Thread: It Begins...

So I finally got my hands (well, its in the mail...) on a razor and brush from a good guy on here that saw my WTB thread. I got a good price on a J.A. Henckel 451 5/8" razor that is a Friodur no-stain Twin Works with almost no hone ware, a Fulfix Old Origional Super Badger Brush with Vulfix Ebony Acrylic brush stand,a ceramic mug and some Castle Forbes Cedarwood and Sandalwood Shaving Cream. All in one box!

All I need to find now is a good strop, Im going to find a 3" just to be safe (any recommendations would be awesome) and Ill be on my way! Im reading up on techniques (also any recommended reading/watching for a goatee?) and all, so if you have links to something I need to see please let me know so I dont miss a thing.

Just wanted to say thanks for the help, and heres to a nick free shave!

also, any suggestions for soaps, pre/post shave stuff would be great. i get dry, flakey patches after i shave normally and from time to time between shaves.

and last real question, what warrant a razor needing to be honed? thanks again!

I started with a SRD 3" Latigo Strop and I dig it. As far as pre/post stuff YMMV, but I like to use a pre-shave oil. I have tried AOS, but as many say, it is thick. I'm using Cade now and it's pretty good. I just got some Penoligan's shaving cream and after shave balm and i love them. Check if your razor was sold shave ready, it's a must. Sorry this is so short, I'm typing and feeding my 8 day old daughter. Check out the reviews on this site, and read tons. Enjoy!

check the thread Lynn started on what soap did you use today.......many good choices. My current favorites Institut Karit and Valobra. Mitchel's Wool Fat soap has lanolin and will leave you skin moisturized after the shave.

The time for honing is when you can't get a good shaving edge from the strop. The question then is do you use a barber hone, pasted strop, or actually put the razor to the stones.

Learn to strop it is vital to a good shave and it can dub an edge easily if done badly.

It just keeps getting better.

Originally Posted by deadman13

also, any suggestions for soaps, pre/post shave stuff would be great. i get dry, flakey patches after i shave normally and from time to time between shaves.

and last real question, what warrant a razor needing to be honed? thanks again!

If you have dry skin I'd highly recommend Trumpers Coral Skin Food for immediate post-shave use, followed by a quality shave balm (probably non alcoholic would be best). If you like Castle Forbes shave cream you'll really like their AS balm. Pricey for sure, but good stuff. On the cheaper side, Nivea makes a great AS balm too.

A razor warrants honing when the edge tugs, shaves poorly or uncomfortably. It is best to touchup the blade at the first signs of deterioration, which will save you time and effort on the hones.

Big daddy strop is a good choice for a first strop. Congrats on the great razor.

cool. good luck...

anyone give me a heads up on whats going on in this picture and if OP needs to be concerned?

is what i see opened the middle portion of the scales? in an optical illusion type of instance?

i just got it and i was worried about that pic too (since you mentioned it) but i can see whats going on. theres a black spacer on the end which is nice and tight, and if you look under the bottom of the razor you can see the gap in the scales widen some toward the middle pin/spacer. its all good and nice & tight...just how i like it..

Looks like one scale may be a bit warped. Perhaps an original owner left it in a sunny window to dry just too many times. It's triple pinned so I can't imagine any sort of a negative consequence, like the edge being exposed through the back of the scales and cutting you if you hold it too tight after closing the razor. (I have a restored W&B that will do that if I'm not careful.)

PS: Welcome to the fold after all this time!