G'day from Perth, Western Australia

Hi folks...just joined the forum as a newbie to straight razor shaving!! I received my kit tonight and just finished unpacking the box, including a Thiers-Issard historic 6/8" Satin Rams Horn Feston Spartacus, Bison 3" strop, and a cheaper 3" strop to apply pastes to.

I'm hoping to have my first try in the next day or two, so I'm in the process of reading the guide on this forum (which is great!). However I have some concerns over whether it will require honing first? The included instructions say that the razor is ready to shave, but other posts I have read suggest otherwise. Any advice you could give me?

Also, if honing is required, is there anyone in Perth that you could recommend? I have the details for Oz in Sydney (provided by the guys at Shaver Hut) but it would be preferable not to send the unit back over east given I have only just received it from there!

Thanks in advance guys.

Cheers,

Lance

Hi Lance, whether your razor is shave ready or not depends largely on who you bought it from. Some retailers will make sure their new razors are honed and stropped to the highest standard and others may be content to send them out as they arrive from the manufacturer. Usually, manufacturer's edges are not as good as most of us regulars would prefer.

Unfortunately, a first-time straight razor user has no easy way of gauging whether their new blade is adequately honed - a terrific edge and a so-so edge are not easily distinguished the first time you put one to your face.

I'm sure some of the old hands in WA will very shortly make themselves known to you and give you some good assistance.

Cheers for the reply Maladroit. It sounds like it's worth getting a professional to check it out....hopefully there's someone local in Perth.

Gidday Imyers,
Welcome to SRP. I'm from Perth, but currently overseas. I'll let you know when I'm back in town and if you need any help we can organise something.

Welcome Imyers . There are several members from Perth. I am sure someone will chime in. Check here http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...sername&order=

Hi, I am up in Darlington, however I am just about to fly out for work tomorrow. Eddy79 is over kelmscott way from memory. There are a few others of us too, including bongo and one or two others .
Welcome by the way.
Ed

Hi Lance & welcome aboard. As you see there are quite a few members from your country so you shouldn't have any problems getting the issue sorted out. If you haven't done so yet, I suggest checking out the Beginners Guide in the Library here & then move on from there. You will find a lot of information that will keep you busy for hours. You can also use a butterknife to practice stropping so you don't accidentally cut your strop & dull a good edge. Great to have you with us.
Good luck my friend.

Hi and welcome. As Ed said I am around the Kelmsctt area. There isn't really much in the way of honing services in Perth. The only reputable one I know of is a old barber in the cbd.

If you want we can arrange for a meet up and I can help with the honing to make sure it's truly shave ready. According to the shaver hut website it is only a factory edge so likely needs to be honed. If you are interested just send me a pm.

Welcome aboard from another relocated Sandgropper
Eddy and the lads over their will definitely look after you, so take him up on the catch up as face to face is so much easier than learning everything remotely, believe me

Hey thanks for all the replies...really appreciate it (and the offers of help!).

Engine46...yep, I've downloaded the guide, and it's great! The butter knife idea is brilliant...I'll definitely give that a go. I don't want to wreck the Bison strop I purchased as it didn't come cheap.

Eddy79...really appreciate the offer of help mate. I'll send you a PM.

Thanks again guys. Awesome forum!!

G'Day Lance and welcome aboard.
Looks like you have things pretty well sorted out for the moment - NOW the Acquisition Disorders start .... hehehehe
Keep in touch and let us know how you are going.

Hey how's that $449 razor going? What did you end up doing?

Eddy79 was great and helped me out setting the bevel and getting me started. Can't thank him enough!!

Cool, did you try shaving with it before going to the hones?

Welcome to SRP!!!

:chapeau

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Levis

Cool, did you try shaving with it before going to the hones?

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He did although it wasn't shave ready just a factory edge and not a good one at that.

Was good meeting up and having someone to talk razors with. The wife doesn't really care.