Thread: Hello from a West Michigander with many questions!

Hello all! I recently received a beginner razor that has no edge at all. I've never shaved with a straight razor before but would like to learn the art of it. I also received a quality looking leather strop. What equipment do I need to get a nice edge on my razor? Thanks for the advice!

Welcome to SRP. Before you start on your straight razor journey I suggest having your razor honed by one of the professionals from this site. You can find them in the members services section. While it's getting its edge take the time and read read read everything you can from the library section. This will save you alot of grief. Shaving with a straight razor is worth the effort but it does take time. Where in Michigan are you located?

Try to meet up with a person near you! I am on the southeast of the state or I would have you over. What is the strop? And get that razor pro-honed. Look in member services. Undream is in Michigan and just opened up Maggard razors in Adrian.

+1 to Coachschaller, meet up that will make a huge difference in your learning curve.

I live in Whitehall, 20 minutes north of Muskegon. The strop is made by buckingham and sons. I'll look in the services section for honing. Are there any shave shops in the west side of the state?

If the razor is a Buckingham, it's not a "beginner razor" -- it's what we call a "razor-shaped object". It probably won't take a decent edge, and will just turn you off shaving when you try to use it.

. . . What do you have ?

. Charles

PS -- I hate the term "beginner razor". Either a razor is sharp (and _anyone_ can shave with it) or it's not sharp (and _nobody_ can shave with it). There are some razors not suitable for beginners, but they're not common.

I'm pretty sure both the razor and the strop were both ordered from vintagestraightrazor.com. There's no name on the razor indicating it's a Buckingham.

Larry over at whippeddog might be backlogged. He might not have any razors available yet. You could also look at the classifieds here and at BadgerandBlade.com The razor will last as good as your stropping but most likely less than a year. Get a second blade as a back up!