First post, First straight razor, First question!

Hey everyone!

Short story: A couple years ago I decided enough was enough and my face deserved better than a cartridge razor. Burns, bumps, and ingrowns were bumming me out. I decided I wanted to move to a safety razor with the ultimate goal of going straight razor. The day I bought my safety razor (an Edwin Jagger DE89Lbl) I happened to come across a beautiful straight razor. I decided, without any research, to buy it and make it my goal.

Two years later (two weeks ago) I decided I was comfortable enough with the safety razor to make the plunge and busted out my Thiers Issard Spartacus and give it a go. It took me 25 minutes of caution and concentration to get through my shave. No nicks or cuts, but it wasn't very close (I don't expect it to be for a very long time until I get the angle and muscle memory down). All I know is that I'm hooked and looking to dive beard first into the world of straight razors! (It's taking all of my will power not to go out and buy a honing stone and stuff!)

Onto my question! With a thick-haired beard and sensitive skin, did I get a "bad" first straight razor? I say bad as in not the right type/style/size for a beginner. I honestly don't know if this is a "good" or "great" blade in comparison to what's out there, but that would be interesting to know too. After research today I found out that this might be a half-hallow 6/8"? It's 6/8" on the inside and goes to about 7/8" at the end of the blade.

I know performance (outside of practice) can hinge on the products you use, so here's my routine:

1. Get out of shower
2. Hot water to the face
3. Apply Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream using a Parker Safety Razor 100% Pure Badger Bristle Shaving Brush
   
   1. I'll note that I don't lather in a cup, although I do have a cup to put my brush in for when I need to re-lather
   
   
4. Shave with grain
5. Shave against grain
6. Hot water to remove any lingering cream
7. Cold water to close the pores
8. Bath & Body Works C.O. Bigelow No.1401 Bay Rum After-Shave Balm

I do have a strop (a Fromm Razor Strop 2 1/2" X 23") and I've been trying to get that down (my first time was today as my last shave was the worst out of my three times thus far as far as closeness). Thanks for the help and here's some photos of my precious!!

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Edit: sorry for the attachments, it was rotating the images and couldn't figure out how to remove them!

Welcome!

Don't know much about that blade other than it is a good brand and looks sweet. your overall ritual looks pretty good. How does the blade feel as you shave? any tugging or skipping, and was it professionally honed?

Congratulations...I like the TI's myself, the old one's even more so...

Question, was the razor professionally honed to shave ready? TI sends them out factory sharp, they even say that they are, "shave ready" as most new production companies do, but it needs to be honed first to get shave ready, believe me, it will make all the difference in the world to your straight shaving experience.

As UAcowboy asked, was the razor honed by a professional?
Concerning you routine you might consider doing a cross the grain pass betwee with and against.

Also to add to their questions about pro honing the razor....if you have really sensitive skin try cold water shaving helped me tons

And BTW welcome to SRP

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! :)

It's never been to a professional to get honed. I can say that it does tug and skip. I chalked that up to being a newcomer and not getting my angle right, not keeping me skin as tight as I could, or not lathering enough (I re-lather a lot because it's taking me so long and the lather dries up).

I can definitely add a cross-grain pass to my routine. I've done it in the past with my safety razor but my beard grows in such crazy directions that even a small patch winds up being both across and against the grain on the same pass.

I'll definitely look into cold water shaving. Never tried it and I guess it can't hurt!

You should have it honed check the classified section or members list to find someone close if possible some barbers can/will do it but don't know any in my area (triad )

Welcome to SRP! You definitely have a high quality razor, if its really shave ready, it will be a fine shaver.That said what jumps out at me is that you did an against the grain pass, probably not the best idea to start doing that untill your really comfortable and your razor in shave ready condition.JMHO

You can read in the library but a quick way to check is try to tree top some arm hair it should pop there's off mid level without any tug or pressure

Welcome brother. Your routine seems satisfactory, your equipment is on par (nice TI). I to say it should be honed and stropped, to take that unknown, out of the equation. Stropping on linen (60 turns) & leather (40 turns) my help, but you really need to take out the unknown, otherwise you'll get frustrated. And you don't want that stacked against you.
Enjoy SRP and enjoy.

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Originally Posted by Razorrookie01

You can read in the library but a quick way to check is try to tree top some arm hair it should pop there's off mid level without any tug or pressure

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I'm sorry Razorrookie but doing that test doesn't show whether the razor is shave ready or not. Perhaps the razor is shave ready depending on where he purchase it from, if it factory more then likely its not, an should be send to an experienced honer to be made shave ready.

Hmmm that test always worked for me... what would you suggest as a test?

You can get a razor to tree top arm hairs in the early stages of honing. The only true test in my Book for a shave ready razor is the shave test.

Good point

Looks like a really nice razor you got. I love the style.

Also, if your lather is drying early you all you may need is more water when building the lather.
All you need to do is add a few drops to the end of the brush, I lightly dip it in water, and rework the lather. You want a glossy 1/8 heavy coat of lather to shave with. It's not like foam from the can, but a small dense layer of glossy cream.

Welcome to the forum. Perhaps a good approach for you to take is see if you can find a mentor or a senior member in your area for a brief get together. Learn a little technique and have the edge of your razor assessed to see where it's at. When you bought it it may or may not have been hand honed. If it is not up to snuff get it honed. I don't know of too many people who got stellar shave first time around. As far as I am concerned if you got through it without any serious blood letting it was a total success

I did not get a stellar shave the first time! It eat my face up so bad that I put the razor away for a few months. Razor burn like I have never had, lasted for a few days. Then purchased a two new razors that I knew would come real shave ready.
So, I really consider I had to starting dates, a false start, then the real day!

Congrats on a very wicked blade. completely beautiful. First have you watched the videos on straight razor shaving. There are many very instructive videos on youtube. The other folks have already ask about the honing and other important questions. Be very carful with the angle because that point will dig in. I have always suggested for some one to start with a round point. but to each his own. welcome to the SRP. enjoy

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Originally Posted by Scareface

I did not get a stellar shave the first time! It eat my face up so bad that I put the razor away for a few months. Razor burn like I have never had, lasted for a few days. Then purchased a two new razors that I knew would come real shave ready.
So, I really consider I had to starting dates, a false start, then the real day!

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When I started in 2013 I to got that famous razor burn. I found mine not only was a duel razor but my angle was way off I was scraping not shaving. Lynn Abrams shows the proper angle when shaving in his videos and there several others in videos that show the angle. When you get it right it seems that the razor will just glide over the face. Other than having some one there with you to guide you the videos are the next best thing. I remember when I started my face looked like a strawberry patch. It took a long time for me to get it right.

Welcome. I am a huge fan of TI razors, and have 3 in my collection...an excellent choice! Nothing earth shattering here that others have not stated already...definitely take the time to have that razor professionally honed. It takes what I think is the most subjective part of early straight shaving out of the equation (hanging hair tests, tree toppers, etc are all HIGHLY subjective). Once you get a few months of shaving under your belt, you will start to have an idea what shave-ready means to you. I too have sensitive skin and I run a very fine line between "too sharp" and "not sharp enough." Somewhere in the middle there is a happy place for me, and 6 months in I am JUST getting to the point where I can feel a blade and have a pretty good idea where it stands (and I am still wrong from time to time).
Once you have that professionally sharpened blade in-hand....DON"T STROP IT FOR THE FIRST SHAVE! You will want a baseline so you know whether your stropping is helping or hurting the blade. One last recommendation...if you send the razor out to hone, you will have a week (at least) to practice stropping technique. Grab a regular knife out of your silverware drawer and practice laps daily...get that muscle memory going...so when you do get the blade back you have a good chance of maintaining it rather than dulling it.

Welcome to the community. There are some wonderful resources here to be had and the members are a wealth of information. Good luck and happy shaving!

Check SRD Lynn will help you pick a second razor Aaaand they have customer service

I spent a bit of time stropping because I had to shave today. It was less bad, but definitely needs honing. I haven't found anything around here, so I might ship it off to Lynn to get that pro sharpening done :) I did, in the meantime, order myself a Boker King Cutter 5/8" from SRD so I'll know I'm getting a properly sharpened razor while my other one is away! It was between the Boker and the Dovo Best Quality 6/8". Both at the same price point I figured I'd go with the 5/8" since my current one is already a 6/8".

Welcome to the forum. Your TI Spartacus is a lovely razor. It reminds me of a Boker 1056 which I'm currently searching for. I have 3 Bokers, one of which is a King Cutter. My 4th Boker is on the way to me from Canada, and I already have my beady eye on what may be my 5th.

The RAD will get you! Good luck!

GREAT decision on getting a second razor! Now when it gets here use it to compare the shave qualities to the one you shipped to SRD for honing.

This will help you to know when the Boker is ready for its honing.

So, stay with the Boker until you get that tug on the beard. Shave with the freshly honed TI. Notice the difference. If it's a night and day diff then send the Boker in for that free hone from SRD.

I'm very stoked to get the Boker and see how it goes. I won't be sending in the TI until the Boker is in hand so I can do some comparisons here and get a feel for the difference between the two. Then I'll be sending the TI out for some TLC.

Good plan. I may be slower than others, but 8 months in, and I'm just getting comfortable with judging "shave ready". Too many variables to start. Face prep, lather, technique (pressure, angle ...) stropping ... etc. Took me quite a few good shaves before I could rule any factors out on a bad shave.
Starting slow, with at least one good blade will cut your learning time considerably.

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Originally Posted by mgoffin

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! :)

It's never been to a professional to get honed. I can say that it does tug and skip. I chalked that up to being a newcomer and not getting my angle right, not keeping me skin as tight as I could, or not lathering enough (I re-lather a lot because it's taking me so long and the lather dries up).

I can definitely add a cross-grain pass to my routine. I've done it in the past with my safety razor but my beard grows in such crazy directions that even a small patch winds up being both across and against the grain on the same pass.

I'll definitely look into cold water shaving. Never tried it and I guess it can't hurt!

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If it's tugging and skipping, you'll be better off not using it until it's properly honed. A dull razor is hard to work with, and will cut you faster than a sharp one.

While I was at my hair stylist today she mentioned that she has a shear sharpener guy she swears by. I asked her if he did straight razor honing and she contacted him. Turns out he does! So I am going to compare mine honed by the local guy and the one Lynn did for me that is in the mail! If they feel and perform the same then at least I know the honing did the trick and that there's someone local I can support! If the local guy's honing isn't up to the Lynn's level, then I'll know in the future where to send out my blades for honing ;)

FYI: I'd ask if he shaves with a straight and what process he uses to hone. We have a local guy who doesn't shave with a straight and doesn't use stones to hone. Some sorta belt contraption. I wouldn't let him touch any of my razors. Besides, if he doesn't shave with a straight, he doesn't have a clue if a razor is shave ready.

Excellent points. I was planning on asking him what his process was and if I could watch, but I didn't think about asking if he shaves with a straight razor!

Today I shaved with my new Boker King Cutter 5/8" that I got from SRD. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! Definitely sold that the old blade needs a proper honing. The Boker is much lighter than my TI and considerably louder which is great (I like the feedback). I was pretty nervous going into the shave knowing this was a properly honed blade, but no bleeding! I do have a lot of practice to get my angles down so I'm sure over time I'll get that super-close shave going :)

Thanks for all of the help everyone!

Glad it was a "simple" fix happy shaving

How do I post a question that any SRP member might answer? - Learner

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Originally Posted by Learner

How do I post a question that any SRP member might answer? - Learner

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You've got to start a new thread. There is a button for it. You can select the category you want to post in and while in that category the button should be top left of I remember correctly.