New noob member from Poland!

Hi, my name is Mateusz.

It's my second approach to straight razor shaving, I've made a try a couple years ago, but I have failed, and the reason was: lack of proper equipment and shave ready razor.

In fact I'm also interested in restoring razors, but for now I will focus on acquiring proper razor, strap, high grit hone for maintaining edge, and shaving brush/soap.

I own my grandfathers Bengall, but it's not shave ready. From what he said, it was honed on regular basis by a local sharpener who used some circle-motion method. It has significant hone wear...

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/7...ngall01.th.jpghttp://img819.imageshack.us/img819/909/bengall03.th.jpg

I also own these two crap razors, which I keep only to practice my stropping skills. Wapienica and some Russian razor.
Russian edge was badly damaged. I have naively tried to restore it using various sandpapers but I have finally given it up. Please, don't you make fun of me :rofl2:
I have one restore trial under my belt, even if it was a failure.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7...pienica.th.jpghttp://img573.imageshack.us/img573/7338/russia02.th.jpg



I have some questions for you, dear SRP members:

1) This strop is probably to floppy, what do you think?
I probably need a new, more stiff strop to maintain the edge. This one doesn't create a flat surface even when it's stretched.

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/3850/pasekbh.th.jpg

2) What kind of leathers are usually used for SR strops?

3) More entry priced shave ready razor sources?
Reading SRP I've found some well known sources:
Gem Star Customs - Razors For Sale
Straight Razors / Open Razors / Cut-throat Razors for Sale

I'm not so sure about classifields, because I don't know any sellers. What sellers could you recommend? I really need "shave ready" razor. (I plan to spend ~$40-60). I have seen SRDs Dovo entry razors sharpened by Lynn, but they are too costly for me atm.

4) Should I buy boar/badger bristle brush right at the beginning or a hog one, like this, would be sufficient for me? I suspect that I may quickly start to dream about badger.
Omega Professional+myd³o w tygielku - 55.00*PLN : Razors : Maszynka Brzytwa ¯yletka - akcesoria do golenia

I've been reading SRP form time to time and I found it one of the most friendly and most creative community's on the web. I love the passion of some members! It's infectious. Thank you for preserving straight razor shaving knowledge!
:bow to Lynn.

Welcome, Mateusz. Your best bet for getting a shave-ready razor would be to send out one or two of the ones you already own and have them honed. I'm pretty new to the SRP myself, but know there are some members in the UK, Germany, and Belgium. Maybe some of them do honing. Maybe look in the Classifieds here, or watch signature files in the honing forum. Most of the guys who hone say so in their signatures.

I don't know if your floppy strop is a problem. I think there are some strops that are supposed to be like that. You could tack it down tight over a flat piece of wood and use it that way.

You say your Wapienica razor is "junk." Really? I was looking at some today, tempted because they were affordable wedges.

Is straight razor shaving a lost art in Poland the way it is in the U.S.? I haven't met anyone who learned it from their father, or from a barber.

Best wishes from the western U.S.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by roughkype

You say your Wapienica razor is "junk." Really? I was looking at some today, tempted because they were affordable wedges.

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This particular Wapienica didn't pass quality control check, and it was given to me by a seller for free when I bought a strap (for practice). It can't be sharpened and it's very heavy, dad-gummit!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by roughkype

Is straight razor shaving a lost art in Poland the way it is in the U.S.? I haven't met anyone who learned it from their father, or from a barber.

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I think that Lynn brought straight razor shaving back to life in US ;) In Poland it's nearly dead. I know that near our western border (with Germany) there are some barber/hairdresser spots for German costumers, and the art of shaving isn't lost in that parts of my country.
The problem is that we don't have guys like Lynn and Gssixgun to restore and sharpen old razors. We don't have potential to create strong community of users like SRP, to popularize straight razor shaving.

Thank you for you response! Cheers!

Bravo for taking another try. My first tries weren't the best either, and at almost 6 months, I'm still very much a student. I think it just makes me glad to hear of some one far away that also shares the interest. I do think you will find satisfaction from some of the members that are also vendors. I have used a blade sharpened by Gssixgun. He used the shapton hones - 30K. I found it unbelievably sharp, but harsh. Some prefer ultimate sharp, some prefer smooth - such as with a coticule or asagi w/ slurry. It sounds like some forum members are not that far from you that hone. Likely some do restorations, should that Wapi need more than an edge.

For new blades, I wish I had bought from some of the sellers here. I spent way too much money, getting a razor that was not shave ready.

I hope to hear more from you soon.

Hello again,

You might find some honers closer to home at this site:

Welcome to Coticule.be - home of the famous Belgian Coticule Whetstone

I've spent a little time on that site, and recognize a few people from the SRP.

That's sad that straight shaving also dwindled where you are. Have you gone for a shave at the tourist areas you described?