Thread: Newbie = Me

Hey guys, figured i'd come here and introduce myself, my name's Blake, I work as a security guard and Archery and music are my main hobbies. I Just picked up my first straight razor, a Butcher Brothers SHeffiield, and am searching for a hone to sharpen it with. I posted on the Hone section and am getting some great responses about what to look for, everyone here seems very helpful. Anyways, thought I'd just say hi

Originally Posted by recurvist22

Hey guys, figured i'd come here and introduce myself, my name's Blake, I work as a security guard and Archery and music are my main hobbies. I Just picked up my first straight razor, a Butcher Brothers SHeffiield, and am searching for a hone to sharpen it with. I posted on the Hone section and am getting some great responses about what to look for, everyone here seems very helpful. Anyways, thought I'd just say hi

Blake,

Welcome to SRP! Sounds you got yourself a nice razor, especially if it's your first. Did you buy it new? if so, i wouldnt worry too much in regard to a hone right now, its not really needed until u notice a dullness. I would focus more on stropping as that will be more frequent then honing. Best of luck in shaving!

Welcome to SRP Blake! As to the archery, we won't hold it against you that you're a freakcurver.

Be sure to read the wiki, especially the beginner's guide.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Welcome!

Welcome to SRP! Tons of helpful people here to get you on your way. Sounds like you're off to a great start with that Butcher Bros. Pics are always welcome by us too

Welcome, mostly do longbows myself. A bunch of good info here.

Welcome to srp

Welcome to the forum, Blake. I'm a compound shooter myself. I also have a Wade & Butcher spike point vintage I purchased from Whipped Dog (Larry Andreasson, stand-up guy). If your razor is needing an edge, I would strongly recommend sending it to one of the known honemeisters around here and getting a professional edge on your razor. You can keep it up to snuff for months using nothing but a plain leather strop, and maybe even extend that further by getting yourself a decent additive like Chromium Oxide or .25micron diamond paste. Even when those start to lose their potency, just a couple dozen laps over a good 12k hone of some sort will probably get it back up to shaving sharp for you.

Rather than investing a couple hundred dollars in stones and hones, get yourself a decent strop (cheap one that you don't mind nicking up) and learn proper stropping technique with a butterknife while your razor is in transit to and from a honemeister. You'll save yourself a lot of heartache in the long run, because it's a whole lot harder to learn all the nuances of shaving with a straight, AND learning all the nuances of bevel-setting, AND learning all the nuances of stropping, AND learning all the nuances of face prep, etc. etc. ad nauseam, ad infinitum. Bite off one piece at a time and get comfortable with that before moving on to other things. It's a lot easier to master one small task than to apprentice on several larger tasks simultaneously.

Above all, though, have fun. And welcome.

Hello and welcome to SRP, I hope you enjoy this as much as we do.