Thread: Newbie intro

Hello all!
My name is Scott and I am new here. I've been DE wetshaving for a few years now and wanted to experience the joys of straight razor shaving.
I currently have three - I have a Dovo "Inox" I purchased in Germany back in 1994, a new Thiers-Issard "Evide Sonnant Extra" I picked up at Classic Shaving's brick and mortar place in Palm Springs, and an old "Henry Martens Hamburg Ground" model I've had since high school.
I have a couple of Norton waterstones and two different strops, and am itching to start getting the art of straight razor shaving down.
Thanks for your time, and of course, I'll be full of questions for you all!

Scott Hoffman

Hello and welcome. Nice group of razors you have there.

Welcome to SRP! Sounds like you've got a good kit going and start to a collection allready.

Hello Scott, and welcome!

Important question: are any of your razors shave-ready? That's a distinction from brand-new. The factory edge may not be the best one the blade is capable of. Your learning curves for both shaving and honing will be shorter if you send one of your blades out for a professional honing, so you'll know how it can--and should--be.

Best wishes.

Welcome to Straight Razor Place!

Hi all and thank you for your warm welcome!
I had my old "Henry Martens" razor honed about two years ago or so and barely used it. I'd like to try my hand at honing that one, and would very much like to send my TI and Dovo to someone to have them honed at least for the first time until I'm proficient. I couldn't bear to screw one of them up!

I DID make the newbie mistake of shaving with the TI right after getting it before having it professionally honed... and I'm noticing that no matter how much I dry it, I have a little surface corrosion - not much at all, just noticeable... can that be easily cleaned up? ... a couple spots on the spine and one spot on the heel on one side. Any suggestions for keeping it rust free, like a quick light coat of oil between shaves? I keep it in a drawer in its leather case away from the humidity of the shower.

Thanks for your time!

Welcome to the SRP

Originally Posted by hoffo

Hi all and thank you for your warm welcome!
I had my old "Henry Martens" razor honed about two years ago or so and barely used it. I'd like to try my hand at honing that one, and would very much like to send my TI and Dovo to someone to have them honed at least for the first time until I'm proficient. I couldn't bear to screw one of them up!

I DID make the newbie mistake of shaving with the TI right after getting it before having it professionally honed... and I'm noticing that no matter how much I dry it, I have a little surface corrosion - not much at all, just noticeable... can that be easily cleaned up? ... a couple spots on the spine and one spot on the heel on one side. Any suggestions for keeping it rust free, like a quick light coat of oil between shaves? I keep it in a drawer in its leather case away from the humidity of the shower.

Thanks for your time!

A little metal polish should do the trick. Be careful to avoid the edge and any goldwash. As to avoiding it in the future, rinse the blade in hot water and be careful to dry well. Make sure there's no water in the scales. A light coat of oil will help protect from residual moisture. And, welcome.

Hi,
Thanks - I'll get on the metal polish and give it a whirl.
I think the scales were the issue - must've been some errant moisture in there. As for the oil, what type do you recommend? Would 3-in-1 be OK?

Thanks again for your help!

This thread would suggest it's not ideal and provides some alternatives.