Hi from Brisbane, Australia

Hi gang, Nick here from Brisbane, in Australia. Have always had an affinity for straight razors but have just taken a while to finally take the plunge, much to the distress of my wife, who thinks I'll skin myself :)

Currently have a shavette-style razor with disposable blades but only had to use that once before I bought a proper steel razor & strop kit. Currently using a terrible brush and a Palmolive shave stick. I've always had really sensitive skin on my neck (Can't look against the grain, let alone shave it!!) but have found the pure sharpness of my disposable blade and the calming effect of taking my time has helped me immensely in getting a very close shave without having to go over my neck half a dozen times.

Looking forward to getting my kit I ordered from the UK (Just rubbish mind you) and hopefully getting a Dovo classic white in a little while. I'm also keen on restoring a razor perhaps as well, trades/using your hands is in my blood and I modify everything I can get my mitts on, so we'll see how much the wife lets me get into it!

I've already planned a balsa strop for some Cro2/Chromium Oxide that I'll most likely get into making on the weekend!

Welcome to the forum! That Dovo should be a sweet starter razor.

NickB, welcome to SRP mate!

I also started with a DOVO shavette before getting a DOVO Best Quality SR. Both still are used in the obligatory rotation.

Start of RAD :beer1:

There are quite a lot of SR enthusiasts in and around Brisbane who will welcome you very soon. Between them they will offer all the support and encouragement you may need.

I have heard that there may be a get together late May in the Brisbane area, so watch this space or more specifically, the Downunder forum.

Cheers,

Sunbird

Cool, might be interesting! Thanks for the heads up!

I tend to get a few "GAS" issues (gear acquisition syndrome) being a I.t./computer tech and also a photographer. Also an avid car fan my wife reminded me over dinner, so that doesn't help things either! :D

Welcome to SRP.

Russell

Welcome to the forum Nick. Where abouts in Brissy are you?


Mick

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Originally Posted by MickR

Welcome to the forum Nick. Where abouts in Brissy are you?


Mick

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Thanks, Northside actually.

Hello Nick,
Welcome to Straight Razor Place. There is much to learn and enjoy, and you're in good hands with my friend MickR. It's good to have you with us.

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Originally Posted by NickB

Thanks, Northside actually.

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Well, if you need a hand with anything or just feel like a cuppa and a yarn, give me a shout. I'm at Brighton. :)


Mick

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Originally Posted by MickR

Well, if you need a hand with anything or just feel like a cuppa and a yarn, give me a shout. I'm at Brighton. :)


Mick

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Thanks Mick!

I'll throw my first question up here, why not!

I've got a plan in my head that may or may not be reasonable. I plan to rotate two razors, first is the shavette, second is the SR I have ordered from the UK.

With maintenance, I know honing is very important, my concern is with the maintenance plan I have in mind namely the DIY pasted balsa strop (when from my research apparently will be 'just as good' as a high-grit stone or pasted leather/material strop). But my real question is, how long should I be able to maintain a razor off it with cro2/crox paste and leather? I've chosen cro2/crox as from what I can establish it's a little milder than diamond spray.

From my reading, if I'm diligent, it should be essentially.. forever. That's my plan for the short term anyway (Perhaps a year). I have seen some ceramic barbers hones on ebay (this unfortunately shows my range of budget for this, which is essentially a hobby) for about $20 or so, used of course. The main aim is to not have a large outlay, so if I could keep going for a long time with the crox, or perhaps the crox with a yearly hone from a local honing god etc.. would be pretty good for me.

If any other newbies have asked the same sorts of questions, I'd appreciate links if you'd rather not regurgitate the same information :) I'm sure others have but what I can find all refers to getting stones and honing with them!

Well Nick, I'm not a paste user myself and for local advice regarding paste use and duration of maintenance, I would refer you over to Jimbo (James). However I will say, your theory is sound, in that you should be able to maintain your razor for some time like that. There will come a time when it won't be enough though, through not going back to the pasted strops at the right time or what have you, but the edge will eventually need to go to a coarser stone for re-honing. The time duration depends on a number of variables, like how often you shave and how strong a beard you have etc.
I have a basic set of hones here (1/6k - 3/8k - C12k), and your welcome to come to me for any basic honing needs. I hone my own, but I'm not as skilled as James. I've been at this for less time than him. My own razors meet my personal standards of comfort and sharpness though.
Also, take care not to cross contaminate your plain leather strop with pastes from your balsa.

Hope that is of some help to you mate, and don't be afraid to PM James for more help with regards to paste usage. He should be able to give you a better idea than me.


Mick

Some good info here albeit using diamond spray.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...eriment-6.html

Welcom to the forum and sounds like a heck of a start already.
Most of the other rstuff has been covered so no help there.
Pat

Thanks guys, tons of help there Mick. Fantastic.

I accept that proper honing is something that will have to be done, but the longer I can keep the razor comfortable without that need, will help me add to my tools (aka stones etc..) over time.

I have read about cross-contamination and it makes total, logical sense to me. So I'll be sure to clean the razor down between stropping. I first intend on doing the pre and post shave stropping method, with the reading I've done on SRP, this will keep the razor sharper and edge condition the best for the longest period (avoiding/alleviating corrosion and oxidisation).

I will keep my hanging strops clean/virgin/whatever (canvas and leather). The kit comes with leather conditioner and I'm not sure if I'll bother as I've read good things about simply using the palm of your hand and wipe the leather down to keep it happy. If I do, the 'less is more' method will apply with, well pretty much everything I'm doing, with the SR.

Mick, if I could be so bold (or anyone else who'd be kind enough to answer) - How much do stones cost? I've read that it's rather subjective as to what stones you use but something like the Norton/whatever 4k/8k? The little I've found online about them is around $60-$70. More-so, I guess, is where can we get them in Bris or Australia?

Also, while we're at it ;), what do you use to protector your razor if anything (oil?). The pre-post stropping theory I'm subscribing too can't protect a hinge-pin etc.. I had a look at SRD's oil, and whilst at $5 it's great, it's the $32USD post that makes me baulk.

Thanks again.

Hi Nick, the Norton 4k/8k is a good stone and once lapped flat it is capable of maintaining a razor (i.e. one that's just gone off a bit) using the 8k side - you'll find stacks of info about the Norton hones on SRP. You can get them from Henry Eckert in Adelaide for $125 plus postage. You could order one from the US but by the time you pay the postage you're looking at 130 odd dollars anyway. If you get interested in honing you'll also want to get a 1000 grit stone for bevel setting but that can wait till later.

With regard to oil for razors, any light machine oil (or even Vaseline) is OK but I use IKEA Skydd oil - it's just the right consistency and is food equipment safe, so therefore essentially non-toxic. It's also pretty cheap at 10 bucks for 500 ml - you've just got to drive to Loganholme to buy it :-)

As Sunbird mentioned, our little SE Qld Straight/CT razor group is having a meet-up in late May (not sure if we've decided on the exact date yet). It would be great if you could come along - they're a terrific bunch of guys with a lot of collective knowledge on the art of honing, using and maintaining razors.

Mick, Geoff or Stu will probably chime in here with the actual date and time for the meet-up.

Mike

Thanks, $10 is fine but as you said, it's the drive to Logan that gets you. I can imagine for a sunshine coast resident, that must really be a pain for you!

I'll certainly check out when that meet-up is on, sounds like there'll be tons of good info flying around!

Hi NickB and welcome to the forum from another Queenslander, I am up at Ningi, as to Norton 4/8K stones, the cheapest ones I could find were from Amazon about $75 delivered to Australia. However I should point out that the first stone arrived with a damaged case and some chips out of it, sent it back and got a good one but it was still a hassle to do it. Reading on the web indicated that several other people had the same problem, maybe someone dropped a crate of them at the warehouse. As for stones well they can be cheap, all the way up to selling your kidneys to pay for them (ie JNATS). Apart from the Norton, perhaps a slate about $44-80 would cover it and then a balsa board as you have done with whatever grit/compound you prefer and a leather strop would complete the ensemble. But that lot should set you up for a long time. As to oiling razors, I just rinse off, wipe with some toilet paper, strop it for next time and smear some light machine oil over it and good to go for the next time. No dramas doing it that way so far. I made my own diamond spray, 1 carat of 50K and 100K Diamond from a lapidiary supplier at $4.95 each mix with water and put in small spray bottle for use on balsa boards.

So after these initial purchases your set for quite a long time. That is till the HAD and RAD set in!!

Cheers

Ed.

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Originally Posted by NickB

Thanks guys, tons of help there Mick. Fantastic.

I accept that proper honing is something that will have to be done, but the longer I can keep the razor comfortable without that need, will help me add to my tools (aka stones etc..) over time.

I have read about cross-contamination and it makes total, logical sense to me. So I'll be sure to clean the razor down between stropping. I first intend on doing the pre and post shave stropping method, with the reading I've done on SRP, this will keep the razor sharper and edge condition the best for the longest period (avoiding/alleviating corrosion and oxidisation).

I will keep my hanging strops clean/virgin/whatever (canvas and leather). The kit comes with leather conditioner and I'm not sure if I'll bother as I've read good things about simply using the palm of your hand and wipe the leather down to keep it happy. If I do, the 'less is more' method will apply with, well pretty much everything I'm doing, with the SR.

Mick, if I could be so bold (or anyone else who'd be kind enough to answer) - How much do stones cost? I've read that it's rather subjective as to what stones you use but something like the Norton/whatever 4k/8k? The little I've found online about them is around $60-$70. More-so, I guess, is where can we get them in Bris or Australia?

Also, while we're at it ;), what do you use to protector your razor if anything (oil?). The pre-post stropping theory I'm subscribing too can't protect a hinge-pin etc.. I had a look at SRD's oil, and whilst at $5 it's great, it's the $32USD post that makes me baulk.

Thanks again.

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Check out Japanese Waterstones : CARBA-TEC. Stones vary in price according to brand. Carba-tec and King of knives stock stones. I got mine from king of knives. Maybe not the best stones, but they are good enough to do a good job for my razors. Amazon might be your friend here as has already been stated.

My routine with my razors is to rinse avoinging the pin area after shaving, dry the blade and scales (inside and out) with a bit of toilet paper, strop in readiness for the next shave, and in my bathroom cabinet, I have a small pump spray bottle of INOX that I got from the local Automotive shop in Sandgate. I give a small spray of that on the blade and an even small spray on the pin area. I wipe off the excess and wipe it over the entire blade at the same time with a cotton ball. INOX is food safe/non toxic, doesn't dry out or gum up like some other oils do if left for extended time.


Mick

I'm Jody, and I'm a shave-a-holic
chorus: hello Jody
I'm pretty sure I bought a ceramic hone (8k) mail ordered from a gy in Brisbane off ebay.
If only I could remember the name of his online store.
I seem to recall it was basically a kitchen supplies joint and it cost me $40.
I guess I'd LIKE a finer hone, 16k or so, but I found I can actually get the results I need just with an 8k and some stropping.
I never really used paste either, I started out with a really rubbish strop (part of a package deal from a firm I won't even advertise by repeating the name of), then later I got a Dovo canvas/ leather.
Huge difference, probably the single biggest difference of any one piece of equipment.
I rarely use my hone, I find a light stropping pre and post shave is more than adequate.
I use it so rarely in fact that were it possible to find someone locally who would professionally hone the razor for me, I probably wouldn't have bothered at all.
Decent strop is far more important and probably the most important thing I learned by trial and error is caress the blade on the strop, don't need a lot of pressure at all.
I like to imagine I'm running it up and down the back of a woman's leg, that gentle and you'll get superior results every time.

So the woman is one you like then, not one you are thinking of hamstringing...slicey?! :p


Mick

Nice Slicey, thanks for the info. That's actually a really good metaphor that anyone can understand!

I'll check out some more info on ebay. I've had a few PM's with James and I think I'd rather hire his services than get a hone right off the bat, at least I know I'll get a couple of good shaves off it before I strop it incorrectly, rather than me honing it wrong from the get-go :P

Speaking of supplies, I noticed that GemWorld at Virginia actually have a lot of supplies, and although they're out of some stuff, they do have super-cheap 50K grit diamond powder to make your own spray/paste! $4.45 in fact! I know I'll be heading there for some of that over the easter break, for sure!

Link for powder here.

Thanks again for your help gang!

well Mick, no, typically I'm not imagining carving them up like a Sunday roast, that'd just be a bit too "silence of the lambs" for a wholesome site like this, no, I more meant about the pressure you'd caress a woman's thigh with say a hand or something, that said, I have met a few pretty nutty women in my time, some of them had a thing for sharp impliments.
I'll try not to think about that now, it'll ruin an otherwise good shave.