Thread: Newbie with questions...

I have been wanting to shave with a straight razor for a while now and finally purchased a DOVO "singer". I am trying to decide if I should try to shave with it straight out of the box or get it honed first? Also, I have ordered all the necessary tools to hone and keep the razor in perfect shape, I just lack the skills. It seems that there is plenty of literature on the internet along with several videos and photos that describe in fair detail the art of honing. If these directions were followed detail to detail, would it be crazy to think that a first time honer could get a good, keen blade? (I was told that the first time you make beer it tastes like crap, and I made a Belgian Golden Honey ale that was fantastic.) So I guess I am trying to say that there are plenty of directions, should I take a chance, or have a pro do it? If the consensus is that a pro should do it, are there any people in the sac, chico, redding, CA area that would be willing to teach me? If not, how much do some of you members out there charge to show one what a sharp razor feels like?
Ryan.

I'd have to say get it honed by a honemeister here and practice on some cheap ebay razors or something you pick up at a flea market. Directions on how to hone are simple. Aquiring the tactile feel to achieve an edge is not. Those Singers are expensive (and beautiful) and you don't want to ƒµ¢< it up before you get a chance to shave with it.

It has taken me many hours of honing to get good enough to produce an edge and I'm still not completely consistent after about 3000 laps on the stone!

By "all the equipment" you mean what exactly. Let us know all the toys you are playing with and you will get better replies.

X

P.S. Welcome home.

Ryan,

Welcome to the group. I think you'll enjoy straight razor shaving.

I didn't get a new razor, just a number of used ones with one being shave ready. I screwed up the shave ready one stropping (don't flip the razor blade on the strop) and spent a couple of weeks honeing on the others. I finally had enough, and sent a couple of razors to an experienced honemeister for sharpening.

This is a good group. If you decide to go it alone and get into trouble, someone would probably help you out. It just might take longer to get that first shave.

BTW, what hone did you get? Also what strop are you using?

~Michael

I purchased the Illinois #127 Hanging Razor Strop and norton 4000/8000 waterstone. Also a Vulfix #2235 Super Badger Shaving Brush. From what I have read, the razor and the brush seem like a good choice. I hope the strop is ok and I think I should try a flea mart or the 'bay for a couple of razors. Thanks for the replies. Any comments on the brush, stone or strop?

Ryan

The stone and razor are fine, the brush excellent, the strop is probably ok. Others will comment on that. Just rub the strop with the palm of your hand each day for a couple of minutes for a period of 2 weeks or so. This will help condition and smooth the strop.

I did reply to your PM. See if anyone in your area replies to your request for honing help. If no one does then post another message here or send me a PM. Newbies usually get one razor honed for free if they are having difficulty, after that its $15-20 plus postage per razor.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Just rub the strop with the palm of your hand each day for a couple of minutes for a period of 2 weeks or so.

Greaaat, now my wife thinks that I've really lost it. We were getting ready to go somewhere, and I hadn't done this with the new strop yesterday. So, out comes the strop, on the flat surface, and I start rubbing it.

The look that I got would have only been "improved" if I had added a "voice track" appropriate for the Lord of the Rings. ("We loveses the smooth leather...")

Originally Posted by ryan_a

I was told that the first time you make beer it tastes like crap, and I made a Belgian Golden Honey ale that was fantastic.)
Ryan.

Well, I'd have to say get Lynn to hone one for you and then use that as your judge/baseline on honing your own. As a newbie myself that's what I'm trying to do. I've been buying blades at fleamarkets and honing after lynn showed me how. You can often get half decent brand names at flea markets junk/antique stalls for next to nothing.

Now about that Belgian Golden Honey ale . . . . .

FUD