Need help getting my razor shave ready

So i posted this in a different thread but i may have put in the incorrect thread, so to endure that it gets seen ill start a new thread.

Hey guys... So I was given a straight edge razor and I am excited to finally use it. I've been using a shavette for a while and I love the quality of the shave and have been wanting to start using a traditional straight edge cut-throat razor. The razor i was given does no have a brand stamped on it, it looks to be Damascus steel though my gut says that it may just be pressed with a pattern, however, the razor is not shave ready, the vendor told the person who bought it for me that it would need to be honed. I have a strop coming in the mail probably in a week or so. My question: When am I supposed to use a HONE instead of a STROP? Also if anyone knows where I can send my razor to be professionally honed at a reasonable price, I'd really appreciate the information, my budget isn't to flexible but I'm willing to see what I can afford. I live in NJ, Bergen County NJ to be more exact and would want to try to not send it across Country as most places I've found were at the West Coast.
Here is the link to the razor that was given to me:https://img3.etsystatic.com/000/0/64....314557691.jpg
if the link does not work try this copying and pasting this one:https://img3.etsystatic.com/000/0/64....314557691.jpg

Any help with this will be appreciated.
-GS

It is NOT a Straight Razor it is a SR shaped object, it will never shave so do not waste the money trying..

You might not want to hear that but I promise I am right..

Ask for your Money Back

Josephus, Welcome to the forum.
Your enthusiasm into the world of the straight razor is appreciated.
Unfortunately you have been given false hopes with regard to the straight.
I hope you decide to persue straight razor shaving. I assure you that there is enough info on this forum that you can make a good choice as to your purchase of a straight.
Glen has literally honed thousands of straights and knows the good from the not so good as well as anybody.
Good luck and great shaves to ya!!

Let me put it this way. If you find someone to hone that razor and you receive a razor that shaves good and the edge lasts many shaves he be the best razor honer this side of Alpha centuri and a magician to boot.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

It is NOT a Straight Razor it is a SR shaped object, it will never shave so do not waste the money trying..

You might not want to hear that but I promise I am right..

Ask for your Money Back

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I can tell you that I was bought a razor exactly of that style from that same site and sent it to Glenn and it will never be shave ready. PM me if you want to know who sold it to me on that site. I got my money back very easily from this person.
Tony

thanks guys. Im going to try to see if they'll give me a refund ill let you all know how it works out. Thanks for all the advice.

Well, I sent an email to the guy who sold me the blade that can not hold an edge. hopefully he'll write back sooner rather than later. I decided however to bite the bullet and get a legitimate razor. Thiers Issard, though it is not exactly ready to be used as I have to get it sent out to be honed by a pro, I can already see an enormous difference in the quality of blade. This one actually was able to cut some of the hairs on my arm as opposed to the other blade which acted more like a comb haha.

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Originally Posted by iosephus

Well, I sent an email to the guy who sold me the blade that can not hold an edge. hopefully he'll write back sooner rather than later. I decided however to bite the bullet and get a legitimate razor. Thiers Issard, though it is not exactly ready to be used as I have to get it sent out to be honed by a pro, I can already see an enormous difference in the quality of blade. This one actually was able to cut some of the hairs on my arm as opposed to the other blade which acted more like a comb haha.

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Where did you buy it from?

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Originally Posted by ccase39

Where did you buy it from?

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I went to The Art of Shaving, as someone i know went to the same store and got a well working razor.

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Originally Posted by iosephus

I went to The Art of Shaving, as someone i know went to the same store and got a well working razor.

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Im pretty sure they are supposed to come shave reasy from there. Maybe someone else will chime in who has bought from them. I think i read somewhere that they do.

I mean the razor is able to shave. I tested it out. But I feel as it should be smoother than what it was. It could be because I am primarily used to using shavettes, and those are much easier to have a consistent edge as all you have to do is replace the razor blade. I guess we'll see how it comes out?

From what I understand you use a different angle with shavettes than straights. Try playing with the angle of the blade while you stroke. Start with 1or 2 spine widths away from your face, almost with the blade flat on your face and then go to a wider angle until it feels right. I bought a new Dovo Bismark from SRD honed by Lynn. When I got it it just didnt seem sharp and did not shave well. I emailed them asking if they overlooked honing it and Lynn told me about the angle. I had been shaving with another razor that performed better with a wider angle and I was used to that. I took his advice and it worked like a charm. Still shaves perfectly. Try this and see if it helps unless someone else comes along who knows for a fact that it doesnt come shave ready from that siten

Was there a note that said something like "This razor professionally hand honed By XXXXX" If not then the chances of it being at it's max potential is very very low..


Did you Open the seal ???? if so it hasn't been professionally honed yet


read this Beginners Tips article I tried to explain it there

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ry-2012-a.html