Thread: My first traditional straight razor

Originally Posted by BeJay

Welcome to SRP. Please don't take what I'm about to say the wrong way. I believe you are setting yourself up for failure. Shaving with a straight razor is a skill that requires time patience and practice. Honing a straight razor is a completely different skill that requires even more time patience and practice. It took me months to learn how to consistently shave well with a straight razor and it took me a couple years to learn how to consistently put a good edge on one.

I'm not familiar with the brand of razor that you purchased, but it has all the hallmarks of a cheap Pakistani blade that somebody etched their logo on. I have yet to see a $20 blade from Amazon that is actually worth $20. It would probably be a chore for a very experienced honer to put a good edge on it, if it will even take a good edge. I would recommend getting something that you know is a quality blade that's 100% shave ready.

Like I said before, I'm not trying to discourage you. I'm trying to save you a lot of time and frustration. Feel free to send me a PM and I will be more than happy to get you set up with a shave ready razor.

I'll have to +1 this. I do hope you are successful with your first razor and hone work though. Been SR shaving occasionally for a while and I'm still learning (my face doesn't feel like ground beef afterwards!) I found that having two of my razors honed by a professional (@gssixgun) also helped because it gave me a standard to compare my own honing efforts to. If you don't have a cheap jeweler's loupe it will really help since you can actually see how the edge in changing

You could buy one shave ready, or there are real bargains on high quality razors now with the current market a honemeister here could get ready for you. I've been out of the SR game for a few years and was surprised to see what some razors are selling for now.

Originally Posted by JP5

I'll have to +1 this. I do hope you are successful with your first razor and hone work though. Been SR shaving occasionally for a while and I'm still learning (my face doesn't feel like ground beef afterwards!) I found that having two of my razors honed by a professional (@gssixgun) also helped because it gave me a standard to compare my own honing efforts to. If you don't have a cheap jeweler's loupe it will really help since you can actually see how the edge in changing

You could buy one shave ready, or there are real bargains on high quality razors now with the current market a honemeister here could get ready for you. I've been out of the SR game for a few years and was surprised to see what some razors are selling for now.

Thanks for the advice. I’ll later invest in a jewelers loupe but will further work on my razor to the point that it can not only shave arm hairs as it can now; but to the point it will be able to shave me safely. In the meantime I’ll look into quality razors at an affordable price. When the time comes for the initial cheek shave, if I see any blood I will stop immediately and use my safety razor instead.

A loupe is very inexpensive, but VERY useful. I'd recommend one before you try to hone anything.
It also lets you inspect your razors for micro chips, which will cause you issues with your shaves smoothness

Check out the B/S/T area here on the forum. Quality razors that are really shave ready.

The advice given to you already is very good, we're here to help you

I just found a family member that had a jewelers loupe. I looked at my blade with it as did my relative who sharpens knives professionally. She says that my razors edge is perfectly even compared to some of her more expensive knives.

Yeah I haven't heard of that brand razor.
You could try shaving just your cheek. Will be easy to tell how good the edge is if you are used to a shavette.
There are always very fair priced beginner razors in the classifieds here.
General advice is learn to strop and shave before attempting to hone. Main thing is don't give up if the razor turns out to be a dud.

Sent from a moto x far far away

Originally Posted by AngeloAmerico

I just found a family member that had a jewelers loupe. I looked at my blade with it as did my relative who sharpens knives professionally. She says that my razors edge is perfectly even compared to some of her more expensive knives.

What you look for in a knife edge is not necessarily the same as for a razor's edge.

Bob

+1 to this ^^^

Yup. If you think you have it, have with it and tell us how she does. If it snags and it painful, it's not shave worthy yet. Why hone it and contest it's ready if you're not going to try it? Give it a whirl and let us know how it feels. Oh and also with the cheaper blades, quite often the edge does not last nearly as long. But ya never know. Might be good just with a cheap company trying to get off their feet. But if they are mass produced for cheap, chances are they are garbage steel. But ya never know

I might get flak for this...

You just have to practice. I mean, hone that sucker. Try it on your face. Learn what a tug feels like. Learn what a cut feels like. Put it back on the stones, give it more attention, then try again. Sounds like you watch a lot of tutorials— thats great. Soon enough, your hone job will give a smooth shave.

Sure, it might be worth having a honemeister tune it for you first, just so you “know what it feels like.” But most of us aren’t honemeisters and don’t want to send razors across the country every week. You have to be capable and satisfied with your hones if you plan on getting into this hobby as a collector.

For me, a shave is a shave. I use 400, 800, and 1500 grit sandpaper, stripped, mounted, and loaded with steel to simulate higher grits. My razors pop hair and shave close. But they won’t split a hanging hair— becuase they don’t need to. The time isnt worth it to me. Most razors are high enough quality to hone and shave. You will find a plethora of members who have honed and shaved with the chinese gold dollar and pakistani blades (me included). There is a big margin between shaveable and what honemeisters achieve.

There are two classes of SR collectors— those who chase the “perfect shave,” and those who are in it for the history. Both have smooth faces.

Don’t let anyone make you take this too seriously. It should be fun, and -anyone- can hone.


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