Thread: Hello from North West England

Hi all.

My sister-in-law bought me a pot of TBS Maca Root shave cream and a TBS shave brush for Christmas. I really liked it but felt that following it up with a King of Shaves cartridge shave was a bit of an anticlimax. I watched a stack of straight razor videos on YouTube. Then a quick visit to Amazon and a Bluebeards Revenge shavette was ordered. I've had 3 shaves now with it (using Derby blades) and today was nick free. I've gone for full face straight away and apart from the obvious awkward bits under the chin and along my jaw my shave is a lot closer than with the cartridge.

However, I've also read that shavettes are not the best thing to be shaving with and so I've also spent a bit on the Bay. I've bought a strop from someone in the UK who just makes leather stuff. I've got a couple of natural Welsh slate hones (one approx rated 8-10k, the other approx 12k). And yesterday won an auction for a Carl Wusthoff, Solingen, razor which needs honing but has been sold as having the bevel set. I have a very cheap chinese oil stone in the garage that I've used for sharpening chisels in the past. I have no idea what grade that is and I think I will steer clear of using it with this razor.

I've got quite a bit of razor burn. It's not too uncomfortable but I can feel my face through the day. I shall keep working on reducing pressure and hope that my real straight will be better.

I've really enjoyed looking at the forums and watching the videos various members have posted. Thanks for all the advice so far!

Mark

Hi Mark, and welcome to SRP!

Congrats on taking the plunge and getting a straight.

Just a couple pieces of advice: the first thing you should do when the razor arrives is to send it out to be honed by a pro. Check out the member services in the classifieds here: Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

that way you know you're starting out with a truly shave-ready razor. having the bevel set is important, but it's really just the first step. And as for honing it yourself, by all means learn to do that - but not just yet. having it honed by a pro will give you a good benchmark so that you'll know how a truly shave-ready razor feels and works. it will also eliminate one possible variable should you encounter rough shaves (i.e. you won't have to wonder whether the edge was dull). it won't cost you much but will be worth every penny. Please don't do what I did and struggle on with a crappy edge to start with!

Your decision to keep that hone and your straight apart is a good one! There is a *ton* of honing advice in the forum and wiki here, so take your time, do plenty of reading, and when you have questions, ask away!

Good luck

Hi Mark,

Welcome to the SRP.

Jamie

Thanks for the welcome and advice Cangooner and crusader. All my stuff has arrived.

Needless to say, I couldn't resist attempting to hone it! However, it will be heading off to the professional honers as soon as I can get to the post office. The test shave was fun but ... I'm still quite whiskery! I guess the stones I've got are more suited to touching up an edge rather than creating one.

Any thoughts on the razor would be well recieved. The blade seems very hollow ground compared to others I've seen. I wondered how this might affect my experience of the razor - both shaving and honing (or failing to hone!)

Does anyone know any honers (pro or just decent amateur) in the NW England region?

Mark

that looks like a nice razor. congrats!!

Originally Posted by sleekandsmooth

that looks like a nice razor. congrats!!

Thanks! Roll on the day it's usable!