Learning to shave... again!

Hello all,

My name is Nico and I just bought a Clauss straight razor last week. I bought it at a thrift store for a few dollars so I'm sure it's going to need a lot of work. I decided to make the big switch after shaving with a single edge razor for the first time. It was by far the least irritating shave of my life and spurred me towards my purchase.
I have been slowly acquiring all the basic things listed in various beginner's shopping lists. I have a shaving bowl and soap and I am waiting on a brush and a strop. I am utterly stumped when it comes to buying a proper touch up stone because my budget is pretty low and because I have no idea (other than 10k or higher) what to get.
I can't wait to use my razor for the first time!

-Nico

Welcome,Nico! You should send your razor to a honemeister to get it honed professionally.If you click on classifieds on the top bar,then on "member's services",you'll find a list of the members who hone .Choose one reasonably close to you and send them a private message explaining what you have.You shouldn't need to worry about a hone of any sort for a month or so if you are stropping correctly.By then,you will know if straight shaving is for you.

Welcome to SRP, Nico!

Like your title suggests, when you start with a straight razor you are literally learning to shave all over again, as well as unlearn many bad habits from the past. It looks like you`re doing your homework, so continue reading the forums and the wiki and you`ll be off to a great start.

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Originally Posted by nicorduz

...I am utterly stumped when it comes to buying a proper touch up stone because my budget is pretty low and because I have no idea (other than 10k or higher) what to get....

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Buy a plain old barbers hone. It will adequately maintain your blades, as they did for almost everyone in the old-timey days. When you have a little more experience, you will do better picking out a newer, (more expensive in all likelihood), and possibly better hone.

One good thing about buying a barbers hone is that you won't have trouble reselling it. And, that fact in itself is somewhat a vote in favor of starting with a barbers hone.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nicorduz

Hello all,

My name is Nico and I just bought a Clauss straight razor last week. I bought it at a thrift store for a few dollars so I'm sure it's going to need a lot of work. I decided to make the big switch after shaving with a single edge razor for the first time. It was by far the least irritating shave of my life and spurred me towards my purchase.
I have been slowly acquiring all the basic things listed in various beginner's shopping lists. I have a shaving bowl and soap and I am waiting on a brush and a strop. I am utterly stumped when it comes to buying a proper touch up stone because my budget is pretty low and because I have no idea (other than 10k or higher) what to get.
I can't wait to use my razor for the first time!

-Nico

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Welcome....

In general a thrift store find needs a little work so for
at least the first time have someone hone it for you.

With a strop and some care it will stay sharp for weeks
perhaps months. When it seems to have lost
its edge send it out one more time if you have not
found a finish hone within your budget by that time.

Once the blade has been correctly sharpened once it is
almost easy to maintain the edge with a well selected
barber hone or a modern hone like the Norton 4k/8K combo.

You can strop on newspaper over wood in a pinch.

For some of us the 8K Norton can be followed by
a 12K chinese natural hone, a Naniwa 12k Superstone,
or a home made balsa or leather pasted strop
to get a better shave.

I like my SS12K a lot and recommend it over a random
eBay purchase of a barber hone.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hone-...uperstone.html

One budget friendly solution is abrasive film on
a flat base from a woodworking shop. Also a number of
people like the Chinese 12k natural stones.

We all have differing opinions on hones but we do agree
that having someone hone the razor correctly for you
the first couple times is key.

Since this is an international group it can help to
let folk know in a general way where you are.

Gentlemen,

Thank you all for your wonderful advice. You guys are making it a lot easier for me to get started. I am in the process of sending my razor off to be honed by a pro. I will hold off on buying a hone for now but I think that once I save enough money, I will buy a 4k/8k from Norton.
As for my location, I am currently attending Purdue University in Indiana.

Thanks again!

-Nico

Hi and welcome to the forum. I would most definitely send the razor out to a pro.
Learn the basics first, Prep, Lather building, and how to shave. Even stropping will take a little bit of time to get used to. I wouldn't worry about honing for a while.
Once your comfortable shaving, then get the hones. The Nortons are great hones....

Rich