New Here

[Trip286]

Hi guys, I'm new here. I came across this site while researching an ebay purchase. I've been using straight razors for about 2 years now. I started with a Henckels razor, which I am told is referred to as a "ladies razor" with a very narrow blade. I then later got a Wester Brothers Anchor Brand at a gun and knife show about 6 months later, which I just absolutely fell in love with!! Bad news though...yesterday, after giving my son a haircut and using my razor to straighten up his neck line and side burns, I left it sitting on the bathroom counter while I packed away my clippers, and the power cord for the clippers knocked the razor onto the floor breaking one of the slabs. I was so fond of it, I decided to just replace the slabs, and while having it dismantled, I'd be able to better polish the blade too. So, I filed off the ends of the pins to remove the broken pieces, and while wiggling them apart, I ended up dropping the blade too, chipping it severely in 3 places

On to my replacement!! I stayed on ebay from about noon yesterday until 2 o'clock this morning trying to get the high bid on a new razor. I finally succeeded!! I will soon be receiving a "new to me" Gold Bug!! Right now all I have is the Henckels, which has been neglected in the time that I've had the wester brothers, and I butchered my face with a cheap disposable...

Here's a pic of my new Gold Bug, soon to be in my possession. I'll be working on a 7 day set sometime soon (likely mixed makers). Right now I just shave every 2 or 3 days, as my facial hair grows slow enough and fine enough that I can get away with it fairly easily. Can anyone tell me what is up with the point on this one? My Wester Brothers was very nice on the end of the spine, but this one looks as if it's had angles filed onto the end of it for some reason.

[MickR]

Hey trip, those images are a bit on the small side to view the razor properly. Do you want to try to re-post with better pictures? People might be able to help you with your question a bit better that way too.


Mick

[Trip286]

I noticed that after I posted them, unfortunately, I'm not computer literate enough to fix this problem! I'm sorry. I'll see if I can do something about it later.

[Trip286]

Well, I tried to fix the pictures, but I can't. The deal is, in the second picture that is showing the end of the blade, the very end of the spine has angles on it, it's not rounded down towards the end of the blade. Not really such a big deal to me, as long as the edge is still good, I was just curious if this is normal. I'll probably pretty it up a bit anyways when I get it.

I was also kind of wondering about using the proper equipment. Right now I have a 2 sided Pike (by Norton) stone, really it's meant for tools and knives, but one side of it is either 8000 or finer, and that's what I use on my razors. I also use an old leather belt with jewelers rouge rubbed into the leather real well for stropping instead of an actual purpose built strop and paste. This works well for me, and I feel I get the blade just as sharp this way as I could any other way. I did just order a cheap Chinese water stone though (12,000 grit), so I'm going to try that out and see if it makes a difference to me. I know it's cheap, and Chinese, but because what I already have works, I'm not too concerned with losing $20 if the new stone turns out to be crap. I just couldn't see spending upwards of $80 for one of the really fine high end European stones. I think the cheapest I've seen besides this Chinese stone, was maybe an American stone for around $40, so I'm taking a chance.

Anyone see a problem with what I'm already using? Or is it one of those things where it's okay to use what works? I should also add, I'm not too concerned about blade erosion, as I've only had to hone my Wester Brothers once, and since then my "strop" has kept it sharp. I've been using that razor for 18 months or so, until I dropped it the other day.