New Member From Texas - with questions

Hello all, checking in from the Lubbock, Texas area. I am new to SRP and trying to learn more about straight razor shaving. I have been given a razor, but I have yet to get it shave ready.
I would like to share pictures of my razor and pose a few questions. First, the link (I hope all can view it):
https://plus.google.com/photos/11291...J_FqY_YnuaOrgE

The captions on the pictures will hopefully help. I believe this is a half-hollow grind based on images viewed on SRP, but I am not positive. In a couple of pictures, you can also see a portion of a paddle strop that I made. Any comments/advice on this razor or strop are greatly appreciated.

I am cheap (I'll admit it) and don't want to spend much $$ until I know that SR shaving is for me; thus I am trying to learn to hone this beast myself. The only hone I currently have is a Smith's tri-hone which I know is not an optimum solution (I don't even know what grit each hone is: just coarse, medium, fine), but again, it is what I have. I have read several websites about making balsa wood hones and have considered that as a viable option. I would like to solicit comments from experienced honers regarding this approach. The jeweler's rouge that I am using on the homemade paddle strop was purchased from Tandy Leather which was recommended by them for straight razor stropping. Any thoughts?

I have picked up some Van Der Hagen soap and a Van Der Hagen boar brush (again minimal $$), these combined with a large coffee mug and I am ready to get after it.

Thanks in advance for advice/comments.

P.S. If anyone knows of someone in the Lubbock, TX area that does professional razor honing, please sound off.

Well i would say that is a nice looking wester brothers hollow ground razor, sorry but your hones are not going to do it for you.

I'm sure lots of Texans will chime in soon... you might want to look and whippeddog for a starter razor and strop and he is in Texas.

Thanks syslight for that response. I'll check out whippeddog.

I was afraid that was the response I would get on the hones, that is why I am considering the balsa wood hone option.

The blade has to be very close to shave ready for the balsa to do you any good.

The proper hones will cost you a lot more than getting it honed by someone that knows what they are doing.

You need a good hone for your first shaves. If you try it yourself you won't know if the razor is as good as it can be. This is the only way to know if the shaving is for you or not.

You might do a bad job and hate the shave, then we lose a new member of the community.

If all you want is cheap, I saw a dude, hitting rocks against each other on YouTube and shaving with them. You will be all set if you can find the right rocks. You may never enjoy wetshaving as much, but you will save a lot of money.

Have fun

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lynn

If all you want is cheap, I saw a dude, hitting rocks against each other on YouTube and shaving with them. You will be all set if you can find the right rocks. You may never enjoy wetshaving as much, but you will save a lot of money.

Have fun

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I might be able to accomplish a similar shave with a belt sander but that is not quite what I had in mind. My goal is to learn to wet shave with as little money up front as possible. I will probably get the razor honed professionally the first time, but I really want to learn to do this myself. I'm a "do it yourself kind of guy", partly driven by being cheap. :D.

@Crotalus,
In my opinion the blade is close, I have been able to accomplish hanging hair tests with it. I know that doesn't give a clear indication, but it is at least encouraging.

Thanks for your suggestions. I am considering having the razor honed professionally, then I will know for sure what to expect and achieve as I learn to do this myself.

Don't let your initial errors/assumptions keep you from trying the real thing.

From the photo, it looks like the Wester (great razor) has a frown that has to be ground out before honing is feasible. It might just be the photo.

I did something similar - w/ the predicted results - which is how I'm known as pinklather. 'Tried a Fromm hair cutting shavette. It was a ... colorful experience. What did I learn? That w/ proper gear, I could do this.

You wouldn't try to sharpen an old, worn double edge blade, would you? Is there any perspective from which this is different? Is there some way you can imagine getting a real shave from less than a real razor w/ a real edge? Rather than attempt the DIY restoration when you've yet to learn the shave, you might GREP the Google map page. Texas has not only alot of members, but an unusual concentration of VERY skilled guys. Maybe hook up w/ one. It would vastly reduce the learning curve. One or more might let you try their gear for a first shave.

Give it some thought. Maybe its not for you. And maybe there's a reason guys are really happy to enjoy their shaves for the first time since the novelty worn off as a teen.

Best of luck whichever way you go.

Time is more valuable than money so dont waste any trying to hone before you have really mastered straight shaving. Or shaving with a questionable edge . That wastes time and possibly flesh. For 15-20 dollars you can get it honed by one of the professionals here on SRP. Its well worth it. Spend your wait time perfecting your lather. Once it arrives you can be sure your starting out with a proper edge and you can really work on your technique. If you strop properly that edge should hold up for many shaves before you need to consider honing it yourself and spending the money on a set of stones.
Hope this helps
-Ben

Thanks for the comments/suggestions pinklather and Omega1975. I'll keep that in mind. Looking forward to a good shave, that is one reason I am not rushing into it and doing some homework which includes soliciting valuable feedback from the experts on this forum.

Thanks

I got started with wet-or-dry sandpaper. It's available at auto body shops from 400 grit (for rough work) to 2000 grit (the next step after setting the bevel with 1000 grit). Glue or tape the paper to a flat surface -- glass, stone, or plastic.

You must bridge the gap from 2000 grit to some kind of finishing stone -- usually either:

. . . a barber hone (available used for around $20), or

. . . SiCarbide "micro-abrasive film", or

. . . a pasted strop with CrOxide (around 0.5 micron, very roughly 30K grit).

I believe SiCarbide film can be had in 5 micron grit, finer than 2000-grit paper.

I was able to get shave-ready edges (not _really fine_ edges, but quite usable) using 2K wet-or-dry, 5 micron micro-abrasive film, and a CrOxide pasted strop.

As far as I know, this is the cheapest way to _start_ honing, if you expect to do any restoration. The Wiki reference:

Using micro abrasive film - Straight Razor Place Wiki

As I was warned would happen, pretty soon I bought a set of Norton 220/1K and 4K/8K stones.

If you want to maintain an already-sharp razor forever, all you need is a barber hone. Check the Classifieds, WhippedDog, and (if you're brave) eBay.

Charles

Charles,
Thank you, this was all good information.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tuxdev

Hello all, checking in from the Lubbock, Texas area. I am new to SRP and trying to learn more about straight razor shaving. I have been given a razor, but I have yet to get it shave ready.
I would like to share pictures of my razor and pose a few questions.
....snip...

I have picked up some Van Der Hagen soap and a Van Der Hagen boar brush (again minimal $$), these combined with a large coffee mug and I am ready to get after it.

Thanks in advance for advice/comments.

P.S. If anyone knows of someone in the Lubbock, TX area that does professional razor honing, please sound off.

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Welcome.

Have you found this link for beginners:
Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Tell us what you shave with now.

The Van Der Hagen soap and brush will get you well down the road.
Keep an eye out for Williams shave soap. Not so much because it
is good but because it will teach you a lot for a $1.50 or so. Shave prep
is a big part of shaving with any blade so have at it. While you can
shave but once a day you can practice "latherin" a lot.

I would like to thank everyone for their useful advice and tips (and Lynn for his humor), including the private messages I have received.

Yes, I have been perusing the valuable wiki articles including:
Category:Lather - Straight Razor Place Wiki
and
Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki

I have also made arrangements to have my razor honed professionally by a local professional. Once I get the razor back and find the work satisfactory, I'll post that information for anyone else in the Lubbock, TX region.

Looking forward to starting the SR learning path.

Well gentlemen, I have attempted a couple of partial shaves (working on easy spots for now) with the freshly honed razor and it seems to be a winner. The local guy I took it to did a good job and was very knowledgeable about all kinds of edges (e.g. straights, surgical tools, kitchen knives, scissors, ...).

Now all I have to do is figure out proper technique. I have received a few minor cuts at my own hands mostly during blade placement, not the actual shave. I'll eventually get there (I hope).

Again, thanks for suggestions/advice.