Newbie that has aquired an infatuation with straight razors recently

Hi all! Great forum here. I'm a 56 yo male living in North Central Florida and working at the University of Florida.

I picked up an old straight razor at an antique store locally, for no particular reason, some weeks ago. There was something about shaving with one that really intrigued me. I started learning and watching videos and subsequently got hooked. After wasting time and money on cheap crappy razors, I finally wised up and bought one that I think is decent. I've been shaving with it for a week. I also have plans in the near future to start making them. Or at least trying. Being a member here should be very helpful.

I work as a Scientific Instrument Maker. Which is pretty much a craftsman in many disciplines. Machining, welding, brazing, soldering, glass blowing, electrochemistry, etc. Just about anything that would need to be done building a wide range of custom scientific research apparatus.

Joe

Joe, Welcome to SRP!
Are you shaving with the first straight you bought at the antique store, or did you buy another? We like to see razor pics, by the way!:)

Hello, Joe, and welcome to Straight Razor Place. Soon the straight razor will become an obsession, a sweet obsession, I might add, and you will feel at home here with the rest of us. We're delighted to have you with us. Please continue your research, and ask questions.

Welcome to SRP. I guess we'll be seeing you in the workshop and forge forums.

Welcome and yes pics are always a plus around here.

Hi and welcome. Where did you get your razor. There is factory shave ready and there is actual shave ready. Pics of the antique find will help us to get you some info on it. Any questions feel free to ask and happy shaving

Pictures, please! And welcome!

Welcome aboard

Welcome aboard! Hope the shaves keep improving. I am looking forward to what someone with your skill set can produce.

Smooth shaves!

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Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Joe, Welcome to SRP!
Are you shaving with the first straight you bought at the antique store, or did you buy another? We like to see razor pics, by the way!:)

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No, I wasn't able to get a good edge for shaving. I tried many different things. Different stones, different strops. Just wouldn't get a nice edge. I came to the conclusion that the metal is too hard and brittle, and not able to accept a refined precision cutting edge. It has "Perfecto" etched on the blade with plain black scales. I gave up on it.

Bought a solingen steel one made in Germany. It was the only one among the half dozen or so that would shave well right out of the box. Of the four or five cheap ones I ordered, only one of them could be sharpened to provide a shave of any kind. It was a "Gold something" I don't remember the exact name. This taught me what a properly ground blade looks like and hones like. The dimensions of the cutting edge are critical. I don't fancy a long bevel like a pocket knife, and that's what some of them were like. Junk.