Thread: First Razor

Well not really, my first razor was a wedge I made from a High-speed steel lathe parting tool.. Worked well but took forever to sharpen (Rc62)

Found this at a flea market on sunday for $20. No nicks just a little off-flat edge(easily fixable).

I didn't completely clean it up as i think the deep stains add character and i'm lazy and don't want to sand them out

Sharpened it as-is and gave a pretty decent shave. I use 3m automotive grade AlO paper and 1/2" glass because I do autobody work so it's always round..

400 to clean it up
800 for scratch mark removal
1000 to polish the blade, faces and toe
2000 to polish
-1000,2000,2500,3000 to sharpen
-a leather belt on either side of a 2x4 rough one side smooth on the other to strop with 10,000 grit diamond paste.

I need to pickup a 4000/8000 stone but leevalley's like a 3 hour drive(or mail..)

Originally Posted by clenahan

I didn't completely clean it up as i think the deep stains add character and i'm lazy and don't want to sand them out

Welcome to SRP. If you get the Norton 4/8 I would say you'll be glad that you did. Sounds like you have some skills that will make your razor work successful. If you haven't already done it check out the SRP Wiki here for all kinds of good stuff. I don't clean all of my.... make that most of my used straights up beyond what you've done with that one. I like patina once the rust is wiped off with Semichrome or 000 wool and break free. Sanding is more work than it's worth for me.

I'm a machinist's apprentice to a hobbiest knife&sword maker. Aside from technique I've got'er down pretty well

Did a little more work with the 3000 and strop. Gota baby-butt shave with 1 pass with and 1 pass against the grain on my face(my neck hair is messed, all different directions)
So i'll still use the mach3 for that, but the GF loves how clean above the jawline feels ;D

Priced out the stuff (I mid-aswell get it all in stone because it'll last longer and cuts better)
CAD prices
Norton - 1k/4k $62.00
Norton - 4k/8k $86.00
Water stone holder $15.80
.5u CrO A1-Sheets 1.85pc
double-sided strop 27.50
Veritas .5u Jeweller's rouge $10.95
9x12x2 granite plate $36.90

$271.09- total... steep but i can get it piece by piece

For my first couple of weeks straight razor shaving I used a DE Merkur slant with a Feather blade to finish the places I wasn't ready to go with a straight. Once my technique reached a point where I could do my whole mug I never shaved with anything but a straight again. Not out of any kind of pride or prejudice but because I've never gotten a better shave than with a straight once I learned how to use it.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

For my first couple of weeks straight razor shaving I used a DE Merkur slant with a Feather blade to finish the places I wasn't ready to go with a straight. Once my technique reached a point where I could do my whole mug I never shaved with anything but a straight again. Not out of any kind of pride or prejudice but because I've never gotten a better shave than with a straight once I learned how to use it.

same reason's i'm getting into it.. Aside from the closeness, it exfoliates very nicely.