Thread: Howdy

Well I decided to take the plunge and try out this "throat cutter" shaving. I've been using a safety razor or a double edge since I was a kid some 30 years ago. I've just recently bought a theirs issard 5/8 round at the advice of the online store I ordered it from up here in Canada. Got a 2 inch strop and now as I just began reading this website, it seems I should have purchased a 3 inch one. I've been practicing stroping just to get the hang of it and it seems to go ok, but the real test will be when I shave. I'll be picking up that DVD advertised on this site as well.

Now onto my questions, I have several waterstones I purchased years ago (10 years or so), I think they are nortons, 600/1000, 4000/8000, a diamond 325/1200 and a couple smaller pocket stones, 4000 and one 8000. I've used these stones to pretty much sharpen most household items that need sharpening and have kept them clean and flat throughout the years. When the time comes to try my hand at honing, would it be okay to use these or do people have stones dedicated for their razors and only their razors?

Lastly, this razor I have purchased seems very light, I can hardly notice it in my hand, I guess I had a preconceived notion that I was buying a hunk of metal hehe

Am looking forward to trying the blade out tomorrow am.

cheers,
dave

Welcome Dave,
Sounds like you are set. Use your 4000/8000 after you hit the "Library" section above, read about the 4/8 and watch the videos provided. Enjoy the journey.

Welcome Dave!

Lots of folks use 2" strops, so don't beat yourself up about that. The 3" requires less of an X-stroke and so most find them easier to work with but ultimately as long as you're careful and have good stropping technique, yours will work fine.

I bought my hones specifically for razors so I can't really comment on using them for other blades. However I imagine it would be OK as long as you make certain that they have been lapped flat before using on your razor. However I certainly defer to the many others here who have far more experience in such things.

Also, did you get your razor professionally honed? Some vendors sell them truly shave-ready, while others do not. And they never come that way from the factory. It's always a good idea to start out with a truly shave-ready edge honed by a pro so you will know what that feel like.

As for the weight, that varies tremendously between razors. I have a great little 4/8 Heljestrand and a 7/8 Joseph Wostenholme near wedge, and the difference between the feel of them is like night and day. They both work really well, but the both work very differently.

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies, I see your in Ottawa too Cangooner. Yes the vendor said it would come ready to shave and well yeah it shaves pretty good I think, tho since it was my first attempt and I'm not lying in a pool of blood I call it a success Do you know of any retailers in Ottawa that sell shaving supplies, like stops, creams etc?

Hey, nice to have another local here on SRP!

I get my hair cut at Imperial Barber Shop on Bank in the Glebe. I know they have a small selection of razors, soaps, brushes, strops, etc, but have not tried any of their soaps, etc. Apart from that I haven't really seen anything else. But then again I tend to buy most of my shaving related things online. I'll keep an eye out though and if I come across any others, I'll get in touch.

Good to hear about the lack of bloodshed - that is a good start indeed!

Welcome to the forum from a fellow Canadian. Tons of useful info here and people willing to help. Enjoy

Welcome to SRP

You have a lot of company in Ottawa! here is a link to a list of SRP members with a location of Ottawa.....

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...astvisit&pp=50