Thread: Hello from Midwest, USA: a non-AD Japanese knife enthusiast ready for straight razors

Intro
I'm in my mid-twenties and am currently living in Lincoln, Nebraska, but I'm from near Los Angeles, California. I've been planning to switch to a straight razor for 2 years, and my electric shaver finally died (after a meager 3 years of service). I can't say how excited I am to make the switch.

When it comes to the tools i use, I put a lot of value on craftsmanship, longevity, and joy of use—which led me to Japanese knives... and now, the straight razor. It's hard to be proud of and enjoying using a throwaway tool that was machine-manufactured in some soulless factory and requires no skill to use.

I'm also a minimalist—which is why I only have a single knife in my kitchen: a 240mm gyuto. I want to live by the same principle with straight razor shaving. I've already made the first step by purchasing a Puma 83 (photo at bottom) from another SRP member*, which I believe is a quality razor that can last a lifetime. But unfortunately, I haven't yet shaved with it... I still need a strop.

Request for Advice
Since beginners are very likely to cut up their first strop, I'm thinking of starting with either the Illinois 827 or Illinois 127, which are recommended in the guide for buying a beginner's set on a budget. I'd be eager to hear which one you think is more forgiving to a beginner or more suitable to my razor (page 29 of this old Puma booklet recommends using a strop made of Russian leather, which the Illinois 127 is allegedly made of). Or, if you think I should be considering other strops, then I'd like to know which other ones I should consider.

Anyway, I'm glad to be here and I look forward to learning about straight razor shaving and passing on what I learn.

*Badgister, whom I highly recommend

Welcome to SRP. Read the entire library here and watch as many videos as possible. You will soon be shaving like the rest of us. I hope you drove a stake through your electric shaver's heart to make sure it's dead.

Originally Posted by vileru

I'm also a minimalist—

We've never had a minimalist before. Welcome to SRP. That Puma razor you have there is a great one. From their 'golden era'. I respect the minimalist approach, though I've never been able to attain to it myself. I would however recommend at least two (three even better) razors for a backup in case your #1 shaver needs to be sent out for honing or for repair. Also good to rotate a couple or a few. Seems to make them last longer between honings ....... unless I'm just imagining that.

Originally Posted by vileru

Request for Advice
]page 29 of this old Puma booklet[/URL] recommends using a strop made of Russian leather

From what I've read 'Russian' strops aren't made in Russia, nor do they use leather imported from Russia. It is rather a tanning/finishing process which ended up being named as such. There is some debate on that I guess, but here is a post on the topic. If I was going to recommend a strop it would be a 'beginner's' strop from one of the vendors who sponsor this site. Usually relatively inexpensive, and not a heartbreaker if you nick it up. Most of us do.

Welcome virleru ! Although some may disagree, I believe you will not find much of a difference in results with any well made strop. What you will find in various strops of the same size is a difference in "draw"or the feel in the interaction of the blade with the strop. This draw,and whether it light or heavy is primarily a matter of preference . I, for example ,prefer a medium draw with most of my blades. The follow thread discusses strop "draw". http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...aw-please.html A word to the wise and heed JimmyHad's advice,do not spend to much on your first strop as you are likely to nick or slice it up during your first year.

Welcome to the forum and good luck on your journey.

Welcome to the best shaving forum in the world! And have fun with this new (to you) sport.

I, too, started down this road because of a minimalist train of thought: Shave with a modern cartridge razor, threw out a cart' every month, hated watching money get tossed, brainstormed from "self maintainable" to "how... did they shave before the industrial revolution?? There in lies my answer!".

But, alas! There is a learning curve, and each face is different. So I expanded my self-imposed limit of just a razor or two. But that doesn't mean I will spend a fortune to find what wet shaving accoutrement will "fit my face". Some things should never be skimped on. But that is for another discussion. My point is that I moved on to trying to restore razors that are "fixer-uppers" (eventually, I'll have one or more in good enough shape to make my money back lol). This gives me both a way to try a wider variety of razors on the cheap-er, as well as a hobby that the wife won't hassle me about like she does video games .

I'm rambling now. So I'll just say: feel free to ask questions!

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and advice, especially about Russian leather and strop draw. I'm curious, though, does the kind of strop you use affect how long it'll take between honings?

As for the dead electric shaver, I won't drive a stake through its heart since I'd probably just end up hurting myself. But I can assure you that there will be no funeral and it shall not be missed.

Hi and welcome aboard. Strop draw wont affect how long a razor goes between honing but technique will. The Illinois 827 is Russian leather and the linen/canvas is ment to be factory impregnated with (zinc from memory) something that helps keep the razor going longer. Use of a pasted strop will help stretch out time between honing. A strop with replacement leather and linen is also a good way to start. Just replace what you need to when you're finished nicking it up. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

Welcome from SE Washington State.

I like the minimalist approach as that's what I did when I first started. NOTE: I said when I 'FIRST' started.

The Illinois 827 is a great strop. It's what I use right after honing but it works great for a daily strop. As mentioned it's not made in Russia but it's the tanning and finishing method. There is a 'pattern' that I find quite nice to work with.

With that said, I have heard of some arriving in poor shape. They shouldn't have any flaking or cracking. Any doubt ask for a replacement.

There are several places that you can purchase them including Amazon.

If you have patience then you will succeed with learning this age old art.

I will add that even if you are experienced with sharpening knives, I would encourage you to forget about learning to hone for at least a year. In that time you will be learning to master the stropping, lathering and of course the shaving curves.

As a former meat cutter I knew that honing a razor wouldn't be any problem at all. Well it was a big problem and I had waited about a year and a half. Once mastered honing for one's self is very rewarding but shaving with an inferior edge is very disappointing to say the least.

Enjoy the ride. It's a long strange trip but well worth the journey.

Eventually I'd like to learn how to hone, but I've already planned to wait until 2017 to do so. I travel to Japan often and my next trip is scheduled for 2017 (I lived there for a couple years and my wife is Japanese), and I'm assuming I can get some good Japanese stones cheaper there.

I currently use a 1000 grit King stone that I bought last winter in Japan to keep my kitchen knife sharp, but I assume I'll need finer grits for a straight razor (not to mention, I want my knife sharper, too).

Do people who sharpen knives and straight razors generally use the same stones for both? Fine grit stones aren't cheap, so I want to use the same stones for both if I can.