Thread: Greetings from Dixie...

I am a correctional officer, retirement is about a year away. I want to start barbering after I retire. This is how I picked up an interest in straight razors.

I bought a shavette type razor to "learn" with or get the feel. Well one thing led to another, I tried a full shave with it, yupp got a decent nick or two. But it did not phase me.

I AM HOOKED! I no longer have razor burn, and the shaves are MUCH closer.

I recently purchased an Ultimate Pro 150, strop, brush, cream/ cup. The blade was not shave ready, so a King 1000/6000 stone is the latest investment into my new found hobby.

I can put an edge on a knife you can shave with, but, I have never tried anything in this range of sharpness.

It is a definite learning experience with it's own curve.

I have worked on the new straight razor for a couple of nights after work. Tonight was the first time shaving with it. It did a decent job. There is room for improvement, and it will come with some practice.

I just wanted to stop in and say hi, I am Gadsden Alabama if anyone is in the area.

I have my own website as well. www.skinnyhcg.com

I'll See you guys around.


Scott

Hi Scott, and welcome to SRP! Glad to hear you are having success from the starting gate. Is your king 6k the highest grit you have? If it works for you great, but I would encourage you to look into a higher grit stone. The rule of thumb seems to be that one typically wants to have at least an 8k as a shaving edge.

Be sure to check out the wiki - sooooooo much information that it boggles the mind.

Again, welcome to the forum, this is really one of the best spots on the net!

The 6k grit is the finest I have... For now. I am going to try a polishing paste, 24k grit to strop with.

I used an old knife sharpening trick and stropped with typing paper. It really sent the edge on it's way.

I have sunk about $180.00 into this so far. I will pick up things that will refine the edge as I go. I am looking at a Shrapton 16K.

I am wanting to go to a 12K - 16K for an edge.

I have even managed to impress myself with the edge and results I have achieved so far.

I am thinking the range I am wanting to try will just about do it. It will give a nice clean shave without being too scary. LOL

I will look at their site and see what they carry along these lines as well.

I get paid soon... lol

Hello and Welcome to SRP. Best of luck in all of your new ventures

Welcome to Straight Razor Place!

Welcome aboard! Only a year out from pulling the pin? I'm envious, as I'm 6-8 years away.

Hey I have that King stone as well and it does a nice job of putting an edge on a razor for a reasonable price. I got a piece of 1/4 plate glass from the glass store and use it and some 320 wet paper to get it flat and resotre the surface after use. Glass retails for about $8 a square foot, a bit more if you have the edges ground, add some stick on rubber feet good to go. Mine was not flat at all when i got it

Wow, knife sharpening with typing paper!!

As a Police Officer here in Perth I know you have earned your retirement!
Enjoy..... will probably get back to you when I start trying to strop my own razor to an edge I can shave with.

All the best.

Chris

Does a razor blade melted into a toothbrush handle count as a straight razor? I have found a few of these, but never wanted to shave with one.

I just retired for the Michigan Department of Corrections....congratulations and enjoy your retirement...it was earned and not given.


Dave