Thread: Hello from Latvia!

Hello! After reading here on and off for quite some time, I've finally started shaving with a straight razor. Seeing as I'm from a rather small country, there is no one to ask advice here, so I lay all my hopes with you guys.

Welcome to SRP ifcis. There is a wealth of information in the wikis on SRP. Please make sure to read and view them as many times as needed. We often go back and review them from time to time and find new material he overlooked before. Since there is no such thing as a stupid question feel free to ask, ask, ask any and all questions that come to mind. The members all to happy to answer any question poised. But do look out for the humor many possess, it comes at you unexpectedly. Enjoy the ride that is straight razor shaving, or wet shaving as some call it. Major point to make: Don't rush it. Start simple, start slow. Learn the basics of shaving, and blade maintenance before even considering doing any complete honing on your own.

Strap on your seatbelt, it's an amusement park ride at times, highway cruising at times and often a nice stroll in the countryside.

Richard

Ah but I've already went the completely opposite direction. I'm fully aware that getting the blade honed by a professional is the first advice, however there were none at the time in my country. Seeing as the price of internationally shipping my SR to be honed rivaled the price of getting a Norton 4/8, I went with the latter. And I surely don't regret it. As of now I've managed to get an edge that can shave, although I probably wouln't go as far as to call it proper shave-ready. Anyhow, I guess I'm getting there.

I hope then, that you took advantage of the excellent videos made by Lynn and Glen (gssixgun) on the various aspects of honing. There are many threads on honing that can answer your questions. I only refresh my razors and have maintained a number of them for almost a year now. There are several members near me that I use for a bevel to shave ready edge. Keep working on getting a good shave from 8k. The experts constantly say if you can get a decent shave from an 8k edge all the rest is just gravy and polishing (and there are many that insist no edge is complete until you have run it through a 10k, or a 2k, or a 16k and so on. Find what makes you satisfied to shave with, refinement comes with experience.

Hi and welcome. Sounds like your well on the way. There is a thread called JA Norton on here dedicated to honing using the Norton and would be a good place to help you get your edges truly shave ready although practice is the real teacher without any hands in help. Good luck and as said any questions feel free to ask and we will help as we can