Thread: An introduction

So, I started with straight razors back in 1987 when I received a 6/8 round point Bismark "Best quality" (Dovo) as a gift (I've always had a bit of thing for straights). I used it about 6 times (blade wasn't stropped between shaves) and it started getting dull. Being a woodworker, I had reasonable skill with sharpening and got all my carving tools "arm shaving sharp". So off to my black arkansas and simichrome strop. Not good on the shave. The internet at the time wasn't what it is today (YouTube didn't exist until 2005) and after several tries, i just couldn't get it sharp enough. So, back to the cartridge razor. In the last few years I got interested in restoring antique knives and picked up a Genco razor I liked the look of at an antique store. Off to the modern internet...Oh, that's how you get a straight sharp!. Sent my original to a professional to use as a base line for my efforts on the Genco and restored my first razor. Picked up a few more here and there and have really enjoyed figuring out the company history, age of the razor, ect. as well as bringing back a 90+ year old razor to use on the weekends. I've currently restored 4 razors, and to me they shave as well or better than my 1987 original. I've actually found a lot of good info on this forum and decided to join up (first forum I've ever been in). Basically, I'm hoping to get some tips/advice on future projects as well as help with a little detective work about the blades. Being my first forum, forgive me any tech/forum etiquette failures.

Welcome to SRP. Your experience is very to similar to many of the folks here. I also lurked for quite a while before joining.

Sounds like you have a lot of experience and will be able to contribute to many of the forums right out of the gate.

We love to see pics of what folks are working on.

Ask questions. They are welcomed and responded to quickly. There is a lot of experience and expertise that is willingly shared here by our more experienced members and mentors.

Welcome!
Check out all the subforums and use that search-box at the top-right.
Lots of straight razor knowledge available from the members and in the archives.
Ask away!

Welcome to the forum! Lot of knowledgeable folks here. Some of the restoration projects and custom razors I've seen here are real pieces of art. I imagine you will find plenty of interesting stuff in the Workshop section!

I've been making scales for fixed and folding knives for many years, but straights are a little different - the high humidity environment. I haven't done a set yet, but It'll happen sooner rather than later. I've got a few pics of some completed projects and will be posting ones of my current project as I have some suspicions I'd like some feedback on, part detective work/part restoration. Not sure if I should post it in the general or restoration section.

Definitely some beautiful work posted. Now that I've joined I'm looking forward to seeing all of the pics.

I'll certainly be using the forums to ask questions - search-box, good tip. I'm still figuring out my way around the site. You've got a lot of areas, which I think is a good thing.

Welcome. It is great to have you here. Don't worry about etiquette. That will come in time.

Hello JellyJar, welcome to SRP. I've avoided social media as much as I can myself, except for this and another shaving forum. You'll find some very fine folks here that are very willing to share their knowledge and camaraderie with you.

Welcome!
:-)