Thread: New to the old way

Hello JTyson and welcome to SRP.
I compliment you for the research and the reading you have done. It's easier to ask the right questions when you know where your starting point is.
So it seems your biggest concerns are cost and time involved in utilizing your gift.
So I'll take the liberty to assume that you received the Dovo because you showed interest in either SR shaving or wet shaving in general.
For the most part the majority of commitment associated with wet shaving surrounds honing and stopping.
That being the case have you considered trading in the Dovo for a nice double edged, safety razor and eliminating the need for stropping and honing?
I for one started with a double edge and worked my way up to the straight,...many members here have done the same.
So if you are unsure of the direction you want to take, one option is to,...., dip your toe.
I hope this helps,
Ralph

Originally Posted by eddy79

The classifieds are where to look for honing. In the vendors area. It's usually recommend that you start with a cheaper strop as you will nick up the first one. Don't worry about pastes or hones yet learn to shave first then proceed from there. The soap you have is fine to start with and maybe try witch hazel as an after shave. Good luck. Ed

I'll check in the classifieds to see about honing services -anyone in particular that is more highly recommended than others? As for the cheaper strop, is there a certain brand or maker I should look for? I hadn't thought about witch hazel - I will try that when I actually get this thing going.

Originally Posted by Raol

Hello JTyson and welcome to SRP.
I compliment you for the research and the reading you have done. It's easier to ask the right questions when you know where your starting point is.
So it seems your biggest concerns are cost and time involved in utilizing your gift.
So I'll take the liberty to assume that you received the Dovo because you showed interest in either SR shaving or wet shaving in general.
For the most part the majority of commitment associated with wet shaving surrounds honing and stopping.
That being the case have you considered trading in the Dovo for a nice double edged, safety razor and eliminating the need for stropping and honing?
I for one started with a double edge and worked my way up to the straight,...many members here have done the same.
So if you are unsure of the direction you want to take, one option is to,...., dip your toe.
I hope this helps,
Ralph

I've always been a both feet first...well, really more like head first sort of person. I figure since I already have a good straight, I may as well figure it out. I'm not necessarily all about the nostalgia of shaving with older methods, more chasing the superior results I've read about with the straight. However, the cool factor does appeal. I have been interested in straight razor shaving since I saw my ex doing it at her barber college years ago, just never considered doing it myself until the past year or so.

At that rate, cost is always a concern. I will spend for things that are worth it, but I don't intend to revolve my life around this hobby, so the best of the best of the best isn't what I'm worried about having. Ultimately I would like to have a solid razor - or multiple eventually with the basic equipment needed to maintain them. Stropping seems relatively simple and not too time consuming once you have it down. The honing is what I am not entirely sure of. Based on what I read this evening, that seems to be a very involved, precise and time consuming ordeal. If it has a relatively short learning curve and supplies aren't outrageous then I would consider learning how to do it if it would be cost and time effective in the long run. If it is a break even sort of deal compared to having a professional do it for me, then I will definitely pay to have it done.

As for the DE, I haven't done enough research to say I would or wouldn't be interested in having one of those as well. I'm not opposed to the idea though. Really I won't be abandoning my cartridge multi blade razors either, as I sometimes shave my head, and don't think the DE or straight would be worth using for that task.

You're asking the right questions, but you're over thinking it a bit and getting stressed. Just keep it all simple as it is just shaving after all. Slow down and start with getting your razor honed. Get a poor mans strop from whipped dog, make your own, or just a cheap one from SRD to start off with. Razor, Strop, Brush, Soap...You're all set. Start small and work up to a full shave. Don't throw away those disposables or the cart head just yet .


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

You're asking the right questions, but you're over thinking it a bit and getting stressed. Just keep it all simple as it is just shaving after all. Slow down and start with getting your razor honed. Get a poor mans strop from whipped dog, make your own, or just a cheap one from SRD to start off with. Razor, Strop, Brush, Soap...You're all set. Start small and work up to a full shave. Don't throw away those disposables or the cart head just yet .


Mick

Not terribly surprising that I am over thinking it. I tend to do that with a lot. You mentioned making my own strop - are there any how-to's on that? I have a friend who owns a textile factory so I can get my hands on high quality leather scraps for next to nothing or possibly even free depending on how much I need. I'll look into whipped dog too. So now my hunt for a honemeister begins.

Two of the easiest lathering soaps/creams are Tabac in the cake form and Proraso in the tube. Even a rookie should get a great lather with either one.

Looked through the classifieds and there aren't any local folks that hone. Not a huge surprise. I would assume Lynn to be the most popular on their being that he runs this whole operation. Are there any people on there that I should avoid? Some better than others? With a brand new razor, I'm not sure if a $30 hone will do me any better than a $15 hone. If I'm wrong, then by all means I will go with the more expensive one. For those of you that don't hone your own, who do you use?

As for those soaps you mentioned, is there a good vendor to buy them from? I check eBay and found some for reasonably cheap, but if I can support a vendor for the same amount I would rather do that.

Originally Posted by Jtyson

Not terribly surprising that I am over thinking it. I tend to do that with a lot. You mentioned making my own strop - are there any how-to's on that? I have a friend who owns a textile factory so I can get my hands on high quality leather scraps for next to nothing or possibly even free depending on how much I need. I'll look into whipped dog too. So now my hunt for a honemeister begins.

This is easier than me trying to explain it. James shows you how to make a basic strop in this link. He's using 'roo hide, but the instructions will work just as well regardless of the leather. Use veg tanned leather of first quality if you can get it. You can use denim/linen/compressed felt or what have you for a material side if you like, but if you have a decent bit of leather, there is no reason why you can't use the flesh side as your courser 'material' side.


http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...-pictures.html



Mick

Thanks for the how to on the strop. Not sure if I understand though. From what I have been seeing online, most strops seem to have two pieces, one leather and one fabric of sort. I've also read quite a lot about pastes, dusts, leather conditioning, etc. I'm sure different animals and tanning methods yield very different results so how do I know what is good for this purpose and what isn't? I've seen people mention sanding their leather too. Also, I see a lot of info about balsa. What exactly is it that I need?

I checked whipped dog and found their cheap poly/leather strop for $27. Sounds good, but I'm concerned with the width. A lot of strops I see are 2". To me, it seems the 3" would be better as the strop motion would be straight back and forth, rather than require a diagonal pass to get the entire blade. Am I wrong in my thinking that?

Good news is, I spoke with Glen today and will be shipping my razor out to him tomorrow. Hopefully by the time I get it back, I will have acquired a strop and can attempt shaving!

Originally Posted by Jtyson

Thanks for the how to on the strop. Not sure if I understand though. From what I have been seeing online, most strops seem to have two pieces, one leather and one fabric of sort. I've also read quite a lot about pastes, dusts, leather conditioning, etc. I'm sure different animals and tanning methods yield very different results so how do I know what is good for this purpose and what isn't? I've seen people mention sanding their leather too. Also, I see a lot of info about balsa. What exactly is it that I need?

I checked whipped dog and found their cheap poly/leather strop for $27. Sounds good, but I'm concerned with the width. A lot of strops I see are 2". To me, it seems the 3" would be better as the strop motion would be straight back and forth, rather than require a diagonal pass to get the entire blade. Am I wrong in my thinking that?

Good news is, I spoke with Glen today and will be shipping my razor out to him tomorrow. Hopefully by the time I get it back, I will have acquired a strop and can attempt shaving!

I though the same as you, so I made a 3" strop but you still need to do somewhat of an X-stroke to compensate for any unevenness in the leather, that notwithstanding I would go for the wider one, but I have never had a 2" to compare mine to.