Just Joined Up!

Hi! My name is Gary and I've been wet shaving with safety razors for a while now and didn't think I'd ever be interested in straights but I was wrong, as usual. Trying to gather information now so I can pick me out a good one and get started. I'm a wood carver so I've learned how to get my knives scary sharp. Hopefully I can eventually get the hang of razor honing too. That will come later though. First I have to get the hang of not carving my face! I'll likely be back soon, asking questions. So long for now.
Gary

Hello Gary.....

WELCOME to SRP!!!
Read up on all the info offered here. Ask questions.
Knife honing and razor honing are 2 different ball games.
Take baby steps......arm yourself with knowledge.

:chapeau

Welcome to SRP!
Start your reading with the Beginner's Section in Library. It will answer a lot of your questions. And of course, feel free to ask us anything.

Welcome and enjoy your journey

Welcome and congratulations for entering the world of best shaves. Lots of information here and some great eye candy razors.

Welcome. Don't know your budget but a good first razor would be a Ralf Aust (5/8 round point) from Straight Razor Design. It will come shave ready. You will also need a strop, brush and Shaving soap. Like the other members said watch the videos read and ask questions. Honeing will come much later. Nothing like sharpening a knife. When ready practice honeing on an inexpensive razor and not your good one. You can also use it to practice with the strop.
Good luck

Hi neighbor, and welcome to the forum. I am just south of you, in Petersburg, IN. +1 on all the above advise. Just take it slow, and try to learn one thing at a time in shaving with a straight. If you try to learn to many things at once, when you run into a problem, you will not know exactly where the problem is. So take your time, and enjoy the journey!!

Welcome , keep reading and mist if your questions will be answered, go slow and make informed decisions in the beginning. Your knowledge of sharpening knives will help some, but just remember where you think a knife is scary sharp is really no where near what a razor is. It's a different type edge. But you are on the right path, learn to strop and how to shave, that's the most important thing to do now,, you need to know what a shave ready edge is first, so good luck and try to hook up with someone in your area to help you a little. Tc

Hi and welcome aboard. Any questions feel free to ask

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Originally Posted by Parker51

Hi! My name is Gary and I've been wet shaving with safety razors for a while now and didn't think I'd ever be interested in straights but I was wrong, as usual. Trying to gather information now so I can pick me out a good one and get started. I'm a wood carver so I've learned how to get my knives scary sharp. Hopefully I can eventually get the hang of razor honing too. That will come later though. First I have to get the hang of not carving my face! I'll likely be back soon, asking questions. So long for now.
Gary

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Learn to strop.

I unfortunately came across some 'stropping isn't really neccessary" information early on and i fell for it hook line and sinker. After re-reading some information in the SRP library i realized i was letting my edges go.

Stropping a professionally honed razor is like putting butter on your hot pancakes.. not stropping.. like crisco on cold toast.

Also as a newbie myself i would suggest using Straight Razor Designs as your single source for supplies until you get familiar with who sells what and has a good reputation. There are other reputable sites out there but SRD has just about everything you could need to get started. I tried to spread it around a little when i got into this and ended up returning a few items due to quality. Best advice? Stay away from Amazon..

I've never had a problem with a purchase from SRD, and it is easy to find information for their products because a lot of folks here use them.

End of plug.

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.

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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.

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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 :shrug:. 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 :tu.

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 :tu.

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.

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Originally Posted by MW76

Stropping a professionally honed razor is like putting butter on your hot pancakes.. not stropping.. like crisco on cold toast.

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Sorry to go a little of topic.... but I LOVE this quote :)

BTW, welcome to SRP!

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Originally Posted by Parker51

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?

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3" strop = no x-stroke = fewer variables. There are usually more than enough of those to go around when starting with a SR. It's the route I went.

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Originally Posted by Crawler

3" strop = no x-stroke = fewer variables. There are usually more than enough of those to go around when starting with a SR. It's the route I went.

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+1 on the 3" strop. If your budget allows you to, get the Straight Razor Designs 3" Premium IV (Long) English Bridle Strop if you can. If not, then any of the 3" strops will work. Just remember to practice with a butterknife.

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Originally Posted by engine46

+1 on the 3" strop. If your budget allows you to, get the Straight Razor Designs 3" Premium IV (Long) English Bridle Strop if you can. If not, then any of the 3" strops will work. Just remember to practice with a butterknife.

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I looked at those but was afraid I'd be likely to ruin my first strop (even after butter knife practice) so I thought maybe I should wait. I guess it's not that much more than the Latigo though so maybe I'll just go ahead and get that one and try not to trash it.

Go look at the strops on SRD's "Strop Shop" again. You will notice that Lynn sells replacement leathers and secondary material for all of his strops should you ruin one. Easy to replace too, all you need is a screwdriver.

Now that I've said that let me add........Have some confidence in yourself, new buddy. In over 40 years of stropping I've only nicked one strop. I was a teenager and the strop was an old Russian horsehide with a pebble grain backside. The razor was my Wade and Butcher square point and I fixed the strop by sanding it with WD paper. I still used it once in a while until I got my SRD. In fact I may use it again for a quick trip down memory lane.

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Originally Posted by Parker51

I looked at those but was afraid I'd be likely to ruin my first strop (even after butter knife practice) so I thought maybe I should wait. I guess it's not that much more than the Latigo though so maybe I'll just go ahead and get that one and try not to trash it.

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Benz is right. Lynn does sell replacement leathers so you can feel more at ease now. I'm the kind of person that will pay a little more for quality!

Thanks guys! I ordered the RA 5/8" with the premium IV long strop last night!

Good man.:rock:

Welcome to the fold!

And don't forget the most important thing, pictures!