Thread: Hi all

Newbie here from florida. Been shaving with a straight for about 6 months now and just stumbled across this forum. Seems like a friendly place with a lot of knowledable members. So I figured id hang around to see what I can learn. Hope to make a few friends and get a few pointers here and there

Travis

Hey congrats and welcome!

What made you decide to use a straight? Are you maintaining your own blade(s)?

It's kind of funny that you found the forum after starting. I was the exact opposite. I went hog-wild researching it all before diving in.

Welcome, Travis! Perhaps you can teach us a thing or two as well!

Hello Travis! Welcome! What kind of pointers were you looking for? I'm also with earcutter on this one, I did MONTHS worth of research getting into this art. I found SRP well before getting back into it (I learned how to shave using straights-safety's) Did you have previous experience with straight's like myself?

Well what really got me into shaving with a straight was I had an uncle that shaved with one. That fascinated me because Isince I was a little youngster I always loved pocket knives and I guess I just put knives and straight razors together. As I got older I started collecting antique knives and aquired a few razors. I remember seeing how he used a razorand had an old razor hone in my box of sharpeners, so I honed up a M Jung and stropped it on a smooth piece of leather and tried it out. Since then of course I got a set of hones and a strop. And with a few shaves I was hooked. First few shaves took a while but im finally STARTING to perfect the technique.

I have been doing my own sharpening on hollow grounds and doing pretty good with them. Wedges on the other hand I just cant get them how I want them

Welcome and delve into the Library - honing section. Also, in the upper right search box enter honing wedges. I'm sure several pages of posts will come up that you can investigate. Short of magical incantations and how you hold your tongue they all, most likely, will say use one or two layers of electrical tape (and there are a lot of comments on which tape is better) will help set the proper angle for the bevel.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by tbrandon

Well what really got me into shaving with a straight was I had an uncle that shaved with one. That fascinated me because Isince I was a little youngster I always loved pocket knives and I guess I just put knives and straight razors together. As I got older I started collecting antique knives and aquired a few razors. I remember seeing how he used a razorand had an old razor hone in my box of sharpeners, so I honed up a M Jung and stropped it on a smooth piece of leather and tried it out. Since then of course I got a set of hones and a strop. And with a few shaves I was hooked. First few shaves took a while but im finally STARTING to perfect the technique.

I have been doing my own sharpening on hollow grounds and doing pretty good with them. Wedges on the other hand I just cant get them how I want them

Great story! I hope I'll inspire someone like that. As for the wedges - search it in the search function here. There have been a ton of people with your issue. Best of luck!

Hi and welcome. Sure whatever info your looking for you will find it here. If you can't find it just ask

Welcome to SRP!
I have to be in the right mood to hone a wedge; otherwise, I'm too tempted to turn on the grinder and turn them into hollows.
There is good information in the honing section and lots of people in Florida.

Hello Travis,

Sounds like you have made a good, and well considered, start. As a fellow Floridian I welcome you to the forum. If there is anything I can do to help you, just let me know.

Regards - Walt