Hi from Hampshire in the UK

Hi all from Andover, Hampshire in the UK,

Been wondering around the internet looking at straight razors, old/new, expensive/cheap and found this site and thought I would stop and request and say hello. Bottom line is I am currently taken with the idea of getting a straight razor, leather strop et al and using on a regular basis. Probably not everyday but semi regular dependant on time available etc.

Some background - ex-British military so shaved every working day for circa 24 years until I left in 2004 so extremely used to wet shaving. Still shave daily on weekdays but now highly frustrated with the standard blades etc available from main outlets regarding cost etc. Recently taken to 'cleaning' blades to extend their life (brushing backwards on towel as shown readily on Youtube) and this appears to work for me to some extent in prolonging life of disposables.

I don't think this is a fad but have never used a straight razor before, although I have been shaved on several holidays in Turkey and greatly enjoyed the experience. I have now got hold of a reasonably priced entry level razor and strop to get me started with a view to investing a bit more on something more substantial if I get on with the process.

I have looked around ebay and picked up a couple of razors in need of some TLC (and more!!) and am strongly taken with the idea of restoration. Far more interested than I thought I would be to be perfectly honest. The idea of taking something that has become a bit jaded and neglected and restoring to anywhere near a previous glory is extremely appealing to me. I have followed the restoration threads to see the process and seen several videos on the site and Youtube etc by members of this and other sites.

I expect I will be back on many occasions to review advice already provided and maybe ask a question or two of my own so look forward to the interaction in the future.

Welcome from a fellow Brit!

It sounds like you have jumped in with both feet which I great! :) Check out the Workshop forum for restoration tips and advice and links to useful sites. If you're looking for suppliers in the UK let me know and I can point you in the right direction!

Also have a look at the Wiki links in my sig line as they'll really help you too.

Finally there is a London Razorcon this month (16th July) which you should come along to if you're around. There's a thread on it in the Get togethers forum. Hopefully see you there...!

There will be a load of different things going on from honing to restoration and more kit than you can shake a stick at. Should be a great day!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Hi Murielson,
Great to see you here. As a new member myself, I can tell you you're in the right place for lots of information. I wish I was in London (home town, but currently expat) for the London Razorcon.

Hope to read about your progress, keep us posted.

Thanks for the welcome Stubear.

The 'rush' descended on me a few weeks ago and I have been wandering around several sites for several weeks now. Great stuff in the Wiki and the Beginners Guide but I haven't done the FAQ just yet so will give that a go too.

Will have a look at the Razorcon thread and see if I can make it.

Welcome aboard! Once you start you won't ever go back to the old ways. And you will look forward to shaving every day. I just wish my beard grew faster.

Cheers!
Chipvj

welcome from a bit further north :)

Murielson,

Welcome and hello from sunny (for a change !!) Hastings :)

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ianp1966

welcome from a bit further north :)

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And further again

Welcome!

Welcome,

IMO the best thing to do is to get a 1st razor which is in a shave ready condition and learn to shave with it. Its a bit of a steep curve, so the fewer variables (such as is my razor really sharp) the better.

While you are doing that buy some hones and a cheap vintage which doesn't need too much work and use that to learn how to hone the blade.

Check the classifieds here, The Strop Shop and The Invisible Edge for shave ready razors. Although plenty of retailers sell new razors, very few of them are truly sharp straight from the factory so need honing before use.

Have fun

A big welcome to you from across "The Pond".

Thanks all. This is infectious and I am still at the research phase!!

I have a razor and strop that I haven't used yet so that I must do but the refurbishment idea has me well and truly hooked. Wife caught me looking at vibratory tumblers the other day and the term 'boys toys' was used again (she knows me too well!!).

Hand sanding, pin removal and replacement are the main topics I am currently burued into and thoroughly enjoying the research. Maybe the sore hands later may change my mind but if it worth doing it sometimes takes a bit of effort (and pain) I guess.

Not to keep "bigging up" my thread lol but i've been semi documenting a restore from a first timer with no power tools point of view.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...up-myself.html

Kind of hoping it'll help someone, maybe such as yourself who's getting into this.

Would still get a new or vintage shave ready razor, At the early stage, it's very hard to know what sharp is.

Hi Tekbow - yes I have had a look on yout thread several times and lots of really good info for me as you have indicated. unfortuantely the IT police do not let me get to your images at work so have not seen them recently.

Very intersted in your sources for fine grade sand paper and hones if you are happy to share either on thread or via pm. I also think i understand you predicament with space in the flat and use of coffee table etc and suggest one of these cushioned trays for TV dinners etc as a possible solution. Preferably with a piece of hardboard or similar cut to the correct size to fit in the tray and enable cutting etc without damaging the tray. When hardboard damaged beyond use it could then just be replaced as required at very low cost from whatever B&Q/Homebase/Wickes etc you may have up there.

Nice! Thankyou :) glad it's helped

No problem with sources whatsoever

first off, these 2 wiki articles.

Un-pinning and re-pinning a razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Hand sanding a blade - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Tool wise i went out and bought a 4oz ballpein, a 1/4" non tapered pin punch, and a small needle file. All of these where bought from a local hardware shop, not B&Q because they only sell sets. This was the kind of place with a front desk and store room thru the back and a wee old fella at the desk. I would ask around in independent local shops. It was the guys in the auto supply place told me. It's the kind of place tradesmen know about and go to.

The wet/dry can all be got from halfords from P50 to P2000, not sure they sell by the sheet, but it's worth picking up the pack of P1500 and P2000 as that seems to be hard to come buy anyway. other wise you can probably buy single sheets up to 1200 from your local independent auto supply place.

Finally the Norton combi set can be found here

Norton Waterstones Kits

second kit down.

Thanks for the suggestion on the tray, really good idea and i won't be bent over a coffee table the whole time

other stuff that will need to be bought is a chinese waterstone (12K) and some CrO2 to go on my first strop thats being replaced with a newer one with linen component. with all this stuff you can take a razor from dirty blunt ebay special to shiney clean shave ready in the comfort of your front room