Thread: Hello from the Uk.

Hi,

My name's Phil and I'm a shaveaholic

I've been shaving with a straight razor for about 3 years, on and off, and have recently (re)discovered your wonderful community. I have enjoyed reading the forum so thought I'd better get myself introduced.

Over the last three years I've managed to acquire 5 straight razors in the following order:

T.R Cadman and Sons Bengal 5/8 half hollow
Solingen something or other that was new old stock on ebay
Abram Brooksbank Connaught Razor
Marsh Brothers ROXO razor
T.I. Spartacus 6/8

The Bengal was purchased shave ready but the Solingen, Connaught and Roxo were all pretty dull having been bought from ebay. My latest purchase was the TI which was bought new and is a beautiful shave.

I have been using the ebay purchases to try to teach myself honing on a Coticule. I must say that, until today, I just seemed to dull them even more but today I had a breakthrough and have now got them all passing the HHT.

So there you have it. I look forward to reading more from you guys and hopefully making my own contribution.

Cheers,
Phil.

Welcome to the forum Phil, sounds like you're already off to a good start.


Mick

howdo Phil, welcome

Pete

Hi and welcome. At least you have the awkward starts out the road so you can concentrate on developing AD's

Hi Phil
Welcome to the forum, I'm a newbie and also a Phil from the UK.
I like yourself have bought a few razors from Ebay to teach myself honing, but up to now I havnt had a breakthrough; all I do is dull them.
Seeing your message gives me hope to keep persevering - I will get there eventually.
ATB
Phil

Originally Posted by luckypip

Hi Phil
Welcome to the forum, I'm a newbie and also a Phil from the UK.
I like yourself have bought a few razors from Ebay to teach myself honing, but up to now I havnt had a breakthrough; all I do is dull them.

Hi Phil, another UK'r talking here.

In my armoury, I have a King 800 grit hone (charity shop purchase), some CrOX powder (pasted up with machine oil), a 30x microscope/loupe, two cheap-arse strops (one charity shop purchase, one eBay purchase), patience (can't be purchased, sorry), and two straight edge razors brought up to rough-but-shaveable states... both now delivering BBS shaves.

I'm *far* from being expert... nay, not even competent... but all I can say is keep going, watch as many YouTube videos you can on the subject, and devour this forum. You'll get there.

Welcome, looking forward to your contributions!

Thanks Gentlemen. Nice to be welcomed to such a great community.

Phil, persevere with the honing. I only got a good edge yesterday after many months of trying. In the end it came down to a very heavy slurry on the Coticule and lots of pressure to cut that bevel then watered down to polish the edge. A few laps on a CROX applied balsa strop and a few more on leather and it was good to go. I wouldn't say the razors I honed yesterday are as good as they could be but they passed HHT and I have shaved with two of them so they're pretty good. I now need to spend more time on them to get them smoother.

All the best,
Phil.

Hi Phil welcome aboard.