Just got my Timor Hamburg Ring !

Well I ordered it last week or so and it finally came today !! anxious to test it out I tried my first shave and well no cuts but blade was definitely not sharp enough right outta the box and didnt get a close shave. Right now I'm just waiting for my strop to come from Hand American which I placed an order for it a week ago as well but heard nothing back as to when it will ship.

I will say that shaving with a straight razor is really really really fun !! Made me feel extra manly :roflmao Reason why I wanted to try a straight razor is those disposable safety blades like mach 3 etc.. are not sharp enough as I'm blessed with a wrought iron beard. So I switched to an electric razor and that was able to cut through my hair and give me a real close shave but it still took me 15 mins or more to mow through my beard.

Tomorrow I'm heading to a local lee valley tools to pick up a norton 4k/8k hone and try my hand at that.

I'm glad you enjoyed it even with a dull blade. Norton is a great start but you should also get a 2-sided paddle strop with 1.0 and 0.5 micron pastes to get your blade extra sharp. You could also go for 0.25 but some think it's too delicate for heavy growth.

Hmmmm I'm now debating whether i should skip the norton as its $90 over here and just go with the double sided paddle strop since I found one for $30 and I can get the compounds for cheap too.

You will need a hone with the same grits but some come cheaper than Norton. I used Japanese slipstones that cost me like $35 gst+pst inc. before I got the Norton. They were perfectly fine but Norton just makes my multiple restorations easier. Check out the other waterstones @ LV. You may be able to have your cake and eat it to.

Thanks for all your help:)

Hopefully i'll be able to pick up something today as I'm dieing to shave again.

The Norton is worth the price in my book. I know it's a big investment up front, but I don't know how I could live without mine. I also follow that combo stone with pastes. If you can't afford the stone right now, I'll hone your blade for you for now, you can get the paddle until you can afford the Norton. Just PM me on it. If you can afford it and are just mulling, I'd say pay now and enjoy sooner.

X

Well I bought the Norton last night rushed home and tried it out, got it to the point where I can shave upwards on my arm hair without any pulling like it did before. So in a few hours i'll shower and try it out again.

Quick question though how do you clean off the metal particles off the surface of the norton? I tried washing it under water and that got rid of most but theres still very light areas where you can see them stuck in the little crevasses.

By lapping it, which you should have done before starting to hone. Once you lap it it's ok for the hone to have SOME metal particles as long as it's not oversaturated with'em, when you have to lap it again.

You really shouldn't shave yet if you do not have a strop.
If you can not wait you may use the back side of a leather belt.
Just remember that this whole process takes time and practice.

Glen

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by crippledhobo

Quick question though how do you clean off the metal particles off the surface of the norton? I tried washing it under water and that got rid of most but theres still very light areas where you can see them stuck in the little crevasses.

---

I get mine pretty nice and clean by scrubbing with a Scotchbrite pad under running water.