Thread: What to buy for Maintenance and Minor Repairs

Originally Posted by Neckman

I just may have to use both of those methods (bowl & washcloth). Thanks!

My dad was using Dollar Tree plastic razors. I gave him a perfect '51 Gillette black tip and some Feather blades for Fathers day 2 years ago. He went in to give it a spin. Five minutes later I hear TINK TINK TINK tapping against the sink. I ran into the kitchen and grabbed a big tupperware bowl. LOL The Gillette survives to this day.

I use bowl and cloth. It works.

Originally Posted by Neckman

Alright, I'm seeing the same advice from several replies here. Looking like I should get a 1k + 4k/8k or 5k/8k + 12k. Great! I'll keep watching, but this is what I'm thinking. Thanks to all of you!

I will chime in with this:

If you can't get a GOOD, CLEAN and COMFORTABLE SHAVE off of a 8K grit hone, no matter which hone you use, then going further up in the grits is a waste of time an money

I preach what I've practice! I waited over a year with shaving with straights before I took the plunge into learning how to hone and I'm Damn Glad that I did. Once I 'finally' got good shaves off of my Norton 4/8K then I invested in the Naniwa 12K and while I highly recommend it as I've just said, if you can't get good results off of a 4/8 5/8 then you are wasting your money and time!

As I've posted many, ,many times: "If I were to drop and break my Naniwa 12K and didn't have the funds to replace it, I could very easily live off of a Norton 8K edge for the rest of my life. However if I were to drop and break my Norton 4/8 and didn't have funds to replace it, I'd eat peanut butter sandwiches day in and day out until I had the funds to buy another one.

Again, just my humble opinion

Originally Posted by Neckman

Yes, cudarunner, I actually asked shooter about the mentor thing in a PM, but perhaps I should have asked here, publicly: How does one find a mentor close to them? Not sure where to start. Another forum on here? Not sure... But I think it's a great idea, and I want to do it. Please advise me here. And thanks!

A link to local help is available but I am not seeing CA in the list.
If you search community/members and go advanced search you can narrow it down to your area.
Look for an active member with some time under their belt.
Just because they are not a "mentor" does not mean they are not experienced or more than willing to help.
Reaching out via PM can yield some great results and you will hopefully get some great responses from you post here as well.

Thanks for the advice cudarunner!

So, I have straight shaving experience covered at least: 1.5 years.

Sounds like the absolute necessities are 1k + (4 or 5)k/8k, and 12k is a bit of a luxury.

I know it's a little more expensive to do it this way, but I am leaning towards the Naniwa 3-stone set. I watched a few videos last night where Lynn mentioned he liked the Naniwa because they didn't have to be soaked. He just sprayed some water on them and went to work. Does the Norton 4/8k stone need to be soaked?

Originally Posted by pfries

A link to local help is available but I am not seeing CA in the list.
If you search community/members and go advanced search you can narrow it down to your area.
Look for an active member with some time under their belt.
Just because they are not a "mentor" does not mean they are not experienced or more than willing to help.
Reaching out via PM can yield some great results and you will hopefully get some great responses from you post here as well.

Here's a member who is in CA.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/members/pixelfixed.html

He's in Roseville, Calif perhaps Bill knows of others who are close to you

Originally Posted by Neckman

Thanks for the advice cudarunner!

So, I have straight shaving experience covered at least: 1.5 years.

Sounds like the absolute necessities are 1k + (4 or 5)k/8k, and 12k is a bit of a luxury.

I know it's a little more expensive to do it this way, but I am leaning towards the Naniwa 3-stone set. I watched a few videos last night where Lynn mentioned he liked the Naniwa because they didn't have to be soaked. He just sprayed some water on them and went to work. Does the Norton 4/8k stone need to be soaked?

The Norton 4/8 does need soaked but as per Glen's (GSSIXGUN) wise counsel I also briefly soak my Naniwa 12K. I also lap my hones before every use. As far as soaking the Norton, I keep it in a water bath with a teaspoon or so of plain chlorine bleach per gallon and change it every 6 months. No slime EVER! Thanks again to Glen :

By keeping the Norton pr-soaked it's ready to use anytime I need it!

Well, I'm surprised and dismayed to find that there aren't very many active and senior members of SRP within, say, an hour of where I live. I reached out to one, and then noticed that he hasn't been on since 2010, so I'm not very hopeful there. I would have though that there'd be more users from the Silicon Valley than this.

Originally Posted by Neckman

Well, I'm surprised and dismayed to find that there aren't very many active and senior members of SRP within, say, an hour of where I live. I reached out to one, and then noticed that he hasn't been on since 2010, so I'm not very hopeful there. I would have though that there'd be more users from the Silicon Valley than this.

I've driven over 3 hours one way to make the NW meet. It was well worth my time! If my transportation situation was better I'd drive the 2 hrs one way and stay the night at a motel (it's a two day event) to the Yakima Meet that Gerrit is graciously hosting!

Learning to hone and not hitting your blade against the sink or faucet are two different things. My shaving routine includes folding a hand towel on the counter at the bottom end of the sink. I then fill the sink with warm water. During shaving, to remove lather off the blade, I dip part of the blade into the water in the deep center area of the sink, then swish the blade back and forth a few times. This removes the lather or I'll also at times wipe off the blade with another hand towel. Rarely do I ever put the blade under the faucet. When I first layout the razor before shaving or whenever I lay it down during shaving, it's always placed closed in an elongated tray on the counter. This procedure works for me because I've not yet damaged a blade. I've tried wiping the blade on a sponge but the swooshing and towel method works the best for me.

For blade refreshing, I just buy another razor LOL ... or use my Naniwa 12K or a wet coticule. Good luck in your quest.

As far as getting anything above an 8K. I have the Noton line of hones 220/1K and 4/8K and they served me well for my first year touching up and honing. However, you will be wanting to a finer edge at some point. There is no hurry at the moment, and you can even go the psted strop route, but just be aware and keep an eye out for your next piece of equipment (pastes, Barber Hones, full size hones, lapping film......). I have picked up a couple BH and a Zulu, still feel I need at stone in the 12K range and the Goku 20K really sounds nice