Thread: My introduction as a new member...

I have been researching and getting many of my questions answered from SRP for a few weeks so i figured I'd better join since I will be purchasing a new straight razor soon.

My name is Kurt and I'm from Northern Illinois. I'm twenty three years old with a much older soul. I prefer to do things the old way, the original way, or the hard way because its usually the best way.

I use my spare time to hunt, fish, shoot, or just build things that most people would just buy at a store. Whether its hunting equipment, bows, knives, beer, whiskey or really anything, I'd rather make it myself the way i want it. I guess thats why I'm drawn to straight razor shaving.

Anyways before i drag on I have not purchased a straight razor because like anything i do i make sure i do it right before screwing something up. Still researching and still being picky about what i want vs need and am able to afford. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. I also wouldn't mind purchasing used equipment from an experienced member.

Also, just a shot in the dark. Has anyone ever heard of any members or know of anyone who makes their own straight razors? I have been dabbling in knife making and don't see any reason why, with the right grinder, i couldn't make my own custom razor? just a thought

Welcome in Kurt
We have a few custom makers that are members, and a few members that have made their own.

From your post you have a bit more deciding/searching to do as there are plenty of options.
You have some admirable hobbies as well. I will step aside and let others welcome you in as well.

Check out he classifieds and the vendors here to help fine tune the direction you wish to start in.

Again welcome aboard.

Pat

Thanks pat, I guess as to my first purchase I'm figuring on going with the Dovo 5/8th best quality wet shave set. Seems to me theres no reason to skimp but thats about as much as I can afford now. I found a full kit on straightrazors.com that was 65 dollars with high carbon steel razor but i have a hard time believing that would be worth the money seeming as I couldn't find a manufacturer or manufacturing country on there. High carbon steel is usually good but as a chef ive used many Asian originating high carbon knives and they're always garbage. Figured it'd be the same with these. Anybody had any experience with these razors?

No experience with them myself but I would bet your presumption is spot on.
Now the Dovo is a safe bet, Larry at whipped dog does the sight unseen and another (I think he calls it half seen?) deal.
Shave ready vintage, he gets a lot of praise here and I do not think you can beat the price.

SRD has some kits very reasonable that will get you well under way (and it is hard to beat a deal that is honed by Lynn and has a second honing included)

Search for straightrazors.com in the search box (top right) and you'll find a number of threads about that vendor.

+1 to Pat's suggestions.

Yeah the SRD wet shave kit is what i meant to say. I forgot that i heard about that whipped dog place. Ill have to go see what they got for deals. Being a big knife guy and fairly competent with all sorts of sharpeners and sharpening systems including degrees of edge for different blade usages, do you think its possible that i might be able to hone a SE without being experienced specifically with SE's? I feel like finding the right edge angle is no different when honing a pocketknife, filet/butchering knife, chef's knife, or razor blade. I have a lansky honing kit with guide rods that has a 17 degree angle for "razors" but for some stupid reason before now assumed it was for razor blades (like box knives) not SE razors. Would that be for SEs?

I can say this,
I worked in kitchens, I have good quality kitchen knives and I maintain them shaving sharp.
When I took up a straight razor I had to let that mentality go.
Sharpening a straight requires a different mind set and technique.
After becoming what I consider proficient at honing straight razors I can say in some aspects it is easier than free hand sharpening a knife,
But the gymnastics that can come into play to dial in a straight razor coupled with the delicate consistent touch needed is a challenge I did not anticipate.
Can you?
Quite possibly, if you can get one that is ready to go, and one to work on it would be very beneficial.

So do most/all guys who hone, do they hone free hand. cuz the sharpening system i have has a guide that you attach to the knife, guide rods on the stones and angle holes in the guide that the rods slide through so you get a constant consistent stroke every time at 17 20 25? and 30? degrees i believe. are razors too different one to the other to rely on a system such as this? Do you know the degree(about) at which razor edges are honed at? Sorry if im throwing a lot of questions at you but im just so interested in everything about this...

I have that same system. The SR has it's own system built in. That makes you think it'd be easy... Not so much. To hone a SR you lay the razor flat on the hone to hone it. The spine is raised to provide the proper angle.

In that case does the spine wear out as it is being laid on the hone as well as the edge? or does the spine have a different temper/heat treat the the blade edge to make it less susceptible to erosion from the hone?