Thread: Greetings from the latest new guy.

I found this group from a white paper Christopher Moss wrote titled "The Art of the Straght Razor Shave" (After making an uninformed purchase )

I have wanted to learn to use a straight razor for ages, and I have already started out the wrong way, making an impulsive purchase (Kriegar Pakawood). It looks nice... but I don't think I'm going far with it... it was 8 bucks. I haven't hurt myself with it, so it'll just become part of my knife collection...and maybe my sharpening practice blade. Lesson learned. I have since purchased a Dovo blade, following tips I found on this site a little while ago (and a properstone and strop)...now I have to wait for the UPS man.

(For the moderators... I also run a vbulletin site for my company; you guys did a really nice job in setting yours up; I am still in the 3.8 version...never made the leap to 4- your setup may make me rethink that.)

I'm a renaissance guy anyway (pocket watches, pipes, fedoras, etc.), so it makes sense that I ditch those horrid (and increasingly expensive) mach 3 blades, and go old school for my shaving as well. I travel a great deal, and I haven't quite figured out how I am going to get all the accoutrements into my kit, but I'll worry about that after I learn how to use one over my own home sink.

John.

Welcome John!

Enjoy the forum and participate all you can.

Thanks.

I appreciate those links. I just cancelled my $130 Dovo order on Amazon after reading the "it won't be Shave ready from Amazon" advice from another post. I'm pretty good with a stone and knives... but since we are talking about my handsome cheeks and neck, starting from a "this is what you want" perpsective, rather than the trial and error, learn over time approach seems like a pretty smart way to go to me.

This answer likely lies in here as well, but since we are all gathered around the water cooler so to speak, once a good blade is properly setup, how often does it need to be taken back to the stone? I realize that is a "well it depends" question... what kind of metal is it, what condition is in etc... but basically speaking... is this a once a week thing or a once a month thing?

Well, it depends...

Not only on the type of steel and the grind, but also on your beard, your stropping technique (quite a lot of guys 'roll' their edge when learning to strop - check out the "Stroptober" thread here for lots of great info on stropping: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...st-2012-a.html), etc. If you develop good stropping habits, you should be able to go quite some time before sending it for honing. And yes, I am steering well clear of actually answering your question directly.

Some will say weeks, others will say months. There are really just too many variables to give a definitive answer. Expect to send it for honing a little more frequently at the beginning though. As you get more comfortable stropping, you *should* get more shaves between honing.

There are also wonderful little things called 'barber hones' that can be used to give a little touch-up to an edge when it needs a little boost but isn't so far gone that it needs a trip to a pro.

Originally Posted by jc3

. . . I'm pretty good with a stone and knives... but since we are talking about my handsome cheeks and neck, starting from a "this is what you want" perpsective, rather than the trial and error, learn over time approach seems like a pretty smart way to go to me.

We hear "I'm pretty good with a stone and knives" frequently. <g>

The problem is that the bevel angle on a razor is about half of a knife bevel angle, and razor sharpening _starts_ with 1000-grit stones (about as fine as most people hone a knife) and goes on from there.

So your knife skills have to be adjusted and re-learned (like mine were).

Starting with a shave-ready razor is a really good idea.

. Charles

welcome to the site John grab yourself a big mug of coffee and have a read through the wiki section.

Mark

Welcome, John! Interesting that your list of interests sound familiar to most of us here. Add fountain pens and you have a complete list.
My advice is to take it easy, enjoy the journey, have fun.

You might like to read the 'November Beginners Tips' thread by gssixgun - it answers a lot of your questions

Originally Posted by Mike12345

Welcome, John! Interesting that your list of interests sound familiar to most of us here. Add fountain pens and you have a complete list.
My advice is to take it easy, enjoy the journey, have fun.

Did I forget to list those? Drat. I have carried a fine point Waterman for 20 years give or take, and a gray flecked fine point Rotring for the blue ink jobs. I also have quite a collection of pre-40's shaeffer fountains as well, all working, 2 were my Grandfather's that he used to execute legal docs during post-WWII occupation in Venice, Italy (JAG office). Although my Waterman is beginning to like airplanes less and less. It never used to leak on flights before, but now I have to unload it before I board...maybe she's getting tired, or telling me to settle down.''

And to complete my list of eclectic renaissance habits...real airplanes have two wings and round engines... altough special dispensation can be granted to mono-planes that have round engines.

My prehoned Dovo is officially on order from Straight razor designs (that is a daaangerous website). I also have a new 4k/8K whetstone on the way as well. I figure my two $8 straight razors will become practice platforms; Dovo won't touch a stone until after I've worn out at least one of those Amazon blades. Yeah...there's some advice, buy a ready to go razor from a pro, then go buy a couple of $8 razors from Amazon and use those to practice your sharpening skills...

I'm sure glad I found the site, and I really appreciate all the advice. Now I just have to wait for my proper blade to arrive next week.

For what it's worth I think you've made a great choice - good luck and most importantly, enjoy it!