This Site and Forum is Simply Amazing

Aloha!

I am an active Blogger and Forum member on many sites. Especially Jazz, Audiophile, and Men's Fashion sites, Forums and Blogs. Many of these Blogs, Sites and Forums are run very professionally and have some amazing memberships.

But so far, nothing compares to this Forum with professionalism and information. It's hard to quantify and objectively rate Forums from one completely separate industry to another, but overall, I can't believe how amazing this Site is from many aspects. And the membership here seems more like a private club than a public forum. Perhaps this is because of the mystique of "Gentleman" that surrounds the art of straight razor shaving? I do not know why, but the decorum here is quite professional, and the best I have encountered anywhere.

And the photographs? Good grief. I'm used to seeing great photographs taken by Forum members. Some of them have been amazing in other Forums I have been a senior member of for many years. But THIS forum's photos, especially on "Featured Shave of the Day" boggles my mind. Truly. It looks like we have professional photographers shooting for "GQ" or "Barbershop" magazine on a majority of those photos. I consider myself a fairly good photographer, but some of these photos are truly stunning. I'll eventually try my hand on one of these. Even if I could approach 50 percent of the quality of some of the photos represented here, I'd consider myself doing VERY well indeed.

Just thought I would comment on my experience here. It's been truly wonderful so far.

Mahalo Gentlemen!

-ZipZop

Welcome to SRP!

Basically, we are a family here, we help each other when called upon and sometimes go above and beyond, not because its required but because we enjoy what we are doing and love to share. Most of us here were where you are now, a beginner just starting out needing help on a new journey that has a huge learning curve. With help from experienced members we are able to smooth out and shorten that learning curve. We well know how it feels starting out, the frustration when things go wrong, the appreciation when someone is generous enough to offer help and advice, and the feeling of accomplishment when we succeed with the help received. Therefore we appreciate what we received and are more than willing to give, that's what we do.

At anytime if you need any help don't be afraid to ask, someone will be along to help. Good luck and enjoy the journey!

Thanks Doughboy! I appreciate that.

I'm a newbie to the Forum but I've been wet shaving (Straight Razor and DE) since I was 18, and that was many decades ago. So I'm not a newbie there, however, are you EVER done learning? I certainly am not, and I am sure that there is MUCH I can learn from the members here.
I started with my Grandfather's Solingen Straight Razor at 18 and used that Razor for about 20 years. Hung it up in a showcase with my Grandfather's gold pocket watch (He was an Engineer on a Railroad) in a display case. That's where it sits. I've got about five decent Straight razors and a few lower scale blades that I now "travel" with. I also have a few Shavettes, but I'm not too keen on them. I much prefer a straight blade over a shavette.

I actually joined this forum because I was looking for advice on TRAVELING with a Straight Razor. I have traveled with a DE for decades. I still travel extensively but not like I used to.
Here is my "Aloha" Thread on that;
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...-kit-form.html

The ONLY thing I have never done in all these years is HONE a Razor. I have a guy (as they say) that does that for me at $25 per. I really SHOULD look into Honing, but I'll save that for when I retire. That will be my first project then.

Mahalo!

-ZipZop

:chapeau Well said, I also agree with the degree of professionalism here, as the forum has been established around it.

Now I will say we got a few tough guys here that will tell you how it is, in there opinion, and say its THE WAY. But I myself like a man that dont pull punches. Tells you the real deal and if your way out of bounds in your ideas, they will tell you your wrong. Others will do the same but in a nice way. I dont want to have someone hold my hand and be gentle when I'm wrong, but thats just me. So the guys that speak there mind are good with me! The others are good with me too.

We have a great group of folks here and different kind of folks from different places. Its a great forum and I couldn't be happier with what I've been taught and have learned from others here.

As Jerry has pointed out, there are those that aren't as subtle as others but I enjoy that as it reminds me of when my father would say "By GOD, when you're Wrong! You're Wrong! . I don't know if I'd be classified as one that wasn't very subtle but I can live with it if I am.

One thing that I repeatedly tell non straight razor users about this forum is how amazing the diversity of the members backgrounds are. There are Barbers, Lawyers, Judges, Police Officers, Oil Field Roughnecks, Teachers, Grocery Clerks, Tattoo Artists and the list goes on and on. Hell at on time there was a Professional Archeologist and a Diplomat to India from the Belgium Government. All with a desire to use a straight razor.

Another point of interest is how far and wide the membership spans. I have helped guys as far away from SE Washington State USA as the UK, Afghanistan, Puerto Rico, Guam, India and all over the USA and Canada.

Something else that I feel is very important about our little community here and that is Friendships. There are many here that I truly care about happens in their lives, I've been blessed to have actually been able to meet some of them one on one. My life is far richer for those meetings.

I hope your time here will be enjoyable.

Roy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

As Jerry has pointed out, there are those that aren't as subtle as others but I enjoy that as it reminds me of when my father would say "By GOD, when you're Wrong! You're Wrong! . I don't know if I'd be classified as one that wasn't very subtle but I can live with it if I am.

One thing that I repeatedly tell non straight razor users about this forum is how amazing the diversity of the members backgrounds are. There are Barbers, Lawyers, Judges, Police Officers, Oil Field Roughnecks, Teachers, Grocery Clerks, Tattoo Artists and the list goes on and on. Hell at on time there was a Professional Archeologist and a Diplomat to India from the Belgium Government. All with a desire to use a straight razor.

Another point of interest is how far and wide the membership spans. I have helped guys as far away from SE Washington State USA as the UK, Afghanistan, Puerto Rico, Guam, India and all over the USA and Canada.

Something else that I feel is very important about our little community here and that is Friendships. There are many here that I truly care about happens in their lives, I've been blessed to have actually been able to meet some of them one on one. My life is far richer for those meetings.

I hope your time here will be enjoyable.

Roy

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Well said Roy, I had to stand and put my hand over my heart when I read this post. Freddie

Welcome to the Forum, make yourself at home.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ZipZop

The ONLY thing I have never done in all these years is HONE a Razor. I have a guy (as they say) that does that for me at $25 per. I really SHOULD look into Honing, but I'll save that for when I retire. That will be my first project then.

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I will remind you that I am available for at home honing lessons any time. It only should take a week. Two at the most. :w

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

As Jerry has pointed out, there are those that aren't as subtle as others but I enjoy that as it reminds me of when my father would say "By GOD, when you're Wrong! You're Wrong! . I don't know if I'd be classified as one that wasn't very subtle but I can live with it if I am.

One thing that I repeatedly tell non straight razor users about this forum is how amazing the diversity of the members backgrounds are. There are Barbers, Lawyers, Judges, Police Officers, Oil Field Roughnecks, Teachers, Grocery Clerks, Tattoo Artists and the list goes on and on. Hell at on time there was a Professional Archeologist and a Diplomat to India from the Belgium Government. All with a desire to use a straight razor.

Another point of interest is how far and wide the membership spans. I have helped guys as far away from SE Washington State USA as the UK, Afghanistan, Puerto Rico, Guam, India and all over the USA and Canada.

Something else that I feel is very important about our little community here and that is Friendships. There are many here that I truly care about happens in their lives, I've been blessed to have actually been able to meet some of them one on one. My life is far richer for those meetings.

I hope your time here will be enjoyable.

Roy

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No Roy. In my opinion your one of the nice guys. :)
But to be clear I like the harsher kind of guys too. They may be gruff but they are not over the top. If someone was just being an a$$ I'd say something to them in a PM. I've never had to do that. Like Roy, It reminds me of the ol' man jumping on me and correcting me when I needed it!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gasman

No Roy. In my opinion your one of the nice guys. :)

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Darn! I'll have to work on that!:w:rofl2::roflmao

The Staff likes to think of the site as a "home away from home" where you can enter and take yer shoes off, kick back and relax and enjoy the knowledge being passed around or pass some around yourself.

I have to agree with everything said in this thread. I'm on only a couple forums now. But have been a member of many. This place has an entirely different caliber of men. Gentlemen. Not many places you can say that about, or a good percentage of men out there these days.

Thank you all

I agree wth this place being a great medium for information exchange. I don't say much but read a lot. The guys here are the ones to ride the trail with!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Don't wait learning to hone till some obscure future date which may never come. If you wait you will only kick yourself, why did I wait so long? Get an inexpensive razor, like Gold Dollar, something, a Norton 4k/8k, and get started now, not later. You can thank me later. You're missing out on one of life's little joys. Trust me.

Lawyers, doctors, diplomats... this truck driver is laid up in his sleeper cab on the road, as usual, reading, learning about this fabulous hobby, as I've been doing nearly every night for two years now.

Now go buy that cheap razor and Norton hone, and get started!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Longhaultanker

Don't wait learning to hone till some obscure future date which may never come. If you wait you will only kick yourself, why did I wait so long? Get an inexpensive razor, like Gold Dollar, something, a Norton 4k/8k, and get started now, not later. You can thank me later. You're missing out on one of life's little joys. Trust me.

Lawyers, doctors, diplomats... this truck driver is laid up in his sleeper cab on the road, as usual, reading, learning about this fabulous hobby, as I've been doing nearly every night for two years now.

Now go buy that cheap razor and Norton hone, and get started!

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Aloha!

OK, you've convinced me. I've got a "Cutthroat" razor I paid $20 for and my thought was to have it honed and try it as a travel razor. This way if I lose it or something happens, so what? It will make a great practice razor. So I'll order a Norton 4k/8k and "hone-up" on honing-up. :)

Mahalo!

-ZipZop

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dieseld

I have to agree with everything said in this thread. I'm on only a couple forums now. But have been a member of many. This place has an entirely different caliber of men. Gentlemen. Not many places you can say that about, or a good percentage of men out there these days.

Thank you all

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Aloha!

This is so true. At least that is my experience so far. I am on a few large forums for other interests, and for the most part things are not too bad, but this forum graps the brass ring for "gentlemen". For sure.

Mahalo!

-ZipZop

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ZipZop

Aloha!

OK, you've convinced me. I've got a "Cutthroat" razor I paid $20 for and my thought was to have it honed and try it as a travel razor. This way if I lose it or something happens, so what? It will make a great practice razor. So I'll order a Norton 4k/8k and "hone-up" on honing-up. :)

Mahalo!

-ZipZop

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The Norton 4/8k hone is a fine beginners hone. For some that's all they use. The limitation is you won't have a 1k for bevel setting. The 4K will do, but more strokes required. Learn the stone. Practice your strokes. Read stuff, watch the videos. In 6 months, a year, you'll be amazed how you've progressed.

Your $20 cut-throat, is it junk or a real razor? That's why I said Gold Dollar. It is generally thought to be the absolute minimum acceptable razor. No Pakistani razors or steel. So check that razor.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ZipZop

Aloha!

OK, you've convinced me. I've got a "Cutthroat" razor I paid $20 for and my thought was to have it honed and try it as a travel razor. This way if I lose it or something happens, so what? It will make a great practice razor. So I'll order a Norton 4k/8k and "hone-up" on honing-up. :)

Mahalo!

-ZipZop

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The Norton 4K/8K combination is a very good hone, it can be used to set a bevel but it takes a lot longer. The main problem is that they need lapped as the surface is too rough straight from the box for razor use. While lapping 'can' be done using 220 Wet and Dry Sandpaper on a glass sheet or a granite tile it's a real hassle. So using a DMT is much better plus honing with slurry increases the cutting power of the hone and using the DMT allows the slurry to stay on the stone instead of trying to pick up the sandpaper and transfer to the hone.

Also while the Norton hone will come with some 'ears' that will kind of hold it in place the stone holders work much better.

So the 4/8K will set you back right at $79 the DMT about $54, and a single stone holder at $18 (however I'd recommend buying two stone holders). I don't know what's available in your location but several places stateside including Straight Razor Design will ship N/C for an order that size.

Here's a link to get you 'Honed Up' on Lapping before attempting to hone. Followed by a link to honing (including bevel set) on a Norton 4/8. Both are by Glen (GSSIXGUN) who has honed thousands of razors and restored countless razors. You can trust him as he knows what he's talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c4hqYwUNl4&t=14s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y53SL9QMq6I&t=75s

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Longhaultanker

The Norton 4/8k hone is a fine beginners hone. For some that's all they use. The limitation is you won't have a 1k for bevel setting. The 4K will do, but more strokes required. Learn the stone. Practice your strokes. Read stuff, watch the videos. In 6 months, a year, you'll be amazed how you've progressed.

Your $20 cut-throat, is it junk or a real razor? That's why I said Gold Dollar. It is generally thought to be the absolute minimum acceptable razor. No Pakistani razors or steel. So check that razor.

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Mahalo!
(Thank you)

The Cut-Throat is probably the same razor as the Gold Dollar. Just a different brand name. It's quite acceptable. It will be just fine for learning.

-ZipZop

PS - Thank you Cudarunner! For some reason I can 't "LIKE" nor "QUOTE" your post, but I appreciate the link and the info. I'll get moving on this project this weekend.

-Zip