Thread: Another newbie introduction

Hello everyone, I'm sure there's been a few hundred of these, but I might as well get it over with.

Paul's the name, and I finally got for Christmas what I hope will be my next obsession, a straight razor. Don't know if the wife did too well, but pouring through the forums tonight, I haven't seen anything to warrent that she did bad. I got a Fromm 72R, w/ an Illinois 361 strop and Fromm dressing to go with that. Of course, a couple of different types of glycerin soaps to lather up, and I already had a Burma Shave brush..

I've gone through all of the help files, and read, read, read. I might note that a couple of the guides to seem to contradict themselves when it comes to strops and maintainence of them. Specifically, I recall one saying to put dressing on the linen side, and another saying not to. Hopefully someone can clear that up for me.

I'm weary to actually try the initial shave (was everyone?), as the razor isn't passing the hair test out of the box. This seems to be the case for most razors from what I take, so I guess I will have to look into getting a hone beforehand. Hell, I might as well pick up an ebay razor while I'm at it too, so I don't multilate my new one with the learning curve. Any other tips you guys might give a newbian?

Also, HUGE props to all of you guys for putting together such a wealth of information about a lost artform.

Welcome aboard! Since you're now the new guy, you get to take over handing out sandwiches at the Sunday meetings. Seriously, though, everyone here is very helpful, and I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice to get you started.

To address your point about the razor not being sharp - you're right, my experience is that unless you get a shave ready razor (and sometimes even then) the razor probably won't be shave sharp right off.

Now, I'm relatively new at this, and did go ahead and get a hone, but I think I may keep it in the box for a while. There's so much else to learn, including how to use the blasted razor, that it's just one more thing to worry about. Several of the people here will hone razors for a nominal fee, I believe, and you'll probably get a better edge, without the trouble of buying a few cheap razors, and learning by trial and error.

As for strops, there's a distinction between strop dressing (which I believe just conditions the leather) and strop paste (which is abrasive). Some people have multiple strops with different levels of abrasive paste on them to keep the razor sharp between honings. I disclaim any advanced knowlege of this, though, and leave it to the experts.

-Keith

Welcome Paul. I'll have one with ham and cheese, please

You are into what's for most of us a great hobby and, well... obsession the least. Your lady suplied you with very good kit, and properly maintained, will serve you a lifetime. That is one great thing with straight razors, you buy quality once. And repeat this step multiple times

There are two kinds of basic strop dressings: one for the leather, the other for the linnen side. The dressing for the leather side is basicaly fat, and serves to keep the strop from aging and cracking, and to provide some drag to the razor. Should be applyed sparingly, about 3-4 pea sized drops, well rubbed in, and not very frequently, 2-3 times a year, depends on the living conditions of the strop. The dressing for the linnen side is optional, it is called the white paste, and serves to provide minimal refreshing of the edge, very light honing. It is not abrasive as the common "sharpening" pastes. I understand that the Thierres-Isard white paste is more abrasive than DOVO's. Infact, the whole purpose of the linnen strop is debated... But I use it, it cleans the edge of the razor from water before going to the leather side.

For a fast preview on straight razor shaving, I can reccomend getting a disposable blade straight razor, Shavette from DOVO. At 20+$ it is a very good way to get the feel for the straight razor, it is very good build quality, it's always sharp, and it will be useful for you when traveling or vacation time, when you do not want to bother bringing the whole arsenal for maintaining the straight razor...

have fun,
Nenad

Thanks for the welcome. I guess I better stop by the deli if I'm the new sammich man. ((c:

Anyway, If I'm going for this, I'm going to go whole hog, so I'll probably skip the Shavette. I'll duck in the Buy/Sell/Trade section and see if anyone is doing a newbie kit. A spare str8 from ebay, and a starter hone.

After sleeping on it, I think I'm ready for the first shave, now I just have to get the sharp razor.

Paul,
Welcome to the club! I used to sell Fromm razors ad they will do just fine. They are as you have found, NOT shave ready coming out of the box. I typically had to do a good deal of work on them to get them shave ready but it is not beyind a beginner. Tilly, www.redtrader99.com sells a starter kit of hones ($30 or so) that would work for this but they will take some practice to get the hang of. Pasted strops are another choice....hard wooden paddles, covered with leather to which abrasive pastes are applied and will keep a razor sharp and in most cases can get an out of the box razor ready to go. I make and sell them, pre-pasted too if desired and both Dovo and Thiers-Issard make them as well. Try www.thewellshavedgentleman.com for mine or www.classicshaving.com for the other strops.
I would suggest though for this try you send out your razor to a group member to be honed. Randydance, Lynn and surely others can do it for a nominal fee.

The Illinois #361 is their best strop and the Fromm dressing is for the leather side.

We look forward to your questions and in getting you started right.

Tony

Paul,

I highly recommend Tony's strops. I have a 4 sided paddle strop and a hanging strop. I've never tried any others, but with the quality of Tony's work, I see no reason to.

RT

Welcome, only fools would not be timid about the first straight shave. Don't let it worry you. Just do not move the blade sideways, even near your face. Bad way to learn you have a depth perception problem. You can ignore the linen side for now. I too, use it to clean the edge after a shave. The blade must be kept clean and dry. I have applied wax to mine to heat the blade up prior to stropping on leather but can't tell you that it is truely effective. I also recommend the barber hones from Tilly and a 2 sided paddle strop from Tony, those are inexpensive ways to get high quality products to start with. I would put .5 on one side. If he is selling pre-pasted strops now that would be a really great bargain. I would suggest that for the money an already honed razor from a group member might be a good option too.

I think Tony's almost got a done deal on his hands. It looks like I should be good to go w/ a pasted strop (hmm 2 or 4, 2 or 4) and a little bit of time put into getting my new razor up to par. That way I can save up a bit for some honing stones, and delve further into the str8 abyss when I start buying up cheap ebays to practice honing with.

Why do I get the feeling that me coming over to the straight razors is going to end up like a new hobby. Last time that happened, it was cigars, and now I own a COOLER full of them.


I guess I should go ahead and start looking for a nice razor display case eh? The wife doesn't have a clue what she just did. hahahahaha!

Paul,
Cigars to straight razors seems to be a natural progression. I to started with cigars and now have 1 large, 2 medium and one small humidors full. Then I found straight razors and now have 60+ razors, strops, hones ect... Welcome to your new obsession.lol. Anyway it's good to have you aboard.

Welcome to the group. You've gotten some good advice here so there isn't much I can really add. The only thing I will say is when you do your first shave just use the online manuals as a starting point and take plenty of time and go slow and you should be ok. If the first shave isn't the best don't worry its a skill and skills take time to learn. As I always say 100 years or so ago this was the only way to do it and everybody learned so if they did you can also.

When I started I had no intention of making a hobby out of this, lets see, all I need is 2 or 3 razors a hone a strop a tub of soap some oil and I'm fixed for life. A few years later I have about 35 razors 10 strops, 10 hones about 5 mugs full of soap and more aftershaves then most retail stores carry. Yea watch your step once you enter there's no turning back you'll be hooked like the rest of us.