Thread: 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

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

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. .

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.

@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.

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.