Thread: Hello and Redtrader99 beginner sets

Hello there,

I'm a newbie (first post) making an appearance from the de shaving scene on badgerandblade.com. I've been bitten by the nostalgia bug and can't wait to give se shaving a try. I"ve watched Lynn's video about 3 times now, read for hours last night on this board, and today have contacted several vendors via email for advice. I'm thinking I'll start with a shave ready eBay special from Bob Keyes (Altima55), a strop from Tony (sent a pm from this board), and I'm a little unsure about the hone(s) at this point.

Redtrader99 suggested I would be happy with a lithide for finishing work and she referred me to her website, http://www.redtrader99.com/hones.html. Upon looking at her inventory, I noted a beginner set which inlcuded a medium (cushioned strop), a medium/fine (gem), and the finishing lithide stone all for $34 plus shipping. I've read here that a medium and a finishing stone would be a good mix. What do you folks think of the beginner's set? Would I better off going an entirely different direction and getting one of those more expensive 4k/8k stones that everyone seems to talk about and bypassing the higher grit the lithide? That is, can you go from an 8k tune-up right to the strop?

PS - I noticed Lynn rides a Road King. I'm another HD rider and opted for the creature comforts of the fairing and radio and therefore went with the Electra Glide.

That sounds like a good plan. I got my first razor from altima55 as well (a John Clarke & Son 6/8 round tip) and it remains a favorite. The round tip Herder he's got up right now looks like a good starter razor in a good size and likely to go for a reasonable price; most of his other razors right now are spike points, which are a bit touchy to use and not something I'd recommend as a first razor, and while that dubl duck is a great razor it's likely to be pricey.

I've got one of tony's pasted paddle strops and love it. You didn't mention if you were getting a paddle or hanging strop, but his hanging strops have a great reputation and are on my list of things to get.

I haven't used tilly's hone set but several members use the lithide as a finishing hone and seem happy with it.

Welcome, and good luck with the shaving!

I'm so glad you mentioned to stay clear of the spike point and consider the Herder. No need to make the beginning of this pricess any more difficult than it has to be.

For maintaining a shave ready razor, the easiest route would be one of Tony's pasted paddle strops. His hanging strops are superior to the Illinois strops, IMHO (I've got both). You can do a good honing job with the beginner's set from Tilly, but they _are_ smaller and thus take a bit more attention to use safely than the larger 4K/8K Norton. FWIW, I own all the aforementioned equipment.*sigh*



Wayne

Hello Schatz, welcome to the SRP! may I suggest doing a search in this forum using the search term "Lithide". That should give you a better idea of what the Lithide barber hone is like. I cannot comment on it because I have not used it. Most of my experience is with the Norton 4/8. You can go from the Norton 8K directly to a strop. However a lot of people finish with a 0.5 micron pasted paddle strop. Many guy's on the SRP use the Norton 4/8 and like it a lot.

I just want to jump in here to say that shaving with a spike is no problem for me at all. It's what I learned on and what I prefer. The spike has NEVER given me any issues in a year of straight razor shaving. I think it's like driving a stick. If you know how it's no big deal at all. If you never take the time, you may be in for a grinding or two.

X

I decided to bow to the consensus of the learned folks here and I'll defer the purchase of the hones for awhile. Instead, I have been communicating with Tony who suggests that a pasted paddle (2 or 4 sides) would be an easier route than jumping right in with the stones given a shave ready first razor. I'm anxious to see what Tony responds with on the paste suggestions and on the 2 versus 4 sided paddle. The 2 sided looks considerabley wider and I'd be using both sides for paste as I'll supplement the purchase with a hanging strop of some type.

Xman was kind enough to offer one of his yellow Dubl Duks at an attractive price so I will be going this route as soon as I decide which one. Does it make any sense for a newbie to get a second from Bob on eBay? (On badgerandblade.com we refer to a condition as razor acquisition disease, RAD). Does rotation have any benefits? How about a spare in case I make a mistake with the Duk and have to have it sent out for repair?

I would highly reccomend Tilly's starter set. I would also get a hanging strop first because they are much better to use for everyday use. It is normal practice to have a few different razors to rotate them from day to day. IMHO a spike is a great razor to learn on. The Dubl Duck is a great razor to find out what the straights are all about.

Glen

Schatz,
IMO getting a pasted paddle as well as a hanging strop will provide you all you need for day to day shaving as well as touch ups. Pair those items with the dubl duck you're getting from X and you'll be set for some time. With these items, you can defer the purchase of a hone almost indefinitely. Though, since you mentioned ebay, you might need more than just a paddle strop to bring some of what's on ebay back to shaveability.

A pasted paddle works very well to bring a razor with an established bevel to good keeness. However, if the razor lacks a good bevel, or has any nicks, you'll probably be better off with a hone. I can't say from experience whether a pasted paddle would work well to form the bevel as I've never used mine for such a task. Any rough work that needs to be done I do with my hone (norton 4k/8k). The rule of thumb that I kind of made up is that if it's adequate to pass a shave, then I'll use the pasted paddle, otherwise, I'll bring it to the hone first.

In case you're wondering, I have a 4-sided pasted paddle with 3.0µ, 1.0µ, 0.5µ and 0.25µ. Both my paddle and hanging strop came from Tony as well.

Just my 2¢

ToxIk,
You are right on the money about eBay specials and pasted strops. They will not do the trick there. With the finer pastes a pasted paddle will keep a pre-sharpened razor going for a long time. With more coarse pastes it will get a new, quality (Dovo, TI) razor sharp as well in most cases. Anything with a rounded edge or nicks though will need a stone, probably a Norton.

For beginners on a budget I usually suggest paddles over barber hones only because of the learning curve. I would suppliment the paddle with a barber hone though as one can duplicate the use of pastes and learn the use of a hone with one on the cheap. Tilly has great hones at very nice prices. While I am a strop guy first and foremost I have one of every hine Tilly sells and perhaps that many again in other types.....34 at last count <g>.

Tony