Thread: English Newbie

Hi and welcome from another UK member.

I think I bought my Norton from one of the above 2 shops, I can't remember for sure though. A Norton 4K/8K is very useful to have in the armoury though.

If you're looking at honing up a new razor, you would probably be ok with a pasted paddle strop. Either a 2 side with 1 and 0.5 micron pastes or a 4 sided with 1, 0.5, 0.25 micron.

Tony at http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com/ sells some good ones pre-pasted, and all his products are great value - especially with the exchange rate.

Iwan

Thanks for the advice & the web links.

Northpole

Have you had a chat with the folks at Gentleman's Shop about this?

I went out to their web site and I noticed they have a barber shop where you can get a str8 shave as well as get a consultation on how to shave. I'd be curious why they don't offer a honing service. If they are using real str8s and not those things with the disposable blades, they'd have to keep them sharp somehow.

My guess is that it may be a hygiene related issue or a logistics issue as they claim same day shipping on most items.

Originally Posted by idaho mike

Have you had a chat with the folks at Gentleman's Shop about this?

I went out to their web site and I noticed they have a barber shop where you can get a str8 shave as well as get a consultation on how to shave. I'd be curious why they don't offer a honing service. If they are using real str8s and not those things with the disposable blades, they'd have to keep them sharp somehow.

My guess is that it may be a hygiene related issue or a logistics issue as they claim same day shipping on most items.

Yes, I may send them an email to see if they offer a honing service.
You could be right about the logistics issue, as mine was sent to me within 24hrs by courier.

Originally Posted by idaho mike

Have you had a chat with the folks at Gentleman's Shop about this?

I went out to their web site and I noticed they have a barber shop where you can get a str8 shave as well as get a consultation on how to shave. I'd be curious why they don't offer a honing service. If they are using real str8s and not those things with the disposable blades, they'd have to keep them sharp somehow.

My guess is that it may be a hygiene related issue or a logistics issue as they claim same day shipping on most items.

While they do straight shaves there, they use Dovo Shavette razors (or similar) for reasons of hygene and to keep their insurance costs down. I did ask Robert (the proprieter) about honing of razors and he said they can't hone them on site. He did recommend a barbers in London who do honing but the name escapes me at the moment. Hence for my straights I tend to buy from the USA and get them honed by Lynn or Joe etc.

I'm a big fan of The Gentlemans Shop though, they are just down the road from me and it's where I get my hair cut now. I've had one of their straight shaves and it was very nice indeed, the only problem is whenever I go there it's a big challenge to leave without buying some new soap, brush etc.

Also, the shaving consultation is more for young boys who are learning to shave for the first time, the consultation gives advice on how to shave with a conventional cartridge razor rather than a DE or straight. Apparently it's quite popular these days due to the rise in number of familes where the dad isn't around to teach the son how to shave, and the single mom doesn't know how.

Trumpers in London offer straight shaving lessons, I've had one and while it was quite good I found Lynn's DVD was much more useful and at a fraction of the cost!

personally I don't even own a Norton.

I do most of my work with a Belgian Coticule.

As for strops I can't help you there apart from the fact that Tony at thewellshavedgentleman has an impeccable reputation.

yeah, i was only thinking the same thing today a UK honing service would be great, I have just Recieved my Straight from the post and it looks the Muts nuts, But Classicshaving forgot to post it to Lynn Before sending it on to me. Which is not a major problem becuase i love holding it, feeling like i am out of rambo or something. The down side is that Customs made me pay £20 for VAT or something and if i send it back to Lynn to get Honed will i then have to pay VAT on the Straight again. Anyone from Customs or SOmething please PM me if you can help. Rich

They don't make you pay extra VAT when you ship to europe Send it to me

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

They don't make you pay extra VAT when you ship to europe Send it to me

Or one could be friendly enough to advise him that personally sent items with "gift" on the parcel usually do not get taxed as long as the value stated (true or not) is below about € 35 .

In the case of it getting shipped by a company directly you are very likely to get taxed unless shipped in a "blank" box and still stating "gift" (some companies will do this on request).

In this case specifically if it had been shipped to Lynn first and then to you it shouldn't have been taxed.

Originally Posted by HoekmanX

Or one could be friendly enough to advise him that personally sent items with "gift" on the parcel usually do not get taxed as long as the value stated (true or not) is below about € 35 .

In the case of it getting shipped by a company directly you are very likely to get taxed unless shipped in a "blank" box and still stating "gift" (some companies will do this on request).

In this case specifically if it had been shipped to Lynn first and then to you it shouldn't have been taxed.

The rules for items imported to UK from non-EU countries is as follows:

There are two taxes chargeable:

Customs duty - 3.5% if value on item is less than £290. If the duty is less than £7 it won't be collected.

VAT - this is charged at 17.5% on items over £18 or over £36 if package is marked as a gift, and there is no commercial aspect to the transaction.

If the items is processed by Royal Mail they charge a handling fee of about £5. Not sure what other couriers charge, if anything.

Hope that helps.

Northpole