was mighty kind. normal sizes for a razor for shaving are 4/8" to 8/8" with most of them in the 5/8" to 6/8" anymore. the Henckels is a great vintage brand.

many of our vendors offer great prehoned razors... prices vary from vintage to new as do the designs $30 to $2k... try the vendors corner, the classifieds or straight razor designs, vintagebladesllc, classic shaving whippeddog are all very popular vendors.

i generally do not use a moisturizer just aftershave or witch hazel, so i really cannot help you there.

williams is ok soap, look fro either poraso or c o bigalow you might be able to find them at bed bath and beyond, i like tabac, floris, trumpers, truefitt & hill, taylors and for creams i like castle forbes, and all the above brands these i all buy online, many of the makers have relatively cheap sample sizes.

Illinois strops are nice and will last a couple of lifetimes if cared for.

hones are interesting some of the arkys work for razors most do not. you could go back to the barber and ask again. you can barber's hone to keep an edge going for years.

as for general help read gssixgun's beginner's tips.

read strop and shave!

enjoy,
jim

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

Oh! And do I need strop paste? Barber supply said I wouldn't need any for the strop I got..

Also if you don't want used razor, but want something special - try to find NOS (New Old Stock) razor

Went to classifieds. The first razor on there by manah seems nice. Any thoughts? Not sure if I went to right place, by I clicked on straight razors. Says its shave ready. Maybe someone knows a little more about it, if it fits my experience level etc.

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

Went to classifieds. The first razor on there by manah seems nice. Any thoughts? Not sure if I went to right place, by I clicked on straight razors. Says its shave ready. Maybe someone knows a little more about it, if it fits my experience level etc.

I know anybody except Manach who can know more about this razor, try to ask him. As for me it's good razor. You can also check his site for more razors
STRAZORS.com - all about classic razors - Home page
If Manach mark it as shave ready - be sure it will be really shave ready