Hello from another straight razor recruit

I recently threw out my cartridges (sensor excel) back in April when I started with some d/e razors, a Muehle, and a Merkur slant.

I bought a JR Torrey straight on ebay pretty cheap and found that I needed to sharpen it so I got a 4000 grit Norton stone. Haven't yet got an 8000 grit stone yet but I was able to hone it a little bit (after watching and reading videos and forums)shaved my face pretty darn close tonight. I used some 1/8" balsa sheeting from my airplane parts as a strop and I think I'll be looking for a leather strop some time in the future.

Tonight I bought a razor off the classifieds and it is probably much more shave ready than my primitive attempts on my old Torrey and can't wait to receive it and give it a shot. I bought the Ple Z All 5/8"--can't wait to see how that razor feels. Thanks a lot for providing a forum for us guys to learn and share our experiences.

Daniel

am located in so-Cal area

Sounds like you are off to a great start! But, you need to get a leather strop rather quickly!!!! The most needed part of the Art of straight razor shaving except the razor of course!!!

You can strop on folded newspaper, too. My son (21) has been shaving with a straight since January and hasn't got a strop. He uses his leather belt for his trousers. He's a hippy with dreads and all, barefoot most of the time. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I offer that additional info only so you can 'frame' the extreme minimalism he embraces. I would have recommenced a Norton 4/8 combo; you can shave off that quite well. You can shave off the 4, but it's nicer of the 8. Then again, it's also even nicer of a 16, and then there's all those other hones, and strops, and stuff, and then there's all that other stuff....and then more stuff.... :-)

Welcome to SRP.

If there's anything I can help with, just send me a PM (private message). I'll do the best I can.