Thread: Newbie in AZ

Hello all,

I'm just starting to get into straights becasue of constant fighting of irritation. I've shaved off and on with everything else for far to long now, and after talking with a couple of folks, along with tons of researching, I decided to come this direction. The researching has had me on this site and B&B lerking around for quite a while now. It just became time that I felt I needed to join one of them, and you know the choice. From what I've seen so far through the lurking, the members support each other quite well around here. That is a bit unusual from a lot of forums. My first straight is getting ordered currently, along with anything else I'll need to move over from DE. I handle a lot of knives constantly, and they are all kept hair popping sharp, so the maintenance should come to me somewhat naturally. If you all have any words of wisdom or warnings to pass around, please do so. I'm anxious to learn, and always search for answers to my questions before i post up.


Jim

Originally Posted by Ratty1

Hello all,

. . . My first straight is getting ordered currently, along with anything else I'll need to move over from DE. I handle a lot of knives constantly, and they are all kept hair popping sharp, so the maintenance should come to me somewhat naturally. If you all have any words of wisdom or warnings to pass around, please do so. I'm anxious to learn, and always search for answers to my questions before i post up.


Jim

Suggestion:

. . . Don't assume that you can move from sharpening knives, to sharpening razors.

The razor's edge angle is smaller, the steel is tempered harder, and the edge is far more delicate than a knife edge. So you'll need to adjust your touch, as well as your choice of stones.

If you've ordered a shave-ready blade, don't be tempted to try to improve the edge right away. Just shave for a while (stropping on leather between shaves), and get your technique established.

Charles

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

Suggestion:

. . . Don't assume that you can move from sharpening knives, to sharpening razors.

The razor's edge angle is smaller, the steel is tempered harder, and the edge is far more delicate than a knife edge. So you'll need to adjust your touch, as well as your choice of stones.

If you've ordered a shave-ready blade, don't be tempted to try to improve the edge right away. Just shave for a while (stropping on leather between shaves), and get your technique established.

Charles

Thanks for the tip. Not to argue, but the knives and tools I was referring are not standard pocket or hunting knives. There will no doubt be a learning curve to honing a razor, just like there is in other knives and tools that I use regularly. I have no plans to do anything but strop my razor until it requires more maintenance. Like I said, I have lurked around for a long time now. I research almost everything until I fully inderstand what I'm dealing with in detail.

Welcome to the forum. Glad that you chose to be with us.

Sharpening things is cool. Period.

If you can sharpen one thing, you can sharpen another. The concepts are similar, but the actions are different.

Heck, if you joined a knife forum and said that you can sharpen an axe, they'd probably say something about that too! I say 'giver. Sharpen 'til you're blue in the face, and then sharpen some more!

Originally Posted by Maxi

Welcome to the forum. Glad that you chose to be with us.

Sharpening things is cool. Period.

If you can sharpen one thing, you can sharpen another. The concepts are similar, but the actions are different.

Heck, if you joined a knife forum and said that you can sharpen an axe, they'd probably say something about that too! I say 'giver. Sharpen 'til you're blue in the face, and then sharpen some more!

Thanks. I won't hone my razor for the first time or two, at least. I have no doubt I could get over the learning curve, but I'd rather focus on getting the shaving part down, then move on with the full on maintenance. I'm in no rush to get into honing this new tool. A cheap, hecho en china, will be my first victim on the stones too.

Welcome to SRP from just down the road in Tucson. The gentlemen of this forum are here to help in anyway they can. Post any questions you have and enjoy.

Originally Posted by Ratty1

Thanks. I won't hone my razor for the first time or two, at least. I have no doubt I could get over the learning curve, but I'd rather focus on getting the shaving part down, then move on with the full on maintenance. I'm in no rush to get into honing this new tool. A cheap, hecho en china, will be my first victim on the stones too.

That can be a good idea. The Gold Dollars always take some work, but they shave if you're patient. May I suggest that an ebay or flea market purchase may be a better way to go? I'm not trying to dissuade you from the Gold Dollar, but I do know that if I'd tried to fix one right out of the honing gate, I may never have honed again. They take some problem solving for sure.

If you need a practice razor, gimme a shout. I can fire one down. I keep a few in the shop to test scratch patterns and cut tape, but they'll still take an edge. Shoot me a PM if you'd like.

Originally Posted by Maxi

That can be a good idea. The Gold Dollars always take some work, but they shave if you're patient. May I suggest that an ebay or flea market purchase may be a better way to go? I'm not trying to dissuade you from the Gold Dollar, but I do know that if I'd tried to fix one right out of the honing gate, I may never have honed again. They take some problem solving for sure.

If you need a practice razor, gimme a shout. I can fire one down. I keep a few in the shop to test scratch patterns and cut tape, but they'll still take an edge. Shoot me a PM if you'd like.

That's quite generous of you. Thanks, but the only way I'd take it is if we were able to work out a trade of some sort. I don't take anything from somebody without a trade or payment of some kind.