Thread: Hello from Sydney -- Orstraya

Hi - My name is Andrew and I am from Sydney in Australia.

Just joined the forum and looking forward to meeting other people down the straight razor rabbit hole.

I started wet shaving a few months back after shaving off my beard which I had had for a few years. The beard had to go and I dug out my box of shaving gear which consisted of a few vintage DE razors, my trusty old Mach 3 cart, Grandad's old cut throat, my old brush that I had bought back in the 80's plus a can of gel. The beard went but wasn't fussed with the cart and the gel. Before I knew it I had half a dozen soaps, a couple of brushes and a sample pack of DE blades and was merrily wet shaving away.

Grandad's old cutthroat was there and I got it out and had a look. It was still shiny with just one corrosion spot. The temptation was there, should I get it restored and have a go or what. By this time, I was quite familiar with a couple of wet shaving forums, a couple of Facebook groups and had seen a whole pile of YouTube videos, so a straight was the next logical step.

I found someone to hone it and sent it away. It wasn't really shave ready when it came back, and the first go was a disappointment - couldn't even move it on my face. I thought I might have damaged it stropping, but looking back, I don't think it was anywhere near shave ready to begin with. Next step was to buy a "shave ready" Gold Dollar from Fleabay. I didn't expect much but it was still better than Grandad's (a Bengall Imperial BTW). A few decent stroppings later the Gold Dollar was almost shaving but not quite. It needs some honing too.

I have since bought a couple of stones and am going to learn how to get the Gold Dollar shave ready. I know it seems strange to have to learn to hone before learning to shave, but I don't really have any other option. There isn't really anywhere in Australia that I can get a razor honed sharp enough to shave with. Pretty sad state of affairs I know, but that's how it is.

Looking forward to all the resources that this forum has to offer and to meet like minded people.

cheers
Andrew

Welcome, Andrew. I know we have a few folks in your area. If they will hone for you would be the question. It would be worth looking up through the community and finding the ones in your area. If nothing else, The post doesn't take to long to get around. I've ordered from Aussie and got stuff in a week. So check with the guys here and I know you can find someone. Learning to shave then hone is the way it should go. As you want A PERFECT EDGE to learn on. Not a half-assed edge from a newbie. LOL. No disrespect, but it takes a long time to learn to hone properly. you have to buy a bunch of stones and spend time with them daily for months and months. JMO.

So get your razor honed properly and check out our Buy, Sell, Trade thread. There are always good deals on razors. You might need to work a deal on shipping but most of what you will buy from the members here will be shave ready.


Enjoy the forum, Post pics and take a couple of minutes to read over the rules. Our library is full of great info that can help you out.

Welcome to the forum.

Hello Andrew and welcome to SRP.
Enjoy your time here on the forum.

Pete <:-}

Welcome to the forum Andrew. With any luck one of the members from OZ will be along shortly and you can PM them to see who hones in OZ. That should get you a shave ready razor. I learned to hone while learning to shave with a straight razor and that was a tough go but I got there eventually. It is not the recommended way but can be done.

Bob

Welcome aboard, Andrew.

Welcome to the forum.

I, like bobh learned to hone whilst learning to shave with a straight. I started with a shave ready razor from srd whose edge was shot after one shave between my bad technique and poor stropping. Being a little sick in the head and incredibly stubborn I eventually became proficient at both. Like most things there seems to be no end to learning or ever becoming “perfect”. Always room for improvement.

All the info you need is on the forum and any thing you may need help with is why we are here. Feel free to pm a member or start a thread. For honing you may want to start with some of gasmans threads, there is a ton a info for honing in them as well as pictures and pertinent questions asked and answered with in those threads.

Hi Andrew, I'd be happy to put an edge on your Bengall if it doesn't have too much rust. Some razors are not worth attempting if the edge has been affected by what we call "devil's spit" rust.

You may get an offer from someone closer to you who'd be able to show you what's involved in honing. I'm on the Sunshine Coast so you'd have to send me the razor. PM me if you're interested.

Mike

Greetings Andrew and welcome. The conventional wisdom is to learn to shave and strop first and become proficient at both before attempting to hone. You know the old story about how scientifically a bumblebee is not supposed to be able to fly but the bumblebee doesn't know that so he can fly? Well that was many of us here. You learn what you learn when you learn it. I won't disagree that your efforts should go first to handling the razor and it is much easier and less likely to cut you if it is dead.keen but we do what we do so... whatever.
It is possible that improper stropping technique could have muted your edge but that should be able to be corrected with stropping properly also. Don't underestimate the difficulty or importance of proper stropping. Once you get an edge set right you can maintain it almost indefinitely with proper stopping equipment and technique. Make sure to spend some time checking videos and posts on it. The beginners section has a lot of good information also. Also make sure to post pictures. We love pictures. Relax, enjoy and take your time without stressing. After all if one shave goes poorly there's always tomorrow.