Some Rookie Advice, If You Don't Mind

Hey Guys,

Just picked up a cheap straight razor on ebay. Today, I won myself a canvas/leather strop, and badger hair brush on ebay as well; and I picked up some shaving soap and a styptic pencil at the store.

Got interested in straight razor shaving about 3 weeks ago and I'm knocking down the supplies one by one..So, in order to get started...I still need to get (among a few other things):

-"Yellow" paste for the strop
-A hone


So, at this point--I've got a couple questions regarding these items in specific, and if you can point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.

1) As for the hone(s)...should I get a starter set of barber hones from Tilly, or should I just go right for a Norton 4/8k? (Background: I'm aiming to keep at this until I get it right, as I would prefer to get away from the costs and lame performance of disposables/cartridge razors. Is a Norton overkill for me, as a beginner?)

2) If I go with a Norton--is this something I can find at a well known store, and if so who would carry it? Also, how about online retailers? I'm new enough to not really know who's reputable and priced well. :hmmm:

3) Are there any brick and mortar places that sell strop paste, or is my best bet online for that one, too?

4) What's the proper way to apply the paste to the strop?


Thanks for any guidance, fellas..

Welcome,

If your plan is to shave with the Ebay razor you'll need the Norton. If you get a blade that is shave ready the barber hones are an exceptable option (yet you may still need the Norton).

I suggest classicshaving.com for all your supplies, but their are a few brick and mortar places that sell the paste. But I don't know where you live. You can add that info to your profice on the posts. Cheasapeake Knife Co. is the most common, and most expensive option available. BTW, its not a very important need. You can do without it most likely.

Apply it very sparingly rubbing it in with the thumb, a very, very small amount would do. Just a couple drops if your using liquid.

1) I gotta recomend the Norton. I'm not getting good results from my barber hones yet and you'll want to start shaving soon. Best is to get a honemeister to set the edge up for you and go from there.

2) I got mine from Lee Valley but classicshaving.com is the #1 choice for online retailers here. Easiest maintenace would likely be a Tony Miller paddle strop with honing compounds.

3) I used Mink oil on mine on Lynn's advice 8 months ago and it's still looking good.

4) Rub a dab in with a shammy.

It should be mentioned that without knowing which blade you have, there's no way to be sure you'll actualy get a shave. If you've picked up one of the cheep Pakistani razors or those Kamisori junk pieces or even a "Rockwell". you're going to be frustrated to say the least. What is your razor?

Also, if you haven't been to the Permanent Archives in the Help section yet, you really must go. There's lots of good reading there.

X

I have to agree get a Norton 8"x3" it is very good. I used Classicshaving.com. fair prices good service.:)

Thanks guys, I'll definitely head over to the archives for some follow up.

As for the razor, I guess I went too cheap, not knowing I was getting a pakistani razor with poor reputation.

I guess it's going to be a bitch to get that shave ready, huh? Is it even worth giving it a go? I guess I went a little too conservative on the first razor...ah well, live and learn.

Had my eye on a couple of Dovos but when I lost those auctions I figured what the hell, and bid on the only one that wasn't ending in 3 days... :shrug:

I checked out classicshaving.com--looks good! They've got the Norton 4/8 for a good price, but they're sold out. Damn!

I can't seem to find anyone else online who has one, of the shaving sites I've been to.

Delays, delays!

(I won't be that impatient when I start shaving :nono: :eek: )

I am getting decent shaves out of one of those Pakistani razors but I spent a lot of time honing it with 4k/8k Jap waterstones. They're cheap and got the job done. Here's the link:
http://w-u.com/wucatresults.htm?snum=26375
Btw, they're wedge-shaped, so you have to put one on top of the other to get a flat surface.
That should be enough to get you started but I am still planning on getting a Norton 3" 4k/8k and a better razor. Consider what you have a practice piece.

Based on my personal experience and that of many others just take and throw that razor away. It simply is not worth the effort.

For an excellent vintage razor go to www.billysblades.com

Bill Ellis is well known here any many guys will give him a good reference.

Regarding hones, I have many of them, all type's. If I were to do it over again I would make the Norton 4000/8000, 3 inch wide, my first hone. It is the easiest to use, has dual grits, is the fastest to use and cleans and laps the easiest.

With that hone you can remove nicks and old oxidised steel from Ebay/Antique store razors with the 4000 grit and then put a shaving sharp edge on it with the 8000 grit.

Hope this helps,:)

FiReSTaRT--

Thanks!

Those prices do look pretty good just to get started....you got yours from that woodturning unlimited site, too, I would imagine?

How was the shipping time, pretty decent?

Really appreciate the link...

Randy,

That is excellent information. From what I'm reading here I guess I better just hunt around for the norton, sounds well worth it.

As for the link for vintage razors...thumbs up sir. There's one up there now that looks pretty good for what I need. Hmmmmm... (*looks at wallet*)

Thank you kindly!

I been searching the Net and found a few good places & good prices on the Norton Stones. You can try:
http://www.craftsmanstudio.com/html_p/N!LWS.htm

They sell them for around $65.00

Good Luck,

Jim