Buying a stone locally, as opposed to through internet?

Hello, my name is Nikolai.
In October I purchased a shave-ready Solingen razor from whippeddog. Wonderful shave.)) I am still a beginner, though, and it appears that my lack of initial proper stropping technique has put my blade in a state now requiring a stone. I was foolish, without patience to learn to correct the blade.

I live in Sarnia, Ontario; there are barbershops here (some still using straight razors - $30 for one shave), but no specialty stores for shaving gear. My question - are there any large hardware stores or any place carrying stones proper for correction of a straight razor? Has anyone here been able to buy locally in their own area, or mostly online? I am interested to hear opinions and stories concerning this.

Before you take your razor to a stone, I would suggest using a balsa strop loaded with chromium oxide to restore your edge. Whipped Dog sells one that has chromium oxide on one side and iron oxide on the other, and explains its use:

"After honing, your blade bevel is V shaped. When you strop on leather, the shaving edge is sharpened, but progressively rounded. This slowly changes your blade from a V shape to a very sharp U shape. After a few weeks or months, leather stropping might not be as effective. When this happens, stropping on the balsa wood strop will usually return the razor to shave readiness. You strop maybe 20 passes on the green chromium oxide side, clean your blade, strop about 20 passes on the red iron oxide side, clean your blade and strop about 40 passes on the leather strop. Then, return to daily stropping with leather."

When the loaded strop no longer returns your razor to shave-ready, it's time to use a stone, something like the Naniwa 12000 sold by many online vendors, including one in your backyard, Fendrihan: Naniwa Waterstone Hone, 12000 Grit | Fendrihan Shaving Store

Most hardware stores will not carry a fine enough stone for use on a razor.

Rick

I do own a balsa strop, purchased with the poor-man strop from Whipped Dog. However, I have not been able to get it to shave readiness. Bringing the blade against arm, I mostly can just lift dead skin cells, and very little hair.

May I ask how you are using the pasted strop? Perhaps you are using too much pressure.

I am using little to no pressure, how firmly should I press it? I've also reapplied the two pastes with neatsfoot oil.

There is a Lee Valley in London. They carry Norton's to 8000 K and Sigma at 13000 K. There's also a Woodcraft in Sterling Heights that should have lots of synthetics at a cheaper price.

Try the classic edge. They are in Canada and specialize in shaving supplies. Good luck. Ed

You can also try a local Woodworking store. A lot of them sell full-size and range waterstones for sharpening tools.

Good luck!

I have been to many antique shops around Los Angeles. Most of these store owners know by now that wetshaving is pretty popular. I've been to a few shops where I'd find coticules those rare charnleys. few Escher hones, and many many barber hones. Most of those were on the bay at auction or they had top dollar prices if sold on site. Kinda sucks but hey everyone needs that extra cash now a days right. The only time I have been lucky enough to find a coticule and a small charnley was at a yard sale about two hours away from here. It was across the street from a relatives house. My girl came back saying there was an old man selling knives and razors. I jumped on it. Turns out he was a local barber that had retired about 20 years back. He was really cool with the fact that I was into straight razors... Old man let me have'm practically free. I sat there talking with him for almost an hour... Anyways. I'd say you're better off finding something online. My 2cents anyway. Might have better luck in your area..

In germany you have to go to the flea market there are not many shops offering old tools and hones and whetshaving stuff....

I also like to shop on the bay because everytime youll get a oilsoaked hone youll never know what it really is..,

Up to day i got a Silkstone, a Hindustan, some thuringians and a Tam o Shanter...all great finds...so i really like the bay