Thread: Hello from Northern Alberta Canada

Several folks are doing their best to not offend you in this thread, but in the interest of being direct:
It's possible that the honing jig system you've purchased, as well as the pattern-welded razor will prove me wrong, but these types of things are generally a waste of money for new guys who want to learn to shave with a straight razor. Pattern-welded custom razors cost a lot of money. At least several hundred dollars, and commonly over $1000. I don't mean that this one can't possibly shave - it's just about the same likelyhood that you just happened to find a guy who makes quality handmade longbows and sells them for $15 each on eBay so that he can break into the market. Possible, but... Plus, the fit and finish aren't very good from the pictures you posted. The sharpening jig probably does a bangup job on knives, but it's different than what every established razor honer on this site uses. The idea is about polishing an incredibly sharp blade, not just sharpening it. Plus razors have a built in guide, so you don't need a jig. Again, you might have found the best new thing since sliced bread, but the chances of that and the razor being a diamond in the rough as a new person to this hobby... not so good. You're thowing around a fair amount of money here, and could be buying the right, tried and true things instead. You are, of course, free to find your own way, but many have tried and end up buying the right stuff later, and I'm just trying to save you the frustration.

The TI razors are a very good brand, though. 3/8 is a little small, but it's a quality razor. Oh, and the modular strop is good stuff, too!

From the description of this damascus razor it could be one of the Pakistan made ones on eBay.
There was a thread on these last year :
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-any-good.html

In answer to your tape question. Just strop without tape. A single layer will not require replacing pre stropping as give in the strop or leather itself will compensate for the 0.5 - 1º the tape adds.