I Am A Newbee....

Good day all!

I have used an electric razor most of my shaving life (a few decades) and went to a Double Edge razor and wet shaving two weeks ago yesterday.

My ultimate goal is to go to a Straight Razor but wanted to ease in slowly.

I am now starting to get comfortable and enjoying the ritual and comfort associated with wet shaving.

I found the beginner guide very useful and decided to join for more info and maybe the classifieds as I become ready.

The one question I have since I sharpen my own pocket knives is the process pretty much the same for the thinner blades?

Gerald

Hello, Gerald. Welcome to Straight Razor Place!

The short answer to your question is no. There are differences between sharpening a pocket knife and a straight razor.

Welcome!

Starting with a DE is a good way to transition to straights. You learn about shave angle, how to build a lather with brush and cream/soap, and proper pressure. It's the route I took and not having to think about everything while shaving with the straight the first several times was a blessing.

I don't know much about sharpening knives, but I understand they are held at an angle to the stone. Razors need a finer edge and are laid flat on the stone. Also, higher grits are typically used for razors than knives. There may be more, so someone else may chime in with further details.

Thanks,

I have bunch of different whetstones and was hoping to get by as cheap as possible. Should have known better and guess I did deep down.

I also had an old gem micromatic Single Edge I was going to start with and found it had a spur where the blade was supposed to seat and the blade wouldn't sit right.

So I bought a kit with a Badger hair and Merkur 34 Double Edge and I am liking it, shave is close and no pulling, even if I let it go for a couple days.

I think I want to go to a straight but am going to research and wait at least a month before I pull the trigger.

I guess I should resign to the fact that this will be like reloading, cheaper to do but your always buying new equipment and gadgets and shooting more....

A frequent recommendation to folks starting out is to have their razors pro-honed. Using a straight razor has a bit of a learning curve and it complicates things if you are trying to learn to hone on top of learning to strop, lather, and straight shave. Luckily, you are in Missouri which is a center for straight razor honers. There are two honers in the SRP classifieds based in MO.

Hi and welcome. Starting with a pre honed shave ready razor and using it for a few months will give you a real idea of what shave ready truly means. After that learning on a second razor is made easier as you know what to aim for and have had the time to do enough research to know what to do. If you can meet with someone local to show you the ropes then that would dramatically reduce the learning curve. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

As said before, there is nothing like a shave ready razor. Send it out and it will be well worth it; I've had my latest one since march and it still has a great edge. Do not think that it will require frequent touch-ups on the stones. Proper stropping should keep it in good shape.

Thanks for the input. Seems like very good advice to not worry about sharpening until later.

This can be done with a single investment. If you check out Straight Razor Designs, you can pick a razor/strop combo where the strop is heavily discounted. Consider upgrading to a 3" strop which makes it easier. Some chrome oxide paste on the inside of the fabric for a weekly touch up, and you'll rarely need to send the blade out to be rehoned. Then your only ongoing expense is shave cream and whatever other products you choose to use.

That said, most people end up collecting one thing or another, if not everything, so it can get expensive. But it is possible. Sticking to one razor while you get your technique down will help, too.

Hi & welcome to SRP. Since you have already seen the Beginners Guide, here's a couple links that might interest you:

First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Library

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...icipation.html

As you can see there is a lot of knowledge here so just keep on going from the Beginners Guide.
Any questions, just ask.
Oh, BTW, Straight Razor Designs has good deals on a straight razor & strop set. The Ralf Aust with strop is a quality straight razor plus you have the option to upgrade to a better strop if it fits your budget. Lynn, the owner of this forum is also an owner of SRD & he personally hones & strops each new straight before it goes to its new home plus you get a free honing for when it needs it. Just look 'em up on the internet or you might see their ad on here & you can just click on it, then click on straight razor & strop sets. You can also practice stropping with a butter knife so you don't cut a new strop up which many of us did when we first started. You can usually sand it out or glue it back down with super glue (CA) or some rubber cement.
Good luck my friend.

Love the butter knife idea....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gflight

Love the butter knife idea....

---

Welcome, I used that technique too when I first started it's helpful indeed but the real thing is much better. You'll probably cut your strop at first some don't get a fancy one unless you have got money to blow. I destroyed my first strop. Absolutely wreaked havoc upon it. I slowed down and focused and got better. The whole wet shaving thing requires lots of patience and lots of practice. If you're serious about it, you will be rewarded with a smooth face and some great quality personal time. I hope you do get in to straights when you're ready.

Not being one to listen when people say you can't or shouldn't. I didn't listen and started honing soon after I started shaving and looking back I don't regret it. I should have waited though and learn how to do touch ups. It would have saved me 8 months of frustration and only a few weeks ago I really got it. I wouldn't count the stones you've got now out. I just wouldn't advise you to use them until later and by that time you'll know if they are good for razors or not. A simple pasted strop will keep an edge going after it's been honed well.

I wish you all the best and whatever you do, do it at your own pace. People can tell you anything and 6 people can have 6 different views on the same subject so you gotta do you so to speak. Good luck and welcome.

I love the Feedback and always consider, "Feedback as a gift"...

I have been reading, looking, and speaking to the wife and if I still have interest and have gotten comfortable with the DE by Christmas I may get a razor/strop set from Santa. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gflight

I love the Feedback and always consider, "Feedback as a gift"...

I have been reading, looking, and speaking to the wife and if I still have interest and have gotten comfortable with the DE by Christmas I may get a razor/strop set from Santa. :D

---

Great make sure to give Santa a little nudge in the right direction.

Welcome to Straight Razor Place! This is the very best place to find out about shaving with a straight.
I will echo others' sentiment that starting with a DE was a good idea. I did, and IMO it teaches you to pay attention to angle and technique as you negotiate your face, and places like your chin and jaw line, which is also necessary with the straight. But it also gives you a great wet shaving tool that allows you to go slow with the straight while learning, but clean up with a proper razor you are familiar with, so that you can still get great shaves while learning.
Good luck, and make certain to take advantage of all of the awesome resources here.

All due respect, I would take advantage of the butter knife unless you are loaded full of cash & can afford to buy you a new strop once you destroy your first one!