Overwhelmed from the "git-go"

Wow! I never knew how complicated all of this was going to be. I live in Poland so it's pretty tough to find ANYTHING in stores around here (ok, impossible). So, on a recent trip to Berlin I picked up a Solingen 38 5/8" razor for around 50eu, a badger brush, styptic pen, and shaving soap. No strops to be found anywhere.

Not able to wait, I got back to the hotel, whipped everything out and went at it. The razor blade had a sticker on it that said it was super sharp but I really didn't sense that it was as sharp as all of the posts/articles/blogs I'd read were talking about. Granted, I'm sure my lathering technique is lame-o at the moment but just don't think the razor was "shave-ready".

I guess my conundrum is trying to figure out what I really need to truly get into this new shaving art form. I read that a second razor would be needed. So I put a bid on a Solingen Kain&Abel on a ebay-type auction site here in Poland. Looks like I'm going to win that for around $45. Also picked up a cheap strop that was being sold on that same site. My fears though are that (1) neither of my razors will be sharp, (2) the strop will be either insufficient or I won't have a clue what I'm doing and (3) there's no one actually here in this area that seems to know how to help me.

Reading about pyramid honing techniques, various kinds of strops, strops pastes, etc is overwhelming but I don't want to throw in the towel. Anyone feel my pain? :) Should I just send my razors back to the states to be sharpened, try to do it myself (don't even understand what "sharp" means really, or what???

Thanks for letting me rant a bit!

You could send it to me. I'm not in the states so shipping might be a bit faster. As for strops a cheap one will do you just fine for now. Most likely you'll nick the strop a couple of times anyway (everyone does) so you'll be happy it didn't happen to a nicer one.

Hey,

That would be great...probably a lot easier and <i>maybe</i> faster (how long do you think it would take for turnaround)? Let me know the details as I'm interested. Also, curious if you have any razors still available.

Also, just curious if anyone has heard of that Solingen Kain&Abel that I mentioned in my original post. I can't find anything on the web which is a tad frightening. Stupid impulse bids!!

Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NewbInPoland

Hey,

Also, just curious if anyone has heard of that Solingen Kain&Abel that I mentioned in my original post. I can't find anything on the web which is a tad frightening. Stupid impulse bids!!

Thanks

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http://straightrazorpalace.com/showt...highlight=Kain

Quick search here came up with link above.

Steven

I've heard of them before. They have a pretty decent name.

As for the razor maximum of 5 days by post one way, a day maybe two for honing (depending on how much time I have) and then five days back. it should take 2 weeks at the maximum I think.

I don't have much in stock at the moment but I will have a few more soon. I'll be posting them in the buy-sell-trade forum then. You can PM me in the meantime for arrangements on the honing of your current razor.

Actually from what I can tell in your picture that strop is pretty good. Not top of the line but not bad either. Does it come with the hone in the picture as well? If it does you have a good start on a full kit for honing and using straights. For a newbie just taking the plunge you've done well, much better than I did,!!!:tu

Well, I won the auction for the Kain&Abel. So, I should be getting that along with that strop and "hone" (is that the right word??) this week. I'll see for sure what kind of strop it is. Seeing as though I've never seen a single other strop EVER it'll probably be great to me.

I went ahead and sent my razor off to the Netherlands (to Alexander) to be sharpened. He suggested...and I agreed...that I just send the one so that I'll have a guide to go by when trying to sharpen my new one.

I suppose I'll start from here and see where I get myself. I assume that it will become evident at some point that I need to upgrade my stuff, adding a better strop, some pastes, or whatever.

We have a lot of really great information for you in our links, faqs and videos sections. Take the time to check them out. Kain & Abel's are generally nice shavers. Good luck.

Lynn

The hone in the link is the same as one that I just won from Ebay. The seller also has other listings for similar hones. I will post a thread after I use that hone. nenad translated it to say that they were similar to the Arkansas stones, quartz based.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ose-ka-do-ostrze...QQcmdZViewItem

Got my new hone (like the one just shown in the post above), "beginner's" strop, and Kain&Abel in the mail yesterday. I tried the hair test on it and it "seemed" not too sharp to me. I took my time and tried honing it (about 15-20 passes as I read on one of the articles I think from this site)...stropped it and sat it aside to shave this morning.
I also did the hair test again and it seemed sharper.

Sidebar: How exactly do you do that hair test I've done about 5 times without ever really knowing what I'm doing??? Haha!?

So, this morning...I lather up with the finest of soaps (Wilkinson's blue tub o' shaving soap), let it soak in a bit, stropped a few passes to show off for the wife, lathered up a bit more and began. I felt like the first 5 or so passes were incredibly smooth. No hang-ups or anything. I thought to myself "I've reached sharpness divinity on my own...without even knowing what I'm doing!". But alas the rest of the shave was pretty bumpy with some bonus pulling and scraping (gotta love that).

I guess one of my issues is knowing what the problem is...bad soap which leads to bad lubrication and bad shave...unsharp razor (but why did it start out so divine?)...combination of that and/or other things??

A little less overwhelmed...a little more bloody. Haha!

Shaved again with it yesterday (I know...some say let it rest...others don't...I took my chances). I stropped with about 40 passes per someone else's suggestion in a different post. I also tried to use a lighter touch. I shaved 3 times and have to say that it wasn't near as close as the day before...but there was definitely less pulling and less irritation. Of course maybe that's just because I wasn't using as much pressure (hence the not-so-close finish).

Still waiting on my sharpened razor to show up from the Netherlands (thanks Alexander) to compare to my Kain&Abel. Just curious if anyone might throw a newbie a bone and give a suggestion...like dull razor...cruddy soap...or pack it in and head back to the Mach 3 Turbo. :-)

Get some different soap. Maybe Palmolive if you can find it. If I'd have known that you were using Wilkinson I'd have sent something nice along. The razor should arrive anyday now though. But Wilkinson is not exactly known for being the best. See if you can find something better. A cream perhaps.

Obviously I cannot say anything on the hone you just bought.

If Alex has honed your razor and provided you do not mess the edge up all you'll need is IMHO a finishing hone like this: http://www.manufactum.de/track_flash...Pr.5112.0.html

They may ship to Poland or buy one next time you go there. These are identical to the vintage Thuringers that occasionally appear on ebay and very similar to Eschers I have been told. At 18 euros a real steal!

If you want to restore non-mint quality razors you will need a lower grit thing like a Norton 4/8K, although with patience I managed to hone a razor bought from an antiques dealer with my Thuringer. But it did not have major issues of the cutting edge.

Hi everyone! This is my first post it this forum.

I’m also new to straight razor shaving in fact I was betting the same razor that NewbInPoland :). Finally I’ve decided to go for something cheaper (against all the advises I’ve read) and see if this is something for me and above all learn to hone and strop.
I got extremely cheap NEW razor (about 8$) that is said to be taken from military stock ( some old reserves that are sold by military ).

The razor looks “plain”… what do you say:
http://www.imagic.pl/files/359/BRZYTWA/1.jpg
http://www.imagic.pl/files/359/BRZYTWA/2.jpg
http://www.imagic.pl/files/359/BRZYTWA/3.jpg

And this is how it is "packed" :) :
http://www.imagic.pl/files/359/BRZYTWA/10.jpg


I also got same cheap strop as NewbInPoland did. I’ve paid for everything something around 16 $ !!! You’ll know if I live after the first shave…

As for razors that can be both here in Poland I found hew here:
http://www.solingen.pl/index.php?cPa...1c8e0ffb3dd8a6

I know its all in polish but you can click on image to select given razor (you can easly find dimensions in the text) and again click picture to enlarge it. If you are interested in price please divide the given by 3 and you will get $.
If anyone could advise me a good razor from that list (in case the 8$ razor will make me buy the real one) that would be great… THANKS :bow


EDIT: I've made mistake for calculating PLN(Polish currency) -> $ the factor is 3 (not 4 - this is for EURO)

There's little chance that razor will work out alright. If you did score a good shaver then you made out impossibly well with a $6 output. Please save yourself!

From the site you list, any of those razors should do well. Our members can provide you with something cheaper too. Best of all, it'll come shave ready from our members.

X

Oh man! Wish you would have gone a couple more zloty higher...I was at my absolute highest point and really didn't need to spend the money! :) The razor is nice enough though and I wanted it mostly b/c I liked the whole grim imagery of Kain&Abel...thinking about shaving with something with that icon on the box (as someone else mentioned somewhere).

If you were interested (and he agreed) maybe you could send your razor off to Alexander (can't recall his username but the info's in this post) for him to sharpen it for you. I did that with my solingen and he seemed to do a great job. In fact I shaved with it today and know that I have a good example to use when trying to get the K&A sharpened.

That would be me. Good to hear that the razor worked well for you. Let us all know in the "shave of the day" forum.

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Originally Posted by NewbInPoland

Oh man! Wish you would have gone a couple more zloty higher...I was at my absolute highest point and really didn't need to spend the money! :)

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I stopped my betting around 120zl so its not me to blame for the final price :w

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NewbInPoland

If you were interested (and he agreed) maybe you could send your razor off to Alexander (can't recall his username but the info's in this post) for him to sharpen it for you.

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I do not know if this razor (remember it was around 8$) is worth taking Alexander time. When I'll get it and see that is made of metal ;) than meybe I'll ask Alexander to help me...

ps can you write me on private how did you send the razor (by national post?)

**EDIT: I've spoke to the guy that sold me the razor (wojtec76 here in forum) - he claims it was sharpen by him and I should be shave ready. I 'll give it a try

******** GOT IT FINALLY
http://straightrazorpalace.com/showp...7&postcount=22