Thread: New eager member

You can also consider Revisor 6/8. Here is a square tip 6/8.
I just got a new Revisor and loved it.

+1 to mellowing out about sterilizing razors. Please don't put your razor in any machine or soak it in anything to clean it either. Glen makes a good point about honemeisters not having to test shave every razor. You'll notice Lynn taking about the "consistency" of stones when honing so it makes sense that he wouldn't need to shave with every razor...I doubt that the guy that hones at Revisor shaves with any of the razors that he hones.

I honestly wouldn't get a synthetic brush (I have one and wouldn't ever recommend it as your first and only brush ever)...I'm a vegetarian and I use badger. They're all from china where they are over populated and are eaten for food (whatever floats your boat!). They aren't being factory farmed (to my knowledge anyway) and being tortured before killed. If you're concerned about germs instead of the animal rights aspect, the hair is sterilized before you even see it.

I've never used a synthetic strop so I have no idea how well they work or what the draw is like so I can't comment on it.

Your fear of other man's blood is unwarranted in this case.
Firt of all, al the nasty germs die off within a couple of weeks in the open air. They need body temperature and something to fed on. A steel blade gives them neither. Furthermore, you can desinfect them with aggressive desinfectants if you want. Steel is non porous, so the germs have no place to hide and will die.

You are right in the regard that there are grounds to avoid sharp things that have touched body fluids recently and without having been desinfected. However, there are plenty of way to make this a complete non-issue. We've around 50000 members, and none of them ever contracted a disease from a blade. The one time I know of someone catching something is that gy over at B&B who stored his brush always in the basement, always wet, and got a really bad fungal infection from his mold infested brush.

There is an excellent write up on synthetic brushes

Fixed Link

Hope that is a help.

Just to clarify, I wasn't speaking for srd by saying they might skip a test shave. Only saying that one could ask.

That being said, I know it's possible to hone a blade to shave ready without testing. The only difference is that the person honing never gets to objectively evaluate the result.

I'm a healthcare worker and I wouldn't hesitate to use a used blade. In fact I feel that my professional experience helps me evaluate the very low risk of doing so.

I wouldn't want to use a blade that had just been used on someone else. That would pose a small risk of hepatitis or HIV, etc. Creutzfeld jacob from a shave tested razor on the other hand doesnt worry me. The razor would be mechanically cleaned, sanitized, then unused for a substantial period by the time it gets to you. I'd be much more worried about eating a hamburger.

Also I'd like to say that it IS possible to know shave ready without using a previously tested razor. That's what I believe from personal experience. That doesn't mean that a new user WILL be able to tell the difference, but I do believe it's eventually possible.

As for gssixgun's recommendation of a feather or shavette I have to partly disagree. I suspect that you are partly motivated by environmental concerns and a shavette will eventually use a lot of steel and packaging. Also feather blades are shipped from Japan, increasing ones carbon footprint. Plus I do think you can be very happy with a conventional straight.

If you truly can't find a blade that will be honed without testing. Then pm me. I'll be happy to hone a blade that you buy in unhoned condition. But I would hope it doesnt come to that, and that you just buy one without worrying about the shave test.

Michael

Originally Posted by MattCB

There is an excellent write up on synthetic brushes

Here

Hope that is a help.

That's a link for a dinner hall.

"It's easy to host your event at McMenamins.
There is no additional room fee once you reach the food and beverage minimum. We utilize our own onsite catering, and the food and beverage minimum includes wait staff and bartenders, indoor tables and chairs, china, flatware, glassware and linens.?

Originally Posted by kwlfca

That's a link for a dinner hall.

"It's easy to host your event at McMenamins.
There is no additional room fee once you reach the food and beverage minimum. We utilize our own onsite catering, and the food and beverage minimum includes wait staff and bartenders, indoor tables and chairs, china, flatware, glassware and linens.?

Doh! It is where I am looking to try and get the 2014 PNW meet..... They are adjacent to an in house brewery . Anyway, fixed. Should be a link to TSD.

While my synthetic has very very soft tips, it lathers okay-ish and, like most synthetics, doesn't want to let go of the lather very easily. Boar or badger works much better IMO

Just throwing my two cents in. More often than not, a stainless straight razor is a junk razor. Whether it's the blades or the scales. If you insist on stainless then be sure that it comes from a reputable manufacturer. Metal scales will eventually nick the blade.

Originally Posted by Mechromancer

Just throwing my two cents in. More often than not, a stainless straight razor is a junk razor. Whether it's the blades or the scales. If you insist on stainless then be sure that it comes from a reputable manufacturer. Metal scales will eventually nick the blade.

That's a pretty bold statement, I'm curious as to where you're getting this statistic.

Originally Posted by kwlfca

That's a pretty bold statement, I'm curious as to where you're getting this statistic.

Just take a look at Amazon and eBay. Most of the stainless straight razors are a brand that is on the list to avoid. If the manufacture is reputable then those razors do not fall into this category. All razors will eventually loosen up, thus a nick in the blade is an eventual possibility with metal scales or liners. Even the pin will eventually wear out.

I'm not saying that all stainless straights are junk. Just that there are going to be more stainless razor shaped objects being mass produced for next to nothing as opposed to high quality stainless razors produced by skilled craftsmen at an expected price range. Stainless is just the standard choice for cheap sharp objects.

The statement really isn't that bold at all. "More often than not" just means more than half the time.