noob from Perth WA

Hi all. Am very new to a straight. picked an old one up years ago and it sat in a draw. just had it honed by old school barber(who would think it would be so hard to get it sharpened) and have now had two shaves. loving it nick and all. Ed:D

Welcome Ed. Razor sharpening is just like good knife sharpening in that it takes a skilled hand to do it correctly. But unlike knives, razors are a little more rare and therefore have fewer experts around that can do it. Hang around here for a little while and you'll probably try your own hand at it after some time. Lots of good information around here. Hang out and enjoy.

G'Day and welcome, Ed

Glad you could join us

Hey, eddy. Welcome.

There's quite a few skilled users up here in the Pacific North Wet. Someday I hope to be one of them. :) There's gonna be a Spring meet-up in Yakima fairly soon. It would be hard to stress enough - how valuable these meetings can be. Its not an exaggeration to say you can learn more in a day than you can in 6 mo. of reading & practice. You'll also meet some wonderful guys.

'Hope you have a ball as you learn. Incredible shaves will be in your very near future.

Should you need a hand w/ edges, let me know.

Hello and welcome to SRP! :)

Are you talking US or Australian Peth?

If Australian, there are a few places there that sell new straights in the mall-y area, or at least there were 2 years ago when I visited last.

Regardless, good luck and welcome again.

James.

Hi jimbo. From western Australia. There are places that sell razors but only 1 that hones. From what i have found on net they don't do a great job, are expensive and from personal experience they were plain rude. Cheers to all for warm welcome. If anyone has answers to thread i posted in strop section or info on where to get paste/sprays in oz it would be helpful

G'day and welcome to the forum. I'm in Melbourne and I offer a honing service if you're ever looking for one again. Hang around and have a read. You might want to try honing your own after too long.

Hi there Ed. Welcome to the forum.

I'm in SA, in the Adelaide hills. I've been using and honing my straights now for almost two years. I'd be happy to hone a razor you need honing for nothing (i.e. free). I've never honed for anyone else before, but am happy with my honing skills for myself.

[EDIT], Oh, I should say I'm not trying to take any paid business from anyone :-) Just trying to be nice...

Hey, Eddy.

When it comes to honing,there's John, who posted. I would also suggest speaking to Onimaru55.

Cheers for honing offers. Your right though i will prob try for myself when the time comes. Like the idea of a coticule but more money than i have at present. plan to make 2 paddle strops with various paste and sprays to avoid need to hone for fare while yet.

As you may have read, all you really need is a Norton 4/8. I have one and also a Shapton 16k and it's all I need. Honing isn't rocket science. In my experience if you watch videos on it and read a bit, and have a light, steady patient hand you'll probably do OK. If you're just refreshing the edge, you can use only something like a Shapton 16k (it's what I use the most) or even the 8k side of the Norton 4/8.