Thread: New to the Straight Edge, Wanted to say Hi

Hello,

I was lucky enough to be gifted my first straight edge razor about a month ago. I was visiting family in Poland, when my grandfather in law gave me a Bartmann High Class 504. He told me that it was around 70 years old. The blade looks good with no rust and only some bluing. I did some research and purchased a finishing stone, strop, and some chromox. I managed to get the blade sharp enough to cut arm hair so I started using it to shave on a daily basis.

I am enjoying the new way of shaving, I am still learning how to not overdue my neck area as I seem to be using too much pressure or something as I am getting light razor burn on each shave. Thanks for the support so far and I am looking forward to learning more about the hobby.

Welcome. Very nice razor to be gifted. Honeing or touching up a razor is nothing like a knife. You nay get it to shave but not at 100%. Send it out for a professional honeing. Then you will know what a great shave really is.
Read the library and ask questions. Great bunch here with tons of knowledge.

Would advise sending it out to be honed just so you know how it should shave with the right edge. depending on what finishing stone you have I would request to get it finished with similar stone if possible so get general idea of what you should be getting

It sounds like you are off to a great start. If you are interested, I will hone your razor for the cost of return postage. I will examine your edge under a microscope and give you feedback on your honing. If you'd like, I can make a video of your edge so that you can see its exact condition.

What finishing hone did you get?

I purchased a Naniwa 12k and a flattening stone, followed the directions for the flattening stone prior to honing the blade. At that point I began 12 passes on the stone, 20~ on the chromox / poly web, 50 strops on leather. I would certainly appreciate expert input on this routine and with this blade. Seeing the razor is an heirloom, it would be best for me to keep it professionally maintained.

@Utopian,
I would definitely like to take you up on this offer if it is not too much trouble. I do not have anything to compare the blade to currently, however in the mail is a Portland Razor Company Leviathan that should arrive tomorrow. From the reviews I have read the new razor will arrive ready to go out of the box. At that point I would have a better point of reference.

I will PM you information in a little while when I get to a computer.
If you do consider this to be an heirloom, then you might be better served by setting it aside for a few months. Let some other razor be used while you learn the various ways that a razor can be destroyed!

Welcome aboard.

That is a NICE razor!


Mike

Welcome and that is a beautiful razor. And definitely read the info in the library section. And watch the videos by Lynn on shaving. Most importantly ask questions here, there is always someone here or soon to come on willing to help out a fellow wetshaver. My second razor was professionally honed when I received it, and it was night and day to the others that were said to be shave ready! I have been honing for 8 months now and if that razor was mine I would still send it out to be honed at this point in my skill level. For learning how to hone I found Lynn and gssixguns videos and asking questions here to be the most beneficial for my learning. I still have a lot to learn about it. Good luck on your journey!

Welcome to the forum. Most have fun!