Thread: new straight razor user needs help

I am a new straight razor user and have just bought a new Thiers-Issard sheffield silver steel razor from classicshaving.com for about US100.

Just wonder if I need to strop it before shaving or is is shaving ready? I have no experience of straight razor shaving and therefore don't know what is a sharp-enough razor will work like.

I have a wetstone of 6000 grit, it is good enough to hone the razor beore I strop it or should I buy a finer grit wetstone to do the job? If so, which brand and grit would you recommend?

Thanks for enlighten me.

Regards,
Tom Tong

You'll get lots of good advice, just be patient. I'd leave the razor alone for a little bit until you get some more advice and a better handle on what your doing. My experience is that a shave ready razor from TI is very sharp but all razors should be stropped before shaving. I"m assuming you don't have a strop? I recommend starting with a barber hone...links should follow soon. Eventually you should get a Norton 4000/8000. 6,000 might be too aggresive for a new TI. And attacking your first razor shouldn't be a good razor it should be a much more basic model. You could really damage a good razor with a 6,000 grit hone. If you don't have a strop get one, even if the razor is great for the first shave you'll need it for the second shave, and certainly by the third. I suggest you put the razor down and do some research.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

You'll get lots of good advice, just be patient. I'd leave the razor alone for a little bit until you get some more advice and a better handle on what your doing. My experience is that a shave ready razor from TI is very sharp but all razors should be stropped before shaving. I"m assuming you don't have a strop? I recommend starting with a barber hone...links should follow soon. Eventually you should get a Norton 4000/8000. 6,000 might be too aggresive for a new TI. And attacking your first razor shouldn't be a good razor it should be a much more basic model. You could really damage a good razor with a 6,000 grit hone. If you don't have a strop get one, even if the razor is great for the first shave you'll need it for the second shave, and certainly by the third. I suggest you put the razor down and do some research.

I bought a couple barber hones off of Tilly http://www.redtrader99.com
The Premier (this is compared to a Swaty) is very fine grit and so is the Lithide. Tony Miller sells both paddle and hanging strops for a very reasonable price. You can see his wares in the "user gallery" section under "gear for sale." I nicked up my first strop a bit...there's a technique that takes some practice to develop. If you want to compare your TI to a reeaaallly sharp razor, buy one from a seasoned member here. I've never had a 'new' razor, but from what I've read on various forums is that newcomers, in the past, have messed up new blades by honing incorrectly (or with too coarse a grit). So, what is often suggested is that you get a cheapo razor off ebay to practice honing with (cause you don't want to mess up a nice razor ). Then buy a "shave ready" razor from an experienced member here to see (feel) what you should be aiming for. If you have more questions please do ask.
Best,
Mark

I agree, don't practice honing on a new TI. it will be very close to shave ready, probably much more so than a Dov but you can't go wrong with either.

Tilly is a great source for barber hones, I have one of everything she sells and could not be happier with the products or her friendly service. It will be a good tool to start with but not on the TI, not just yet anyway.

best choice is to send the razor to Lynn or Randy for a proper honing/stroping to get started. Buy a used or less expensive razor (entry level Dovo, Fromm, Hen & Rooster, etc..) for lless than $50 and practice on that. It will be close enough that you can finish it up on a barber hone or pasted strop yourself. An eBay razor is another choice but likely will need major hone work......not a beginner project.

Tony Miller

That 6000 grit alone will certainly ruin your edge.
Strop very carefully and try the Hanging Hair test described in the Help Files.
If you're popping hairs, you're shaving sharp. If it won't pass you may want to have someone hone it for you. A barber hone from Tilly might be all you'd need to keep it keen, but I haven't been able to get the hang of those yet myself. A paddle strop with pastes works very well for me as a means of touching up the edge from time to time. Tony Miller has ALL your stropping needs. "Gear For Sale" in the User Gallery.

X

On a new TI just strop before your shave. You should not need a hone for a while. Then I would recommend a 4000/8000 Norton.

Thought I might chime in since I just prepped a brand new TI. It was sharper than other new razors I have seen, but did not pass hanging hair test. Twenty five laps each on the 3X15" .5 and .25 balsa and it passes perfectly.

I have to say that I cannot produce these results on the Dovo's I have tried. I had to go to the stones to for those.

Wecome!

We are glad that you posted the question. It allows us to give you some direction and hopefully save you some grief.

1.You made an excellent choice for a razor.
2. Do not use the 6000 hone for this razor at this time.
3. You will need the following to get started shaving with that razor.
A paddle strop, 2 sided, pasted with a 1.0 micron abrasive paste on one side and 0.5 micron abrasive paste on the other side.
Perform 25 roundtrip laps on the 1.0 micron side first, clean your razor, then 25 roundtrip laps on the 0.5 micron side, clean your razor again.
The pastes and paddle strops can be purchased from either Tony Miller, a member here, or Ray at classicshaving.com.
4. You will need a plain leather strop to finish with. Perform 35 roundtrip laps
before each shave. The strop should be 2 1/2 inches wide, not more, not less.

This should start you on the way to making that straight razor shaving sharp.

The hone can wait for awhile. The abrasive pastes will hold you for some time.

5.For beginners I only recommend the Norton 3 inch wide 4000/8000 combination hone. It is the easiest to learn on, easiest to clean and to keep flat, and also may be the fastest cutting (next to a diamond hone). It will last you a lifetime. It is also the most expensive.

Do not start out with Japanese waterstones, Spyderco ceramic hones or Arkansas stones. You can play with those later.

The classic barber hones will also do the job but require a lot more skill to use, a lot more time, are harder to keep clean and flat. But, they are way cool and cost far less.

Hope this helps,

Dang!

Where was this post 2 years ago?

Nice one Randy!

That is good, but you don't mention what to clean the razor with between pastes which is of course simply rubbing alcohol. Maybe we should compile a Getting Started file with all this kind of info for the Help files if there already isn't one.

X