Thread: Introduction

Hi Guys
Well after 30 years of wearing a beard I have done away with it as of my birthday. It was making me look older than I am. So now the shaving begins. I remember the first straight razor shave I ever had was in Subic Bay Philipeans. Man was that a great shave.

I have used about every kind of razor made. That said, I now have four straight, 5/8 Fromm, 7/8 Thairs , 4/8 Dovo and 3/8 filharmonica. My Barber gave me an old shavet with disposable blades. All of these straights are new. I have yet to get a good hone on the edges and it is taking quite a learning curve to get use to them. I put a new blade in the shavet and what a shave! I have got to get a good edge on those other blades or I will feel like I wasted that money.

I really like the routine. Hot shower/ hot towel ,lots of lather and the concentration. It is rather theraputic.

I have the Arkansas surgical stone and any of you have any tips I would appreciate your wisdom
Thanks to all, Anthony

Good to see you've found us. You've come to the right place. Straight shaving isn't an easy thing in the near vaccuum of information out there.

Honing is a tough thing to get used to too. Patience and persistence are your best weapons. I can't advise you on the Arkansas stones, but someone or three should jump in here soon enough. There'll likely be a chat tonight which you might want to drop by anytime after 8pm EDT.

If you don't mind a few conflicting opinions, don't hesitate to pop any other questions on us. We like to be of assistance and a good debate.

X

The arkansas stone is a very slow hone in the best of circumstances, but for razors you can't use much pressure on the blade at all, so it's even slower.

Anthony,
Welcome. As someone who has done it, I can attest to the fact that you can bring a razor to shaving sharpness with Arkansas stones, but they are SLOW cutting stones. If all of your razors are new, that Arkansas Black might be sufficient for now (depending on the shape of the edges--not all new blades even approach shave-ready). Consider purchasing one of Tony Miller's pasted paddle strops. Might be just the ticket to bring those razors to shaving sharpness if you don't have the patience to do it with the Arkansas.

Ed