Thread: new to this

Hi all,
just picked up a razor, looking to get started. I have a Kinfolks Blue Steel Special razor. It seams sharp, but pulls when I tried to use it. I also have a Norton India oil stone combo. The box says " Norton India Oil stone Combination 1B over 6. One side is course one side is fine. I have a couple questions. If its a oil stone as opposed to whetstone, I would guess you would use some kind of oil on it, so what kind? Is there special honing oil or could I just use like veggie oil or Marvel Mystery Oil? Will this stone put a shave ready edge on a blade? Also I need a strop but right now I cant afford one, so could I use a leather belt for a couple weeks untill I get paid? or can I make one cheeply?
Thanks for this web site, there is so much info in here, I could spend all week reading.

Thanks,
Mike

I stropped on my bluejeans before I bought my linen/leather strop....newspaper also works..but these are temporary til you get a strop

Mike, you're starting out at something that will likely be a joy for life. Its not something mastered right away, but by continual work, study, practice, experimentation. Your particular razor is superb - seriously good. If you're just starting to learn the shave w/ this new blade, perhaps consider saving this one from all your practice mistakes and have a professional (quality) edge put on it. It makes learning the shave a MUCH easier task, and you won't be putting all the practice wear on such a nice blade. Blades for practicing or learning honing can be had cheap ($20-40). The urge to hone is strong. Few guys can resist it. I couldn't. My lousy first edges held back my shaving skills for some time.

I'm speaking from my own experience, having tried to learn to shave and hone at the same time. There's a reason I'm called pinklather. Perhaps ask some other guys that have been at it a while. I suspect you'll hear alot of the same thoughts repeated.

Best of luck w/ your learning. Incredible shaves are not far off.

Hello, welcome, and please please please do not use that hone on that razor! I don't know that hone but am pretty sure it isn't a shaving-level hone. And, like Pinklather, I tried to learn honing and shaving at the same time and, like Pinklather, had my progress slowed on both fronts. Have a professional razor honer get your blade shave-ready, get a starter strop from whippeddog.com or ruprazor.com, and sometime down the road, after you know how a shave-ready razor feels and shave, start practicing honing on a beater. I ruined what should still be a great razor by practicing honing on it. I made--and learned from--a lot of mistakes on that blade. The biggest mistake was learning on that blade.

I dont think I've said anything Pinklather didn't already say--but you sound like you're about to rush into the very things we wish we hadn't done. There's no rush. Spend the week reading, watch some shaving and stropping videos, look in the meetup thread to see if the Michigan meetup happened yet. If it hasn't, GO! There's nothing we like better than eager beginners--as long as they're not so eager that they hurt themselves and damage good razors. The chance to learn this stuff in person is rare--take it if you can.

Best wishes

[QUOTE=pinklather; Your particular razor is superb - seriously good. If you're just starting to learn the shave w/ this new blade, perhaps consider saving this one from all your practice mistakes and have a professional (quality) edge put on it. It makes learning the shave a MUCH easier task, and you won't be putting all the practice wear on such a nice blade. Blades for practicing or learning honing can be had cheap ($20-40). The urge to hone is strong. Few guys can resist it. I couldn't. My lousy first edges held back my shaving skills for some time.

I'm speaking from my own experience, having tried to learn to shave and hone at the same time. There's a reason I'm called pinklather. Perhaps ask some other guys that have been at it a while. I suspect you'll hear alot of the same thoughts repeated.

Best of luck w/ your learning. Incredible shaves are not far off.[/QUOTE]

I am glad I got a good razor, It was all of 5 bucks at an antique show. Now I wish I had bought the other one they had too, oh well. I am sure this is posted some where, but where do i find some one to hone this at? I already tried my local knife shop, which sharpens blades said they wouldnt touch it.
Thanks for the info.

Mike

There is a meetup in Jackson, MI on September 29. Details are in this post. I don't know if that's close to Lansing, but it's a worth a long drive anyway.

You're lucky the knife shop wouldn't touch it. Glen (gssixgun) or Lynn (Lynn) are probably our best honers; I'd send it to one of them. You might find others in the Vendors Corner (scroll down a ways in the Forum) or in our Classifieds under Member Services.

Best wishes