Thread: New guy from Netherlands

I've just turned 30, and have very thick facial hair. You could say I've been clogging up cartridge razors for 10 of them. The last few years I only trimmed my beard, facial and neck hair with a Wahl trimmer. Cartridge and electric razors don't seem to work on my thick dark brown hair.

Since I'm always sharpening other stuff(drill bits/chisels/planes/pocket knives/hunting knives/antique blades/hair trimmer blades/al kinds of saws, and even last for years and years with a single utility knife(boxcutter)). I came into contact with several persons with vintage SR's, and got compliments when i was done restoring them. when i tried them out on my arms they seemed to take langer thicker hairs with great ease and speed, then i got thinking about my chin...

Cheap as I am I searched forums for usable straight razors on a budget. here in the netherlands the only serious razors are offered come in "kits" that i dont need, otherwise its 80 euro's for a straight from solingen, that 100 bucks.

Now i have a "Golden Monkey 777" which is a pretty broad chinese razor. As you worked as much with steel as I have it's all good, some is hard and takes long to sharpen, others are softer and take an edge quicker. Sharpening doesn't cost me anything, but ruining a real 60HRC+ edge would be a pain in the behind. On a random low-bid on an auction site i purchased a Tondeo TM Shavette, so i could experience what a sharp shave should feel like, and experiment on the blades to see the angle, finish, hardness etc.

I was prepared to have a hard time getting a non-disposable blade to get "shaving sharp", but the chinese golden monkey touched my face about two hours after getting it though the mail. Sharper than the disposable blades, and more conforming to my face. A few nick's is realy all damage done.

Why are all these forums full of people with problems or logic-defying theories?

I must admit I've polished, ground and sharpened more things I knew existed, and i have multiple bench grinders, dozens of stones a cabinet full of 3m whet-or-dry, strops and polishing pastes collected by now. but sharpening a chinese budget razor to shaving sharp didn't took much effort.

I do own Coticules Arkansas oil hones, thuringer stones and BBW stones, but thats more "Garage sale finds". When I tried honing the blade on a nice coticule, and stropping it with some leather belt I noticed a improvement in the shave I can't scientificly explain. Leather is proven to do nothing to a cutting edge without compound, and the grit of these natural stones is "undefinable" they say.

Thats why i picked an active forum to read up about it, and discuss the topic. Also i want to learn the proper techniques of shaving, preparing and after shave care for my skin.

I picked this forum, so i look forward to discussing shaving with you all.

greetings from the Netherlans to you all.

Well good for you, welcome , but I'll ask this how do you know it's a real shave ready edge ,, I can sharpen knives that will take my hair off smooth but not what I would shave at. Till I had a real pro who has honed thousands of razors and actually uses them did I find out I was shaving with inferior edges,, but have fun here ask questions take some advise and have fun, at 30 I thought I could do anything , I've since found i,m a very limited person and love to learn more at 62. You,ve joined a great place to learn this age old art. Btc

Welcome to the SRP Forum!

Here is a link to the SRP Beginners Guide to Straight Shaving. This will help you with the things you need to know before you begin your experience with a straight razor.

Here is a link to the SRP Library. This will help you with pretty much anything relating to shaving with a straight razor.

Here is a link that will help you find other SRP members in your area, just insert your location and hit search now. Note that the user name listing in red is a mentor, if you should need any personal help.

Welcome to the world of straight razor shaving!

Welcome. Here is the challenge. Take a fresh honed blade and shave a part of your face with it. Now strop in on plain leather and shave the opposite spot. If you can feel the difference it does something. I hope you enjoy your stay. There is tons of information here.

Welcome to SRP!
You have definitely found an active shaving forum that will gladly give you a hundred different possible answers to any question that you ask.

I come from a similar sharpening background as you do. So to start answering some of your questions:

Originally Posted by Axium

Why are all these forums full of people with problems or logic-defying theories?

Apparently most people in the US do not know how to hone and a lot of people think that tool sharpening (including pocket knives) stops at the 1000 grit level. I don't know when honing in the US became an art instead of routine maintenance. I really don't know where the idea of tools being less sharp than a razor came from either.

Originally Posted by Axium

Leather is proven to do nothing to a cutting edge without compound, and the grit of these natural stones is "undefinable" they say.

For the case of shaving, we use plain leather strops to realign the edge of the blade instead of sharpening it. It makes the shave a lot smoother. Some do use pasted strops to maintain the sharp edge though.

I'm not quite sure why people think natural stones are "undefinable". My guess is that they haven't taken the time to "define" them. Or maybe it is back to that problem that people in the US don't know how to hone. So if you don't know how to hone then you just don't know that a yellow coticule is around 8k grit size.

Welkom bij SRP ... veel plezier!

Welkom to a forum full of logic defying theories. It usually starts with someone observing something he does not understand. A logic defying theory is sometimes born when trying to find an explanation. You are most welcome to spar.

Welcome to SRP

Welcome to the forum Axium. You are lucky to live so close to Solingen. If I was you, I'd be visiting Revisor and Boker and picking up some great razors.

Hi and welcome. I agree with Cris that the concept of sharpening full stop is an alien idea for the majority of people. Many find there way here to learn how to hone thier razors as it is hard to find someone to do it unless you look in the right places. These days every thing is disposable or serrated etc and most would have little idea what to do with a hone. Sounds like you are on the right track so happy shaving and any questions feel free to ask.