Thread: Hello everyone, I'm another newbie to straight razor shaving.

Hi, I'm 41 and currently live in Devon, UK.

I've been shaving with a Merkur DE Slant Bar and Feather blades for a while now and have recently (literally 2 weeks ago) decided to give straight razor shaving a go.

I won a "Vintage Es-Ese" razor on Ebay 2 weeks ago for £10 (cue someone telling me they're crap, with a capital C) the day before we flew to Spain for a fortnight in the sun, so I haven't took receipt of it yet as we were away the day after I paid for it, it should be here in next day or two. I will be sending it to be sharpened and given a once-over to "The Invisible Edge" once it arrives.

I use Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving creams, would soap be better? I was thinking of Mitchells Wool fat.
Should I get a leather, or a leather and canvas strop?
Should I get a different/better razor? Was considering The Invisible Edge's own brand razor.

Cheers for now,
Paul.

I would scrap the razor you bought (or save it for honing practive when you get there) and buy the IE starter kit, which is high quality and excellent value for money. It;s what i started with and steve is a gent

He'll also trade items in the kit for others if you pay the difference. i think he stocks his own brand soap domes and proraso. I'd go with one of those, the osma soap doesn't get on with me

as for the strop, am in 2 minds, one part of me says a linen backed strop at the price at which he offers them (again pay the difference foe inclusion in the kit) would be a good idea, another part says you'll nick up your first strop so why bother paying more for something you'; replace with a higher end strop (prob with linen) later anyway

Last post, promise lol Last time i looked he had NOS vintage sheffield razors for about the same price as his own brand, i think he suggests them as an option for the kit if you want to have an oldschool sheffield blade

psa2570,

For strops, Mr Neil Miller is the chappie : Quality Razor Strops & Paddles Individually Hand Made in the UK.

Also, Have a peek at his vintage razors : Straight Razors / Open Razors / Cut-throat Razors for Sale

Mr Millers workmanship is impeccable

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Hi Paul, and welcome to SRP and to the One True Shave.

I haven't done any business with the folks mentioned above, but I've read amazing posts here by Neil Miller. His knowledge of razors and related arcana is amazing.

I've really got no input on soaps vs. creams, except to say Sure, try something new. I've heard that Mitchell's Wool Fat is amazing stuff. I've also heard that TOBS is amazing stuff. You are a man at the brink of wallowing in amazing stuff.

A canvas strop is nice to use before a leather one, but not critical until you start honing. At that point it sort of runs interference for your leather, catching the microscopic metal particles before they embed forever in the leather. Whatever strop you get, practice on it first with a butter knife. Stropping is an odd motion and it really pays to lay in some muscle memory before you go for the real thing. Focus on the mechanics and timing of the flip; this is where nicks are most likely.

Good luck and best wishes from the U.S.

Many thanks Tekbow, Phatman & Roughkype for your informative replies.

I'll look up Neil Miller shortly. Thanks again for steering me in the right direction.

Cheers,
Paul.

I would very much doubt that Es-Ese is crap, lets have some pics maybe the ebay link.

If its clean Neil will be able to buff and hone it for you, and supply you with a strop at the same time. There are some strops on ebay by "thewiskeredbat" I've bought leather from them and it was good and a couple of people I know have one of their strops and say they are reasonable. Not in the same league as Neils but apparently they work OK which is more than you can say for much of the cheap crap on the bay.

Hi,

Link to photo's from Ebay auction, via "Auctiva Image Hosting"
Auctiva Image Hosting

Regards,
Paul.

Nice score, all of my Solingen made razors are good I reckon that will be too!!!!

Give it a rub over with metal polish (Autosol is my preference) and you'll be good to go, then contact Neil Miller (or Steve Dempster at IE) about getting it honed.