Thread: Just setting up

I’m new to this straight razor business and I’m just getting honing stones etc. Not got razor yet, I’ve ordered a gold dollar #66 and I’ve bought a Kabrand 405 to try. The stones I have bought are Welsh slate with slurry stones. In addition I have two set of faithful diamond plates. That’s what I have and what is yet to arrive.

Best regards

Paul

cart before the horse my friend, first let soemone hone for you till you know what a razor edge is to be. after that get a couple more beaters( gold dollars) and give it a whirl, learning to shave and strop is where you should concentrate till you can do those 2, right now honing is like the last thing on the list to learn behind,1. shave with the things. 2. strop, the most important thing to learn. 3, to build a decent lather. 4. do all these items well before honing, cause if you cant do those you really dont know if the razor is honed well, like you purchase razor,, its not ready for shaving much less learning. but your in the right place. except we dont know where your from so we cant get you the right help. so far no one has been assassinated for giving up their location. and hell im in witness protection for attempted , well i cant say Tc

Some pretty good advise from an Airborne Ranger. Start with the basics first. Honing is the last and hardest skill to learn. Many other things to learn along the way as TC points out. It's all good and we have all been there.

Hello from SE Washington State.

I don't want to seem to be 'Piling On' but it's true--the VERY LAST THING you need to worry about is honing.

While Gold Dollars are cheap---that's the problem--they are cheap. Send me a PM and I'll send you a shave ready vintage razor N/C. It won't be anything fancy but it will get you out of the starting gate. You will need to find a decent strop.

The most important piece of 'Equipment' that you need to learn this age old art is one that can't be purchased. And that equipment is 'Patience' if you don't have patience, you will fail. I for one don't want to see that happen.

Boy, these guys are laying it out straight for ya. Please take it to heart or you may be just waisting your time.
Good on you Roy!
Take Cuddarunner up on his offer. A real shave ready vintage razor is what is needed to learn this way of shaving. A GD is not! It will shave you but not for long. They are good to have to help learn honing but you are a long ways away from honing.

Go eazy and slow and ask queztions. Welcome to srp and be sure to check out our library as its full of good info for new guys.

I agree with the above.
1. Beard prep
2. Shaving technique
3 .Properly stropped razor.

Honing is last.

Hi Paul,

I hope you enjoyed Guy Fawkes night.

Your in Chesterfield?

I live in Canada but l’m from Bournemouth originally (UK for those that are wondering).

I haven’t been straight shaving for long so any advice I can offer would be very limited but as a bit of a newbie still I will say.

It would be difficult to sharpen a razor if you don’t know what a truly sharp one feels like to shave with because you wouldn’t have any thing to compare your honing with.

That’s all I can say on that subject because I haven’t tried to do it. I mentioned that I would be interested in trying and got advised not to try in all caps, even got some red ink!

When you get sent your shave ready razor don’t be too surprised if you cut yourself the first few times, it will get easier if you persevere. I bled a lot and quite frightened myself but I’m 22 shaves in and haven’t cut myself properly for quite a while.

Ask loads of questions, no one made me feel stupid.

If you are having a real problem, make a video, I did and the advice I got really helped me.

Lastly, take Cudarunner up on his very generous offer. Outback did the same and sent me three razors. The guys here are so generous and really do want new shavers to succeed.

Just remember how you were helped and given a razor to get started on your journey. When your an experienced shaver with a decent collection of razors, maybe you will consider paying it forward to help another newbie. I promised Outback that I will and fully intend to.

Steve

All good advice. Folks here genuinely want to help. My path back to straights was a bit rocky, would have been smoother if I'd found this site sooner. I've been working on my honing for close to a year and am just starting to feel like I'm getting decent edges. Still working on some shaving skills, but I only use a straight on weekends so my reps are a bit low.

Welcome to the forum.

Can't add much except to say welcome to the forum and enjoy your time here.

Bob