Thread: Hello Everyone!

So I suppose a little introduction is called for. I'm a 33 year old, 7th generation Scottish-American happily married in northeast Texas, even more happily childless at the moment!

I've never owned/used a straight razor before, but I've been interested in converting since I had a shave in Mineapolis a few months ago. I suppose you could say I've been lurking & reading up on things since then till I felt confident enough to get started. I hate shaving & typically only do it when entering a clean-shaved facility as part of my job. Typically that's for 3-4 days, once or twice a month. I feel like learning this side would actually become somewhat enjoyable, and a good way to relax and/or collect my thoughts on a daily basis.

Im interested in learning both sides of the craft, shaving and honing, hopefully concurrently, although not with the same razor(s)! My plan is to start with probably a DOVO for shaving perhaps a 2nd razor later on as a backup, something middle-of-the-road like a 5/8 or 6/8 & cs blade, and then find a cheap assortment of old, junked razors to learn the honing side. That would allow me to begin by learning how to properly set the bevel a few times in succession, then moving on to the finer steps. I don't envision myself sharpening brand new razors that were just ground, but it would definitely enable me to repair any damage I might inflict when (not if) I drop a razor or hit the faucet!

I spent a few years learning the art of polishing Japanese swords. I'm not an expert by any means, but I've saved more swords than I've ruined and while this won't transfer directly over to straight razors as the goal is very different, it will at least show the required patience and attention to detail required in learning to hone a razor. The feel will come with time & practice.

Seems a good starting point on the honing would be a norton 4x8 and a good 12k? I've read a little about using balsa blocks with various polishing compounds in the finer stages, but the information is limited. In practice, how many of you actually use them?

My apologies if I should have saved these questions for a different section of the forum, but it seemed a good idea to include them here so you'd have a bit of background info to go along with them.

Welcome!

Definitely give straights a try.

I recommend just starting with a razor and a strop. The razor should be shave ready. The strop should be a well regarded US made model. Both should be from a reputable vendor.

If I could start again, that's how I'd do it. In the end you should learn to hone too. For now, learning both shaving and honing extends the learning period a lot.

The norton is as good a choice as any afaik. In time you can use it to touch up your blade and keep it sharp.

I hope you enjoy shaving w a straight!

Michael

Check Dfriedl's post
" a razor to learn to hone with"

It's very insightful and may be of interest to you.

Michael

Thanks for replying! I will definitely give that article a look.

As far as learning both at once, I can only shave once a day or at least I don't care to shave more than once a day, and the honing seemed a better use of the rest of my time than reading a book or watching the science channel. I could probably recite every episode of How It's Made that's ever aired....

For the shaving razor, I tentatively have my eye set on this one, mainly for aesthetic reasons. They have a honing service I could include in the order, so it would be shave ready when it arrives. I've also been looking at strops, brushes & the other accessories. I'll likely order a small assortment of soaps/creams to start with until I find a favorite.

Razor, strop, brush & soap came in today. I wear a goatee so I did cheeks, jawline & neck. No nicks! Not even trimming my sideburns or around the bottom of my goatee which was a pretty awkward angle. It was a little rough, especially going against the grain, but I'm still happy & never going back to disposables. Turns out I was mistaken (inebriated) when I placed the order & it only had a factory edge but I also have another dovo coming in with a good hone tomorrow from srd, so I can shave with it while I learn to hone the first one.

Question on my strop, it was doubled over in the shipping box & still holds some of the curve. Should I hang it with some weights attached till it goes flat again or is it safe to use as long as I'm aware of where the leather bends upward a bit & adjust my stropping accordingly? If it'll spoil this 2nd razor I'd rather take a couple days to make it flat first than wind up with 2 razors that need a new hone, but the flip side is that'll be time spent staring at a brand new razor & unable to use it....

Welcome and it sounds like you are making a good start. Take your time with the hones and read as much as you can as you get the feel. Your sword sharpening will come in handy. Obviously it is a different method from honing a straight razor
but a part of it is the feeling of comfort as you work with steel and stone and focus is the key, as you know.
You did not say what kind of strop you have but if it is not terribly thick your slight streching of the strop to use it may work.
Your may want to send your razor that needs honing out to one of the members here who hone for folks just so you will have a good feel for what a properly honed razor feels like to shave with.

Thanks for responding. The strop is a 3" Latigo, here's a link. From what I'd read so far that seemed a good choice.

I probably will send the razor out, but I want to spend a little more time with it first. I've only been putting it on 8k & 12k stones plus the strop so far, maybe total 20 strokes on the 8k & 30-35 on the 12k, then 20 on the linen & 40 on the leather without any pastes. Thats a total after sitting at the stones twice, I tried a test shave on a spot under my chin that was still a little stubbly about 1/3 of the way through that first. It shaves a little better now, but there's still room for improvement. I'm being careful to touch the spine first & use only enough pressure to keep it from rocking or tilting, slow & steady but not stopping it mid-stroke.

Hello Ken, and welcome to SRP. Sounds like you're off to a good start. I'm glad to hear your first shave went so well.

Your hones--did you get the Norton 4/8k? What is your 12k?

For your shaving, use only as much pressure as it takes to scrape away the lather. As long as your blade is properly sharp, the whiskers will follow.

Best wishes

It's a norton 4x8. The 12k is this one. I let them both sit in a casserole dish full of water for a while before lapping & trying them out. (my wife lets me do that because I'm the undisputed chef in the family) We have marble countertops so I just laid out a sheet of sandpaper & kept it wet for the lapping.

My shaves so far have been a little rough, particularly atg, but after trading a few pm's with earcutter I think that's due to my too shallow angle & possibly a little too much pressure. I tried a new razor honed by Lynn last night & it felt about the same as the first after I'd honed/stropped it, so it's bound to be something I'm doing wrong during the shave. Prep is hot towel, lather, hot towel, so I feel like that part is good.

Edit: After rereading my post I wanted to clarify a couple of points. I practiced honing on the first razor I got which had only the factory edge, NOT the one from Lynn. I'm pretty sure that one is more finely honed than I could manage right now! Also, since they both feel about the same I've put off honing practice until I can get a better shave with the razor from Lynn. If they both feel the same right now I obviously can't set a good benchmark for when Ive done a good hone so for now it's just stropping & shaving.