Thread: Just Joined Up!

Welcome, sounds like you've got the right approach for going about this. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Plenty of info here, and you can always look in the library, or check out videos. Good luck!

In reply to bouschie's post (forgot to hit the quote button -Doh!):
I've had my eye on that RA for awhile now and have pretty much decided on getting it. Thought I'd get the razor & strop package from SRD and upgrade to a 3" strop. I have plenty of different soaps and creams and way more brushes than I need. I have new ones and also vintage that I have re-knotted. My wife picked me up a Wester De-Fi with end bolsters at an antique mall awhile back. Not sure if it's something that can be used or not. Thought I might have Lynn or someone look at it and see what they think. I thought I could maybe use it for stropping and honing practice if nothing else.

Originally Posted by Parker51

In reply to bouschie's post (forgot to hit the quote button -Doh!):
I've had my eye on that RA for awhile now and have pretty much decided on getting it. Thought I'd get the razor & strop package from SRD and upgrade to a 3" strop. I have plenty of different soaps and creams and way more brushes than I need. I have new ones and also vintage that I have re-knotted. My wife picked me up a Wester De-Fi with end bolsters at an antique mall awhile back. Not sure if it's something that can be used or not. Thought I might have Lynn or someone look at it and see what they think. I thought I could maybe use it for stropping and honing practice if nothing else.

Post some pics of it, and your thoughts in show and tell.
Lots here can tell you if its worth it.
Probably is.

Good advice all around. Welcome aboard! Not much to add except, if you can get a mentor nearby, you will see dramatic improvements in a short amount of time. Make sure to put yourself on the map. We have some great members and I'm sure some are nearby.

I just signed up for this forum today! I work part time at a store that sells shaving goods in Canada as well as my full time job. I love straight razor shaving and want to dive in with honing. I am currently looking at what stones to get for setting a bevel and the progression through. I already have an old Barbers hone as my finisher until I can afford to upgrade at a later date. Great to meet you all!

Welcome to the fun! Walter seems to already know where abouts you reside, but the rest of us are in the dark . It would be beneficial for you to input your location into your profile. Feel free to add other tidbits about yourself in there as well .

My noob tip: don't be afraid to lather your face in sections. The first few shaves with a SR commonly take longer than expected, resulting in the lather drying out on your face.

Enjoy the exhilarating thrill and precision of this sport .

Hi Gary & welcome aboard. You won't go wrong with a Ralf Aust plus you will get one free honing for when it needs it. Lynn, owner of this forum does the honing so it will be ready to go when you get it. You can practice stropping with a butterknife so you don't cut your new strop & also dull a good edge. Just be patient & take your time & you'll be okay. Go to the Library above & then to the Beginners Guide & work your way from there. Also if you go to Youtube, type in Lynn Abrams & subscribe to his video's. There is a lot to learn. Finding another member near you would be a plus also. You can't beat hands on help!
Great to have you here.
Good luck my friend.

Hi Gary welcome aboard the good ship SRP.

Thanks for all the warm welcomes! I think I'm about ready to take the plunge and order the RA and strop combo from SRD. I'm thinking I should get the 3" strop upgrade. Do you all agree?

Boy I sure like the looks of that 6/8" snakewood model but feel like I'd be jumping the gun if I got that one for a first one. Not that there's anything at all wrong with the black 5/8" but that snakewood sure ain't hard to look at at all! I'll be retiring in couple months so I could probably get that one from work for my retirement gift. By then I might know whether to get the French point or the round one. You can't have too many can you?

Welcome. I just got my new SRD strop last week and I couldn't be happier. I got the 3" and it's sure a pleasure not concentrating on X strokes.