My Introduction

[Joseph]

Well, I've been reading these forums for a few weeks now and I thought it was about time I made an account and introduced myself. I was really impressed by how active and friendly the members here were.

I recently ordered my first straight razor (should be coming tomorrow ) and chose the Dovo silver steel 'Ebenholz', hone - the Dia-Sharp 8k, leather strop and some red/green/white stropping paste. I also went for the Taylor's 'St. James' Shaving cream, but already had a mystery hair brush from the Body Shop and their Maca Root Shaving cream too.

Anyway, a bit about me. I'm from England (I see the majority are from the USA) and had to soley order off the internet as I'm sure it would have taken me a good while to find a shop that provided anything I needed. Originally from the north west (near Manchester) but currently at University in the West Midlands (near Birmingham).

The main thing I'm worrying about at the moment is that I'm pretty sure my razor isn't going to be shave ready, and unless very strongly advised otherwise, I'm planning to attempt to hone it myself.

Well, I'm sure you will hear much from me over the coming few weeks as I struggle through my first few of everything.

Best of luck,

Joseph

[erictski]

Where did you purchase the razor,

I am a newbie myself but I know most guys will say to send that razor to a honemeister...if it hasnt been honed you will need the bevel set and that takes more than just an 8k from what I understand but I could be wrong...others with more experience will reply soon. Welcome to the Brotherhood

[Joseph]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Purchased the razor from Executive Shaving(UK). They don't hone them before they send them out.

I was originally going to get the 4k/8k norton, but read that the 8k dia-sharp could cut just about as quick as the 4k norton, don't know if that's correct.

Joseph

[JimmyHAD]

Welcome to SRP. You might get lucky and receive a keen edged razor. Perhaps with stropping alone the razor will be adequate without honing. The only way to find out is to try it. I would try it before taking it to your diamond plate.

If it turns out that it needs to be honed you could try it on the dia sharp and see how you make out. You may be a quick study and improve the edge. Shave test again and if it isn't sharp enough you might send it off to have it honed professionaly.

Here is a post by SRP founder Lynn Abrams that will help to ease you into straight razor shaving gently. Worked well for me to follow that advice.

[Joseph]

Yeah okay Jimmy, sounds like good advice. Are there any well known honemeisters from this forum that live in England/UK?

Joseph

[JimmyHAD]

Yeah okay Jimmy, sounds like good advice. Are there any well known honemeisters from this forum that live in England/UK?

Joseph

Yes this gentleman here has a fine reputation. Not a bad place to buy a backup razor either.He also sells TI razors here.

[ben.mid]

Hello,
Glad to see another Englishman here. We're slowly gaining numbers!

[Joseph]

Yes this gentleman here has a fine reputation. Not a bad place to buy a backup razor either.He also sells TI razors here.

I will definately check that out, thankyou for the recomendation.

Hello,
Glad to see another Englishman here. We're slowly gaining numbers!

Hello Ben! I have family living in Oxfordshire actually. Glad to be joining the SRP ranks


Joseph

[paco]

Welcome to the forum. I am in the US but my mother and her family are from the UK. Mm was from Wellingborough, Noth Hampton, and I have cousins in Banbury.

Check out the WiKi for honing advice also.

[gregs656]

Evening fella,

There ARE places in the UK where you can buy traditional shave kit, not the hardware so much but the software is out there.

Tesco stock Wilkinsons soap, palmolive cream + stick, wilkinsons brush and maybe one or two other things depending on the store. Boots do the Men-U brush, cream and some hacketts stuff - I use the preshave oil - as well as their own branded stuff. The cream is 89p and is supposed to be pretty good. Superdrug stock a few bits as well, including the ingrams cream with menthol - which I'm a fan of.

Also, hit up your local antique stores!

I would probably send the blade out my self, just because then you will know what shave ready feels like - a base line for later razors that you hone your self. Bart on here does it for like 10 Euro I think, plus postage - you couldn't get drunk on that.

Good luck from another student,
Greg