Hello From TN

Hello gents,

Erich here from Tennessee

Am seriously thinking about getting into straights razors. I've already bought one from a member of the Badger & Blade forum. It is a Birko and am awaiting its arrival. I have also purchased a Robert Klaas that I intend to learn my honing skills on. Here it is:

Attachment 160598
I have no idea as to stones and stuff so fire away as to stones, on a budget, that would make this shave ready.

I've already learned that some folks use stone and others use film. Opinions?

Norton? Shapton? King? Naniwa? What grain?

All info is welcome.

Thanks.

If just starting out ,get them pro honed. That way you will have a benchmark to go on, then learn to shave before honing. Just a suggestion. You will find that honing is almost the last thing you need to learn , stropping will be one of the most important thing to master , that way honing won't be often. I,m going on 6 months of shaving with a straight and I haven't honed a thing! Had mine done by the pros, I just concentrated on shave technique and stropping. Have fun, ask all the questions you think of. Plus for the cost of a couple hones I can get several razors honed. Tc

Welcome to the most friendly, helpful and informative site on the web!!

You will find members here of all different backgrounds, ages and occupations from all corners of the world and all with a quest for more knowledge about using and maintaining a straight razor!

If you take the time to search, 99.9% of your questions can be found in the Library (WIKI) however feel free to ask us about whatever it is that you are wondering about or having a problem with. It does help if you’ve done some research before hand so it narrows the problem down a bit.

Is the razor 'Shave Ready? If not please get it honed by a pro or an experienced member!!

Do you have a strop?? Brush?? Shaving Soap?? If not you need those also! If you have both Please practice stropping with something like a Dull table knife to practice the 'flip'!

As to learning to Hone--I Very Highly Recommend that you WAIT!!!

I was a meat cutter for several years and I will tell you straight out that the difference between 'sharpening a knife' and 'honing' a razor is as different as black and white!!

IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD!!!

Stick with learning the BASICS! And Please take your time, go slow! Every Thing about this 'Art' involves Patience!!!

Honing can wait! Get the 'Basics' Down Pat!!! Just ask pinklather/a Mentor/why he chose that 'handle'!!!!! I'll give you a hint--mix red blood with a white lather and guess what you get!!

I'm not trying to discourage you! Quite the opposite I want to see you succeed but this Art takes Patience and Skill!!

I waited about a year and a half before I tried my hand at honing and I'm Damn Glad that I did as it paid off! I had to relearn muscle memory as honing is so
much different!

Enjoy the Ride!! It's a long strange journey but well worth the trip! :tu

Hey there. I'm just out the road at Woodbury. I can tell you where there's a nice Morely I've looked at twice. But I have a twin to it now, so I'm not interested at retail. PM for specifics (value/price discussions aren't "game" here at SRP).

I also have a lot of rocks and hone razors, but it's quite obvious you just dropped in and need a little bit of time to read up on all the wiki and dozens of other "what rocks do i get for cheap" posts already up on this board.

I'm actually trying a "home-grown" natural tonight from the great white north. And I've made a few, but am way behind on testing them. Making your own, despite its low out-of-pocket expense is undoubtedly NOT THE CHEAPEST way to go about it.

I'll be glad to make recommendations, even meet up and show you some stuff. Just be patient. Nothing about this is fast, unless it's an accident and some of those draw blood, some ruin edges, some ruin whole blades. Fast ain't what this is about.

Enjoy the process, you are always where you are and nowhere else.

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for the advice. I will take it. I'll just put that Klaas razor away on the shave cave and wait until it is time. As I said in my OP, I am waiting for a shave ready razor from a fellow member from the Badger & Blade. It is a Birko. I guess based on what yo guys are saying, I need to get a strop first and foremost and learn that technique.

Recommendations are welcome!

Yes you must strop between shaves and improper stropping can ruin the edge. On some of Glen's videos (gssixgun) he proceeds through the honing to stropping. Lynn (Lynn Abrams) has videos on stropping as well as honing.

One can shave without honing, but stropping is mandatory.

My stint with HS band (in le 'boro) was Jazz Band in 1983-4. I strum stringy things.

Holler, I'll come down off the mtn and hone up your stuff, loan you a strop, whatever it takes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eezee

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for the advice. I will take it. I'll just put that Klaas razor away on the shave cave and wait until it is time. As I said in my OP, I am waiting for a shave ready razor from a fellow member from the Badger & Blade. It is a Birko. I guess based on what yo guys are saying, I need to get a strop first and foremost and learn that technique.

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Atta Boy! :tu

As far as strops go, I wouldn't buy an expensive one to start out as it's about 99.9% a given that you will nick/cut or otherwise mess it up!!

I like the Illinois 827 as not only being in a beginner's price range but a really good strop! I have others but it's my go to strop right after honing!!

You will need to learn the X-stroke but that's a good thing!! You should be able to find one at Amazon with free shipping.

Remember; take your time, learn the ropes and you will fall in love with this Art! Hurry and Not Be Patient and you will more than likely be disappointed!

Enjoy the Ride! :tu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WadePatton

Yes you must strop between shaves and improper stropping can ruin the edge. On some of Glen's videos (gssixgun) he proceeds through the honing to stropping. Lynn (Lynn Abrams) has videos on stropping as well as honing.

One can shave without honing, but stropping is mandatory.

My stint with HS band (in le 'boro) was Jazz Band in 1983-4. I strum stringy things.

Holler, I'll come down off the mtn and hone up your stuff, loan you a strop, whatever it takes.

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eezee

This is what you are going to love about SRP! Members Helping Members! Wade! THANK YOU!!! Just what the Dr Ordered!:y :bow

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WadePatton

Yes you must strop between shaves and improper stropping can ruin the edge. On some of Glen's videos (gssixgun) he proceeds through the honing to stropping. Lynn (Lynn Abrams) has videos on stropping as well as honing.

One can shave without honing, but stropping is mandatory.

My stint with HS band (in le 'boro) was Jazz Band in 1983-4. I strum stringy things.

Holler, I'll come down off the mtn and hone up your stuff, loan you a strop, whatever it takes.

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Thank you! I will keep that in mind.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

Atta Boy! :tu

As far as strops go, I wouldn't buy an expensive one to start out as it's about 99.9% a given that you will nick/cut or otherwise mess it up!!

I like the Illinois 827 as not only being in a beginner's price range but a really good strop! I have others but it's my go to strop right after honing!!

You will need to learn the X-stroke but that's a good thing!! You should be able to find one at Amazon with free shipping.

Remember; take your time, learn the ropes and you will fall in love with this Art! Hurry and Not Be Patient and you will more than likely be disappointed!

Enjoy the Ride! :tu

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I've noticed from looking at prices that the "budget" strops appear to be all 2-2.5" in width. Would the 3" be better or should I resolve myself to learn a good "X pattern?" A member of Badger & Blade thought this might be a good beginner's strop:

Amazon.com: Leather and Canvas Hanging Razor Strop "Shaving Strop 3" 4.5 Cm X 30 Cm: Beauty

Is it important to get a strop that has two handles so that paste can be put on one of the cloth sides?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

Atta Boy! :tu

As far as strops go, I wouldn't buy an expensive one to start out as it's about 99.9% a given that you will nick/cut or otherwise mess it up!!

I like the Illinois 827 as not only being in a beginner's price range but a really good strop! I have others but it's my go to strop right after honing!!

You will need to learn the X-stroke but that's a good thing!! You should be able to find one at Amazon with free shipping.

Remember; take your time, learn the ropes and you will fall in love with this Art! Hurry and Not Be Patient and you will more than likely be disappointed!

Enjoy the Ride! :tu

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Just took a look at that Illinois 827 at Classic Shaving. Looks very nice. Thanks for the recommendation!

I have a 3" SRD but prefer my vintage 2.5" strops. I never strop with the blade fully perpendicular. The greatest advantage of a 3" is that you can trim off nicked sections (narrowing the whole strop) if they happen and it's a bad one. Pretty sure Larry of Whipped Dog has a "entry level" strop worth considering.

Now that I've used 5 different strops (4 hanging now, one loaned out) I've learned what my preferences are and if minimalism struck me, I could start over with ONE SRD P4, 3-inches wide (but wait) and D-rings. Then I'd trim 1/4" off both edges of the strop, for a 2.5".

As it is, i'm going to add D-rings to my favorite vintage leathers. And the 3" latigo just hangs there. I found the 827 to be "meh" and pasted it.

Hi, and welcome to SRP. :chapeau

1. I feel that leaning the X-stroke is important.
2. If by (two handles) you mean the leather and cloth, here again I recommend both the cloth and leather.
3. You don't need to worry about pastes until you master stropping! All pastes will do is cause you more problems! Pastes are Not a Magic Potion that will magically 'fix' what you messed up with improper stropping. They will only multiply the problem!

The same is true with honing! Right now you have your hands full learning the basics!

Enjoy the ride! :tu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eezee

Just took a look at that Illinois 827 at Classic Shaving. Looks very nice. Thanks for the recommendation!

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This was one of my first and it still hangs ready for use.
I have two that I am partial to the Illinois #827 and an SRD English Bridal. I still use the #827 regularly.
A great strop in my opinion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eezee

Just took a look at that Illinois 827 at Classic Shaving. Looks very nice. Thanks for the recommendation!

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When you purchase it they may to want to sell you 'conditioning' oils. Please Don't! The strop is ready to go! I've handled 3, mine and two that I bought to help newbies out and yours will be ready to go!!

Keep hand rubbing it before use and the oils from your skin will keep it conditioned!

You will find the leather 'ribbed' that's the way it's supposed to be! The linen is also 'different' but works well! Glen (GSSIXGUN) has used one for over 30 years and his only strop for I believe 28 years!

Go Slow and Enjoy the Ride!

+1 for the Illinois 827. It's a great strop and the linen is impregnated with zinc oxide.

Howdy from a fellow Middle Tennessean.

I'd suggest watching Lynn Abram's videos on youtube or get his dvd "The World of Straight Razor Shaving". Great source of info.

There's a TON of great info on SRP. Plenty of helpful people too.


Ethan