Thread: Time to stop lurking...

Hi all,

I am relatively new to using straight razors. I have been using a cheap Parker shavette for a little over a year now that I originally bought to see if I would like straight razor shaving. I purchased a DE safety razor about 9 months ago and I am never going back to my disposable mach 75 or whatever. About a month back I got to use one of my friends 5/8 half hollow dovo and I am in love. I have been looking at getting myself a new razor but I was at a garage sale and picked up a 59 Fatboy DE and a variety of straight razors (talked them down to $40 for everything) that I am going to need a little help identifying. I have done a little research on my own and I think I may have a couple that could be nice razors. I am not sure if this is the place to ask identification questions, please let me know where to ask and post my pictures. I am thinking of trying my hand at some restorations. I have a total of 6 years experience as a bench jeweler and have been doing woodwork for about the last ten years so I think I have a lot of the skills and tools need to do restoration work. I am looking for pointers and tips to get started in restorations, and places to buy supplies i.e. pinning materials, abrasives, scale material... With luck, I think it will be a very fun new hobby.

Thanks

Welcome to SRP! Lets see if I can get you on your way.

Razors is the place to post pics and ask questions on makes and models
The Workshop is where to start looking at restore info. Specifically the thread http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html

I would recommend that even if you are starting to restore your own that you send out at least one or two to be professionally honed. At the very least they will be a benchmark for you to judge your own efforts down the road.

Best of luck and let us know how it goes!

Matt

Welcome to SRP. It's great to have you join the rest of us. You will learn a lot about straight razors because there is a wealth of information on this forum, especially in the Library. Just go there & start at the beginning. There is so much for you to learn that you will be on here for hours at a time. It sounds like you may have come across some nice straights. Some photo's would be a plus, we'd love to see them all. Along with what you've acquired you will need a shaving brush, shaving mug & some shaving soap. Oh, you need a strop most importantly & that is the most important thing you will need to know how to use before using a straight. You can practice by using an old wide belt & a butter knife. The best thing to do for now with one or two of your newly acquired straights is to send it out to be honed by Lynn or gssixgun. You may as well send two to save on shipping because once one needs honing again, you would have to send it out again to be honed & will need one to shave with so you have an advantage there. If I were you I would send two of them out to be honed right away.
If you send pics, we can help you pick out which ones to send. I would write more but I need to get to a dr's appt. I'll check this when I get back.
Good luck & have fun!
Steve

Welcome !!

Everything MattCB said is spot on.

I would choose the worst ones to practice on. But in order to do a full restore/honing you will be needing the proper tools which can be a bit spendy.

Our more experienced members will help to guide you along though. Lots of great people here with loads of information and knowledge. Listen , ask again if in doubt and take in all that they have to offer you.

~Gary

Thanks MattCB for pointing me in the right direction. I have already spent a few days in the library and I am sure I will be spending even more there in the future. There really is a wealth of knowledge here. In terms of tools, I already have a ton of metal working tools (grinders, buffers, drill press, flex shaft...) from doing jewelry, tons of wood working tools (band saws, sanders, vices, clamps...), and sharpening stones from 220 to 12000 grit need to maintain my tools. From what I can tell I have all the tools to do a full restoration. The only thing I can think of that I am missing is my own forge for making my own blades. Are there any specialty tools just for razors? One of the reasons why I am drawn to this is because I already have the tools. I could imagine it would get very expensive to start doing this without having any of the tools.

While I have an interest in forging I will be the first to admit my ignorance. I know that Tim Zowda, Mike Blue, and Bruno all forge razors (yes Bruno I threw you in that elite group ).

As far as tools just for razor... we seem to use tools listed for hobby and jewelry work more so than not. I can't think of anything razor specific. Maybe strops but you may have those for woodworking tool sharpening already. With your background and available tooling I am really curious as to what kind of projects you decide to do.

Matt

I am actually more excited to start this new hobby than I have been for anything in recent years. I have always loved hand making things and I really can't believe razors never came to me before. I will most likely just start slow and clean up a couple of the razors i picked up then try a full restoration on one or two of the cheaper razors I just got. After that I want to do a full restoration on the two wade and butchers I just picked up. I'm so excited for this and very thankful to have so much info to go off of.

Hobbies can be the crown jewels of life. They open you up to so many experiences, people, and knowledge. Glad to hear you joining in.

Hi Chris
I made it back from my drys appt. Earlier I was going to mention Welcome to the Workshop: How do I / Where do I / What do I / answers are here but MattCB beat me to it so the credit goes to him. I usually mention it to new members. I also hope you have seen the following:
Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Library
Beginner's Guide to Honing - Straight Razor Place Library
Category:Photography - Straight Razor Place Library
And.............you can look here for help in your area or ask for any help in your specific area:
Local Help - Straight Razor Place Library
There are always people on here more than happy to help you out with any questions or problems you may have but for now, you can take pics of your latest acquisitions w/o a light box so that we can see what you have. We will be able to give you advice on your razors & which ones to send out to be honed. One thing you don't want is a razor with a lot of hone wear on the spine & edge. You also don't want any chips on the edge if possible but small ones can be taken out by a professional honemeister like Lynn or gssixgun. Once you get to learning more & learn to hone you will be able to invest in some good hones. SRD has decent prices on hones & I have bought hones from Sharpening Supplies - Sharpen Your Knives and Tools With The Right Supplies
Hope to hear back from you soon.
Steve

Welcome. It looks like you have the right idea. Start simple and progress slowly. Sounds like you are no stranger to using your hands. Everything has a learning curve and if you go too fast with using your buffer it will cost you a few blade. I bought some junkers to learn with. They are still around and are great for experimenting on.