Overwhelmed from the "git-go"

[NewbInPoland]

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!

[LX_Emergency]

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.

[NewbInPoland]

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

[nerobot]

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

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

Quick search here came up with link above.

Steven

[LX_Emergency]

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.

[Wildtim]

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,!!!

[NewbInPoland]

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.

[tadzio]

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


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

[xman]

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

[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! 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.