Thread: Greetings from a Venezuelan wannabe

Hello Ladys & Gents

A word of warning since I am not a natural English spoken person but I will try to make my self clear in the name of the Straight Razor Passion.
Born and living in Caracas Venezuela interested in more things that the ones I can really handle but still in the pursuit of information about stuff I like.
I was looking for a good opportunity to begin the straight razors activity in the proper way since I have had a fake blade for some time now (the kind that you put a half safe blade in it) but today I set a meeting with a guy who is selling an used Rudolf Schmidt Bambola not sure about the model since the guy did not bring it with him but for the pics I saw could be a 777, 192 deluxe due to the fact that there is three pivot points and the symbol in the scales correspond to the type in the models listed above it could be even a 205 but I can not see any itching in the face of the blade, as you can assume I was very disappointed when I found he did not have the razor but we had a good chat and he promise to bring them by the end of the week so I could see it he even told me he still has two different razors to sell so I can choose from.
What he brought with him was an old mild beaten J.A.Henckels adjustable strop he told me about so at the end I came home with a not empty hands and a promise of not one but two razors to begin my journey.
So that is all folks I guess I just bored you enough with my tale and to reward your patience I left you a some crapy cel pics of the strop before and after some TLC and the prospect razor.
Please give me some comments about what to look for when I finally have the razors at hands and what do you think o the strop.
Thanks in advance and have a nice evening.

Welcome to the forum. You may like to read the forum's Library https://shavelibrary.com/w/Shave_Library as there is some very good information there before you purchase any razors. I hope you enjoy the straight razor shaving experience.

Bob

Welcome to SRP. Be sure to read the beginners section of our library as it will have lots of great info for you to get started with a straight razor.
We have folks from around the world here so don't worry about your English. We make do and try to help the best we can.
I'm not familiar with the razor name but if its a vintage its a decent razor. Things to look for in buying vintage is to see if the edge has a frown. A smile is best, but a straight edge will do. A frown will mean it will need some repair before you should try to use it. check for rust on the edge/bevel and in the pivot. Folks will come in tomorrow and help you more. It's too late for me at the moment to help much but your strop has had some nicks on the edge. Sanding them out to smooth is best.
Learning to shave with a straight is best when someone owns two. You can shave and send one out for honing when it needs it. BTW, A Pro Honed razor is what is needed to learn on. Not a close enough edge. You want to cut down on anything you can that will make learning harder.

Anyway, Good night my new friend and enjoy SRP. The best place to learn about straight razors!

Welcome to the forum!
Rudolf Schmidt made a good razor. Have it professionally sharpened by a razor honer, not a knife sharpener.
The strop looks like it cleaned up well. I would sand the rough nicks on it with 220 grit sandpaper.

Hello and welcome to SRP.
All very good advice so far.
If you have questions about something, try and post a picture. We are all glad to help and will steer you right.
Take your time and enjoy the learning process.

Pete <:-}

Thanks guys for the welcome and tips
As you may know Venezuela is struggling with the worst political/economical crisis ever in our history so things around here are harder than hard to achieve sometimes so be patient with me LOL.
With every single new activity I jump in I always look for the experts advice to get the most of my learning process but as I already said I do not have access to all the possibilities you are used to so I may have to do things in different ways you guys do or the right way due to the lack of resources, a clear example of this is the fact that yesterday morning I never had have a strop in my hands and by the end of the day my recent adquiere vintage strop was way better (not perfect yet) following some inputs I found lurking in the web or as I am almost 100% sure I will be unable to find a professional razor honer in my area or near by I will be in the obligation to learn how to hone my own razor.
As a beginner I know is not the best path but I guess I will have to learn as I did in the past with so many other things, please do not get me wrong when I said I will have to do things that are not supposed to be perform by a newbie but sometimes I will have no more choices.
I hope that in the near future I will be asking many times about many aspects of this great activity, hobby perhaps (which is the correct way to refer at)
Thanks in advance

Roberto

No honer nearby? Try finding an old barber, he will know how to sharpen a razor, strop, and teach you more in one hour than watching and reading days worth of material. If no barber can be found, try asking men older than 70. A lot of them used straights when they were younger (some still do) and they may be able to help you out.
Or of course, if you want to pay for air fare, I'm sure someone around here would accept a free vacation to Venezuela just to sharpen a razor.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

Or of course, if you want to pay for air fare, I'm sure someone around here would accept a free vacation to Venezuela just to sharpen a razor.

Not sure about that, if you do a google search about Venezuelan situation You will more than happy to pay me the airfare to the lovely Carolinas instead

Hi and welcome aboard. There have been others in similar situations before and with persistence and some time have been able to get shaving. If you do need to do you own honing make sure you get a loupe.

Feel free to ask as many questions as needed. The guy's are always happy to help you

Indeed.....I was thinking of sending Roberto a shaver.
Not sure he would ever see it, however.

https://www.npr.org/2017/06/13/53281...-s-amid-crisis


Man, I hope things get sorted for you and everyone there.