Thread: Moustache trouble and new razor questions

Hello everyone,
First, Thanks for all the great info. I have been sharpening blades ever since my Grandpa first showed me a whetstone when i was in elementary school. Before I ever stumbled across this forum, I spent time looking for a nice old straight razor in antique stores and finally found one with a reasonable price tag. That was a Spike, made by Union Cutlery in New York. I sharpened it up and tried to shave with it. Since I didn't immediately get good results, I began to do some research, and ended up here. Since then, I have purchased some shaving soap, a lather brush, and a nice old strop, a mulehide Stiletto brand, and of course, read many of the posts on this site. I have certainly enjoyed greatly improved results, and since then found another antique store selling a good variety of old blades in nice shape; I purchased five of them. So, here is my question. I shave the underside of my neck and my moustache, leaving most of my beard intact, in a sort of amish style. I have been having great results with my neck WTG and even ATG, but the hair is not too thick there. My moustache on the other hand is a bit more difficult. I understand that the hair is thicker there and the quarters are a little tighter, but I am wondering how to get a better shave in that area. I have honed both the razors I have tried myself, the Spike, and a Baldon 189 from Solingen, using the following stones, a synthetic coarse and medium to form a new bevel followed by a Wichita oil stone and finally a translucent arkansas, which I understand to be in the 4-5000 grit range. I know that most of you recommend a finer stone, and I am wondering if that is what is needed to solve my shave problems, or is it in the technique. So far I have spent less than $60 dollars on six razors, a strop and brush, so I am partially disinclined to drop more than that on a stone, but if that is necessary I can accept that. Also, anyone know anything about any of these razors i just picked up?

#1- Baldon 189 Solingen Germany
#2- Unpolished Diamond Antiseptic (slight swayback)
#3- #21 The Palmer, Chicago (more dramatic swayback)
#4- Clover Brand by W.H. Morley & Sons, Germany (has the barber notch)
#5- The Anchor Razor, Maher & Grosh, Toledo. O. (This one is the most striking, it has a dramatic swayback, and the point extends beyond the end of the spine and sweeps back to meet it. On the blade, "The Anchor Razor" is written in a great font and has a seal of an anchor in the center).

If you guys know anything about these razors, I would love to hear about it.

Thanks so much,
Ryan

Oh yeah, I forgot, you guys mention having a razor professionally honed, which seems to be a good idea and not out of my price range, how would I go about finding those services, do any of you do that?

Ryan

Honing Services are offered in the Classified Section of this website, most offer their services for about $20.

Originally Posted by motownbrowne

Hello everyone,
First, Thanks for all the great info. I have been sharpening blades ever since my Grandpa first showed me a whetstone when i was in elementary school. Before I ever stumbled across this forum, I spent time looking for a nice old straight razor in antique stores and finally found one with a reasonable price tag. That was a Spike, made by Union Cutlery in New York. I sharpened it up and tried to shave with it. Since I didn't immediately get good results, I began to do some research, and ended up here. Since then, I have purchased some shaving soap, a lather brush, and a nice old strop, a mulehide Stiletto brand, and of course, read many of the posts on this site. I have certainly enjoyed greatly improved results, and since then found another antique store selling a good variety of old blades in nice shape; I purchased five of them. So, here is my question. I shave the underside of my neck and my moustache, leaving most of my beard intact, in a sort of amish style. I have been having great results with my neck WTG and even ATG, but the hair is not too thick there. My moustache on the other hand is a bit more difficult. I understand that the hair is thicker there and the quarters are a little tighter, but I am wondering how to get a better shave in that area. I have honed both the razors I have tried myself, the Spike, and a Baldon 189 from Solingen, using the following stones, a synthetic coarse and medium to form a new bevel followed by a Wichita oil stone and finally a translucent arkansas, which I understand to be in the 4-5000 grit range. I know that most of you recommend a finer stone, and I am wondering if that is what is needed to solve my shave problems, or is it in the technique. So far I have spent less than $60 dollars on six razors, a strop and brush, so I am partially disinclined to drop more than that on a stone, but if that is necessary I can accept that. Also, anyone know anything about any of these razors i just picked up?

#1- Baldon 189 Solingen Germany
#2- Unpolished Diamond Antiseptic (slight swayback)
#3- #21 The Palmer, Chicago (more dramatic swayback)
#4- Clover Brand by W.H. Morley & Sons, Germany (has the barber notch)
#5- The Anchor Razor, Maher & Grosh, Toledo. O. (This one is the most striking, it has a dramatic swayback, and the point extends beyond the end of the spine and sweeps back to meet it. On the blade, "The Anchor Razor" is written in a great font and has a seal of an anchor in the center).

If you guys know anything about these razors, I would love to hear about it.

Thanks so much,
Ryan

I'm also interested in any info about The Anchor Razor, Maher & Grosh, Toledo. O. I've got one to. It is by far my favorite razor it's the best one I've ever owned. After I honed it and got it shave ready it actualy seemed to get better every time I used it for about a month, and now has held it's edge for almost 6 months and shows no signs of needing any work at all. if anyone thinks they can find out anything about it, and a photo would help I'll post one tomorrow.

Originally Posted by bishpick1

I'm also interested in any info about The Anchor Razor, Maher & Grosh, Toledo. O. I've got one to. It is by far my favorite razor it's the best one I've ever owned. After I honed it and got it shave ready it actualy seemed to get better every time I used it for about a month, and now has held it's edge for almost 6 months and shows no signs of needing any work at all. if anyone thinks they can find out anything about it, and a photo would help I'll post one tomorrow.

Get a picture and then start a thread about it in the razors forum -- you're more likely to get it viewed by our razor historians there.

Originally Posted by motownbrowne

Oh yeah, I forgot, you guys mention having a razor professionally honed, which seems to be a good idea and not out of my price range, how would I go about finding those services, do any of you do that?

Ryan

And then again you got one of the best honemasters and founder of SRP Lynn Abrams,right under your nose.Call SRD.

The moustache area, as well as the chin, can be quite difficult. With my disposable blade straight, I can do
ATG passes in the moustache area, but my regular straights seem to run into a brick wall there. I've dealt with it by just doing XTG passes in the moustache area because ATG work there, with whatever razor I use, results in weepers along with the close shave. BBS shaves are a nice goal, but there are areas on my face where it doesn't seem worth the effort or the problems.