Thread: new razor, what now?

So I have been using a dreadnought spartan SR for a while now. LOVE it. Decided the other day I wanted a straight razor and ended up winning this: Fried Wilh Engels Straight Razor Solingen Germany | eBay

So I have all the wet shaving goods. What do I need to care for my razor. I am looking for a good hanging strop, but what else do I need? Looking at a kme sharpener for my knives, can I use some 10k stones to hone, then strop with compound, then without and be shave ready?

Sorry for the NEWB questions. Been reading and searching for a while and just needing a little more info.

Welcome to the forum.

You need the razor honed. It will need to start at around 4000 grit hone, may be even at 1000 (the pictures are not good enough to tell). May be you could use stropping on a series of finer compounds too.
Your best bet is to send it to somebody with the skills and experience to do it for you and then you can just maintain it.
You can buy a good hanging strop, for example, at straightrazordesigns and they can hone your razor too. At least that's what I'd do if I were you.

Thanks gugi, I will send it for its first honing. But I am a do it yourself kind of guy, so I want to learn to do it myself later. I originally wanted a razor to restore but then found this on and fell in love with it.

I have not read through them in quite a while but there should be large parts of the beginner's section of the forum that should already have this covered.

First, you need to get the razor honed. When you get it back, lightly wipe it off with a tissue and then shave with it. Don't test it. Don't touch the edge, just shave with it.

Yes, you need a good hanging strop.

Personally, I would not bother with any compound yet, but others will disagree.

Don't touch that razor with the KME. Just don't do it. Yes, a 10k hone, if it is a decent one, will be adequate for maintaining your razor AFTER you learn how to hone.

It is a very good razor and in very good condition. You can learn to hone whenever you want, but that takes time and equipment and is best not done on the same razor and at the same time you're learning to shave with.
Maintaining it sharp, is far easier than getting it sharp, so starting from that usually makes the learning process simpler.

Welcome to SRP. Congrats on your new razor! +3 on getting a pro to hone it for you. Do not get in a rush to buy and use hones right away. You need to focus on your stropping, lathering and shaving techniques. (All the honing in the world will not help if you can't perform these three basic functions of wet shaving) Learn to enjoy the shave and the basics of maintaining your edge first. Honing will come later as needed...

Welcome to SRP medicnix: Visit the Library at the top of the page. You can find answers to most of your questions. For all others please feel free to ask on the forum. If your a "Do It Yourself Kind Of Guy" you will need a complete set of hones if your intentions are to learn honing.

When you get your "Shave Ready" razor back from honing. Don't strop it before the first your shave. This will give you a bench mark to judge how a "Shave Ready Razor" feels. A real straight razor will be more forgiving than your Spartan. You will learn to use less of a blade angle with your real S.R.

Here are some good videos to help you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93zQP7CToWQ

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...-leg-hair.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r24ar_SSGVo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIM0Coix6Gg