Thread: Sacramento checking in!

Welcome to SRP from a fellow Sacramentan! Did you go to TAOS at arden or the galleria? As for strops...even though a belt is good to build muscle memory, instead, you can buy a decent practice strop for cheap (which is a good investment if you think you might end up knickin' your strop). A couple of places to buy a good practice strop include: poorman kit from larry @ whippeddog.com (Whipped Dog Straight Razor Shaving Equipment) or the filly from ken @ ruprazor.com (RupRazor - Strops)

there are a few of us sacramentans on here (as well as the other shaving forums)...we should all have a meet and greet...talk about wet shaving over beer or something.

A GTG or meet-and-greet would be great. I shop at the Galleria. Since Guitar Center opened in Roseville, I don't have much need to go over that way other than gun shows and the State Fair. :-)
As for strops, I'm not concerned about the money. But the one at TAOS was very very small. So I'll look at SRD and the ones you recommend. I'll never nick my strop. .... .... .... :-)
Do you know of a local place to get a razor honed?

I asked the people at TAOS in Arden mall the same question and they referred me to Nobile Saw Works at 3011 J St. (916)442-4261. But I have never tried them out. Other than just buying a norton 4k/8k (from the woodcraft on folsom blvd for example) and learning through practice, I would recommend mailing it in to one of the "honemeisters" on SRP.

Welcome to SPR!

Originally Posted by caligula

I asked the people at TAOS in Arden mall the same question and they referred me to Nobile Saw Works at 3011 J St. (916)442-4261. But I have never tried them out. Other than just buying a norton 4k/8k (from the woodcraft on folsom blvd for example) and learning through practice, I would recommend mailing it in to one of the "honemeisters" on SRP.

Oof, stories like this are why I don't recommend that folks buy their straights from TAOS. Nobody who understands razors would recommend a commercial honer like that. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe there's someone at this saw-sharpening service who has 1, 4, and 8k hones and a finisher, and knows how to use them on razors. But I have yet to hear a sharpening story that involves anybody but a dedicated razor honer and ends happily. Look in our Classifieds under member services, I think, and mail your blades out to someone who does it right.

^^agreed!!!

Welcome. I live in Rocklin! Check out Amazon for the Illinois strop, either the 127 or the 827. I have the 827, and it is solid and performs admirably, and they are not expensive. I am guessing mine could last for life. There are other options as mentioned here, all of which are better options, IMO, than the Dovo strop at AOS. Good luck, keep learning. In no time your shaves will only get better.

BTW, the AOS creams are very good quality. Next time you're at the Galleria, check out Bath & Body Works. There's a little men's section where you will find C.O. Bigelow shaving cream in an aluminum tube. It's good stuff too, especially with this hot weather. It is Proraso, made for C.O. Bigelow. You can also check out and get a sample of the Macca Root shaving cream from the Body Shop at the mall, as well as the Cade shaving cream at the L'Occitane store. Have fun.

Thanks again, all, for the advice and encouragement.
I placed an order with Whipped Dog for a couple strops. I went to AOS to have a look, and was underwhelmed when I saw that strop. I am ignorant on the subject still, but it looked waaay too small for what they were asking for it. It looked like it would make a fine travel strop, but for that price. But I really don't know. In any case, after looking at a few of the suggestions I just placed the order to get it going.
I'll definitely check out the products recommended at BBW and L'Occitane.
Cheers!

@IamSt8ght thanks for the info!
@RicM let us know how it goes!