Straight Razors

MadsL

So with you leaving my options are;

stop buying stuff from ebay that needs a polish
continue buying from ebay and get to like hand sanding
continue buying and get a tumbler from 'somewhere' (as well as some other stuff for basic scales repair/replacement)

Sorry buddy,

Option 4 is to increase your postage bill

Would appreciate a go with the Revisor though...did you hone it?

hitemfrank

Oooh a 4th option...

I've been just giving it a touch up when needed since I got it rehoned in March, I think it was March anyway. The factory edge wasn't quite comfortable enough.

I should point out that I rarely do an ATG pass, as I can get away without out doing it, so I can't comment on it's level of comfort ATG. Feel free to rehone it though.

There is a watermark on the blade already from one of my first uses with it. I've left it there as a reminder to myself to make sure my razors are completely dry before putting them away. No watermarks have appeared on any of my other razors since so it seems to be working.

The watermark on my Dovo doesn't count as that happened in the time I was making 1 pass in a shave. Wiped the lather off the blade and there it was :mad:

hitemfrank

hitemfrank wrote: »

I could of course just get more storage space

I'm gonna need more storage space :rolleyes:

Just won this http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290612547362

hitemfrank

So MadsL, did the razors arrive this morning?

MadsL

They did indeed; I'm up to my eyes at the moment though..but will get cracking today.

My god though that Revisor is gorgeous, had a shave with it yesterday and it's amazing. Edge is a tiny bit crisp for my taste but a damn fine shave. Cheers for that.

hitemfrank

Take as long as you need with them. Another straight arrived yesterday morning which honed up very nicely so I think I'll be using that one for a little while.

It's an 11/16 Wagner & Lange. The only information I could find on the makers is from an article in Time Magazine from 1949. An even that has very little info on them.

I think it might be a razor that I put a bit of money into for a restore.

MadsL

I was watching that too. Forgot to bid, you got a bargain at that price; that should go to Maximillan in Vegas - it would look stunning buffed and in custom G10 scales.

The Irish reference is interesting.

Lange's shop was 70% rebuilt, and he had finally been able to fill the last of his back orders. To Barber Charles Liddy of Castleblayney, Ireland, who had sent in a paid-up order in 1939, Lange shipped six new Solingen razors. Included in the shipment was a note: Wagner & Lange, it said, were sorry about the unavoidable delay.

hitemfrank

Lets just say I had my bid set at much more than I got it for, which of course I'm happy with. Thankfully the pitting right on the edge was gone in a set of half strokes on the 1K Chosera.

I think it probably will go to Max when I get the money for it (I payed for a Japenese frameback the other day). I'm not too sure what I want for scales so I may give him free rein on them. Although there is something about abalone scales that I really like....


I like the fact that the company actually filled their orders from 5 years previous and issued an apology. Somehow I don't think you'd get that nowadys.

MadsL

Nice rock by the way...

hitemfrank

Thank you Sir! I'm starting to get the hang on if now.

I'm using the fact that I'm learning on that stone as justification for picking up more straights recently. I think I'll try stop buying straights for now and get to honing on the straights I use everyday.

hitemfrank

MadsL, any update on the George Butler?

Did you end up rehoning the Revisor to your preferred edge?

Laurenisme

Hi all,

I'm sorry if i might be jumping into your thread but im not too sure where to post this and ask for advice.

I don't know anything about razor's being a woman and all but i would like a bit of advice. I want to buy my boyfriend for christmas a beginner kit for using a cut throat razor. I would like to buy Irish, (i realise that you can buy a whole set on ebay with everything for €30). But anyway my budget is €50 for the lot so I am trying to get basic but yet not too basic. I found two cut throat razor on Shaving.ie but i really don't know if there is a propper difference in the blade, as the only thing that i can see that is different is the handle, one of the razor's has a tortoise effect handle and €22.95 where the other one has some kind of metal handle and is €26.95. Both blades seem to be steel. http://www.shaving.ie/categories/Straight-Razors/Straights/

So if it the only thing that is really different would buying the tortoise shell handle be a bad idea? Like do you put a lot of preassure on the handle which might cause a plastic one to break?

Another question they both say that a strop/honing stone is not needed does that mean that they might not be as good quality compared to one that you use a strop with?

Also the one for €22.95 says that you can buy extra blades with it, i assume these extra blades could also be used with the one for €26.95. Would it be a good idea to buy these blades to as part of the gift or the blade should really last ages and so wouldn't need to?

For anyone interested the rest of the set i am going to put together is the brush, shaving soap and a bar of body soap, handmade in ireland and all for €19.95. http://drksoap.com/gifting/mens-grooming-set/

So any advice on which razor makes better sense would be greatly appreciated.

And sorry again if i am butting in.

Lauren

hitemfrank

Lauren,

You're not butting in at all (it's not exactly a hive of activity here anyway).

Those two razors are not 'proper' straight razors as they take double edge razor blades that you split in half. They are known as 'shavettes'. This means that you don't need to strop or hone the razor. So less maintenance is the real advantage of them over a straight razor. However, the blades it uses are actually sharper than a 'proper' straight razor so can be a little bit more unforgiving - I haven't actually used one so this is just what I've read on them.

The only difference between the two razors on the site are the scales (handles) so it's just a case of picking which you prefer. Useless he does something reallly wrong the scales shouldn't fail.

The blades they use can be bought really cheaply online. You can buy 100 blades for €13 on shaving.ie and they will probably last the entire year when using a safety razor. So if the 100 were to be used in one the the shavette's it could be nearly 2 years before you need to buy more. I would suggest not buying a years supply just in case he doesn't stick with it.

Either a shavette or a straight razor will deliver a very nice shave once the technique has been learned. They probably wont be quick shaves though.


As for the rest of your kit. I haven't used that brush so can't comment on it. Rob (Dr. K) is a really nice guy to deal with so he could probably tell you more about it.
I have used the soap and it smells great. I found it easy enough to build a good lather with although I have heard from someone who couldn't get a lather from it.

You can pick up some Palmolive shave cream or a shave stick in Tesco and these are really good and really cheap. The stick should be under €1 and the cream is about €3.50 I think.


Don't buy one of these kits from ebay. Chances are the razor will be garbage (that's if you are talking about the kits with straight razors not shavettes).

Hopefully I've covered everything. If you have any more questions ask away or send me a PM.

Cheers,

Keith

Laurenisme

Hi Kieth,

Thanks for getting back to me it is much appreciated. He has been talking about getting a razor like this for ages so i don't think the length of time it takes to shave would be a huge problem.

I just have to decide whether i think no having an actual cut throat razor would bother him, as it will be that bit harder to learn the technique and the fact that you have to buy blades for it rather than just sharpening them yourself.

Is a bowl neccassary for using the shaving soap?

Lauren

emmet the rover

a mug is fine its what i use. its a good idea to leave the mug, bowl siting in hot water for a few mins to warm it up to keep your lather warm.

i would suggest getting a good badger hair brush to make yout lather

hitemfrank

Laurenisme wrote: »

Hi Kieth,

Thanks for getting back to me it is much appreciated. He has been talking about getting a razor like this for ages so i don't think the length of time it takes to shave would be a huge problem.

I just have to decide whether i think no having an actual cut throat razor would bother him, as it will be that bit harder to learn the technique and the fact that you have to buy blades for it rather than just sharpening them yourself.

Is a bowl neccassary for using the shaving soap?

Lauren

The technique used for each is the same.

It's a little difficult to describe but with a straight razor you can sort of sense when the blade is going to cut you so you can adjust. From what I've read the one with the disposable blades doesn't give the same feeling.

Once you get the technique correct it shouldn't be an issue anymore. But pick him up a styptic pencil just incase. They sting a little but are great for closing cuts.

Sharpening straight razors can be a fairly expensive thing initially but once learned it should pay for itself in the long run as you're not sending the razor to someone to do it for you. There are many routes you could go down for sharpening them so for now don't worry about it - you could always send it out if it needs a sharpen until he's ready to start honing himself.

For roughly €50 you could get a shave ready razor, a strop and some sharpening compound from here. The thing is, it won't be a new razor and may have some cosmetic issues but you can be guarenteed it will be sharp enough to shave. It might be the cheapest way of getting a proper straight razor that you can be sure is sharp enough.


A bowl is not really that necessary. You can just put the soap in any container/coffee mug and swirl the brush on it and then on the face and make lather that way. Some people go from swirling the brush on the soap into another bowl and making lather in that before putting it on the face. It's personal preference really.

ladhrann

Tis a fair course of experience alright. I found a straight in a drawer at home and sent it off to be repinned and cleaned by a guy in the UK. For £35 i had an heirloom restored. As I'm into kitchen knives I already had the stones. Its a really close shave. Better than any MachArse I ever had and a fraction of the price.

Amalgam

A strange ad altogether, doesn't really gel well and somewhat menacing.

Sadistic use of a straight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryXcEJHKQWI

hitemfrank

They should have actually made that a sharp piece of steel and let him cut the bejaysus our of his face

ladhrann

On the topics of straights and their maintenance, does anyone know of a sharpening class anywhere in Ireland. Just wondering if everyone here is an autodidact?

hitemfrank

I would highly doubt that there would be a straight razor sharpening class in Ireland. I just don't see there being enough demand for one to justify it being run, but I could be wrong.

Just teach yourself really. There are plenty of sources online for information on how to do it. It's really not that difficult.

Here is a link thread that has links to 9 videos (think they are 10 minutes long each). It's a pretty good series of videos if you have the time to watch them..

ladhrann

Hi Hitemfrank,

Thanks for the reply. I was curious as I know in other major cities where you have a lot of pro chefs that there are specialist knife shops, and sharpening classes using water stones etc. so I wondered if their might be one in Dublin for instance.

I do sharpen my own (carbon steel) kitchen knives but even though an autodidact in this I would always appreciate having someone watch my technique or help me improve. Being isolated as I am i.e. not knowing anyone else selling or maintaining these knives and razors I have nothing to compare my own sharpening skills against. So I do wonder, how much sharper can I get the edge of whatever tool is at hand?

Its quite possible that the extent of own my skill is only any good precisely because of how awful the other items are out there i.e. cartridge razors, mild steel tools, cheap kitchen knives...

hitemfrank

How many straight razors do you have?

I'm only wondering because if you have a few you could hone one and send it to someone to try out. Or they could hone a razor and send it to you to try out for you to compare.

What is the highest grit of stone you have for sharpening?

Just to point out just because the edge is sharper doesn't mean it will perform any better (shaving wise that is). The edge may feel cut the hairs slightly easier but the edge could feel more uncomfortable on your face. The edge can become brittle and microchip making the edge feel harsh.

I think Liam in the Waldorf barber shop in Dublin sharpens razors so maybe if you get a chance you could pitch the idea to him and see what he says.

Amalgam

The BBC, reporting on the death of Eric Sykes, have pulled up a bit of (straight) shaving madness lost to the airwaves and the passing of decades.. it looks frightening.

Eric Sykes, one of Britain's best-loved comedy actors and writers, has died at the age of 89, his manager has said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18704263

---

Sykes (left) demonstrated a mass shaving machine in the 1960 TV show Brainwaves

---

Amalgam

Sean Bonner @ boingboing.net has posted up a very nice and open article on making the modern leap to an old method of shaving..

http://boingboing.net/2012/08/25/switching-to-a-straight-razor.html

Would I recommend it? Hell yes. I feel like I’ve accomplished something by just mastering how to hold the damn thing, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that it gave me a weird confidence boost.

Every other challenge you face in the day gets some perspective when you’ve already had a razor against your throat.

Feckless Rogue

^ came here to post this - great article and it's making me reconsider the possibility of jumping to a straight.

MadsL

Feckless Rogue wrote: »

^ came here to post this - great article and it's making me reconsider the possibility of jumping to a straight.

Go for it, set a goal of sticking with it for 100 shaves.

Can't remember the last time I nicked myself or got an ingrown hair.

Feckless Rogue

I think I will do just that! I like the idea of mastering a single instrument and learning how to do it all properly.

Currently doing the homework and I think I'll go for the Whipped Dog deal, then save up for a nice Hart blade - I've agonized over Dovo's entire range and there are some gorgeous blades but after seeing this gallery I think Hart put out the kind of timeless style I'm after.

Of course then there's the Zowadas which are just :eek:

MadsL

Feckless Rogue wrote: »

I think I will do just that! I like the idea of mastering a single instrument and learning how to do it all properly.

Currently doing the homework and I think I'll go for the Whipped Dog deal, then save up for a nice Hart blade - I've agonized over Dovo's entire range and there are some gorgeous blades but after seeing this gallery I think Hart put out the kind of timeless style I'm after.

Of course then there's the Zowadas which are just :eek:

I own far too many blades, but I don't have a Thiers-Issard. Money no object, this...

http://www.thiers-issard.co.uk/7-daysetcommissions.html#7dayset

Good thread on choosing a razor here

http://straightrazorplace.com/content/beginners-tips-august-2012-645/

Galwayguy20

After seeing a how it's made on straight razors my interest has been reignited! However I have a few moles on my face that make me a little bit nervous about actually trying it out. Does anybody else have experience with this, and is it possible to shave using a straight razor without slicing off a piece of my face?

hitemfrank

Do they interfere when you shave with whatever you shave with now? If they don't cause any issue now, they shouldn't be an issue with a straight razor.

I have two slight moles on either side of my face and they've never been an issue when I've shaved.

Feckless Rogue

Galwayguy20 wrote: »

After seeing a how it's made on straight razors my interest has been reignited! However I have a few moles on my face that make me a little bit nervous about actually trying it out. Does anybody else have experience with this, and is it possible to shave using a straight razor without slicing off a piece of my face?

I'm the same - I have one in particular just underneath my Adam's apple which is a cause for concern even with a regular blade. I imagine it's all down to technique.

I've finally ordered a straight from Whipped Dog so I can't wait to try it. I got a bunch of Proraso stuff from shaving.ie yesterday and it made a massive difference to the DE shave so that's given me a bit of confidence...

Galwayguy20

hitemfrank wrote: »

Do they interfere when you shave with whatever you shave with now? If they don't cause any issue now, they shouldn't be an issue with a straight razor.

I have two slight moles on either side of my face and they've never been an issue when I've shaved.

I use plastic disposables at the moment :eek:, and i have nicked it in the past with them. I was probably just applying too much pressure at the time as it doesn't happen to me very often. I think I'm just nervous at the thought of using something so sharp/ unguarded near them!

Feckless Rogue

Well I had my first solo shave with a straight on Saturday. I will say I was terrified although I did start to hit something of a stride about an hour into it

Actually managed not to get any major cuts, with the exception of slicing my index finger after shifting it to the wrong place for a better grip :eek:

But I'm starting to realise just how many new things have to be learned; using a brush, using the blade, using the strop (nicked it 3x times in a single session ), taking care of all of the above etc. It's a lot to take in!

Also I must say the closeness shave itself was a letdown although I know this is down to being a complete newb. I did way to many passes too - ended up doing two WTG, one XTG and two "localised" passes where I was trying to figure out what the hell to do with my neck pattern. By the end I had a roaring neckburn in one of the most awkward parts of my neck but was pleased to have started off at least.

What's the story with nicks on the strop? Will they render it useless?

hitemfrank

Get yourself some highish grit sand paper - I use 600 or so when I nick my strop and just sand it out. Strop works just fine then.

If it's a whipped dog strop you may want to use an even higher grit. Your strop will look a bit knackered but it will be fine.


Or depending on how large the nick is, you may need to get some superglue and glue it. Then sand it flat if necessary.

Drakus

I use emery boards (for filing nails) to smooth out small flatish nicks on my strop, works well.

Dramatik

Feckless Rogue wrote: »

What's the story with nicks on the strop? Will they render it useless?

If you make a deep nick in your strop that won't sand out you can always get a stanley blade and a metal ruler and just cut a strip off the length of the strop. Obviously it won't be as wide but as a last resort it will work fine. You can also sand along the edge of the strop after if your cut isn't that clean.

MadsL

Feckless Rogue wrote: »

Well I had my first solo shave with a straight on Saturday. I will say I was terrified although I did start to hit something of a stride about an hour into it

Actually managed not to get any major cuts, with the exception of slicing my index finger after shifting it to the wrong place for a better grip :eek:

But I'm starting to realise just how many new things have to be learned; using a brush, using the blade, using the strop (nicked it 3x times in a single session ), taking care of all of the above etc. It's a lot to take in!

Also I must say the closeness shave itself was a letdown although I know this is down to being a complete newb. I did way to many passes too - ended up doing two WTG, one XTG and two "localised" passes where I was trying to figure out what the hell to do with my neck pattern. By the end I had a roaring neckburn in one of the most awkward parts of my neck but was pleased to have started off at least.

What's the story with nicks on the strop? Will they render it useless?

Try laying the strop on a flat surface when you first start stropping. And don't get too hung up on stropping at first if you know your razor is sharp (I assume you have had it properly honed, it is not sharp from the factory) ease your way into stropping...

Wiggles88

Hey not sure if this is the right thread to ask in but here goes.

Anyone know where I can buy a straight razor in Cork?

Gran Hermano

Mantic59 goes straight
http://blip.tv/shavetutor/how-to-shave-with-a-straight-razor-6460228

MadsL

Wiggles88 wrote: »

Hey not sure if this is the right thread to ask in but here goes.

Anyone know where I can buy a straight razor in Cork?

Hi Wiggles,

Congratulations on taking the plunge - could you let us know what kind of budget you are working with, whilst it is unlikely you will find a razor in Cork, we can point you in the right direction online.

In the meantime this wiki has a whole lot of useful information for starting out.

http://straightrazorplace.com/srpwiki/index.php/Beginner's_guide_to_straight_razor_shaving

Wiggles88

Hey thanks for the reply.

I did some searching and was thinking about getting a Dovo Straight Razor on shaving.ie. Not sure what the difference is between that and the more expensive ones?

As for the strop I see shaving.ie have ones ranging from 25 up to 120 euro. Is there much difference between strops other than size?

hitemfrank

Just something to note Wiggles, the straight razors from Shaving.ie will not be shave ready. By that I mean they will need to be properly sharpened before you go using them.

The edge the factory puts on then just won't cut it....... I'm here all week, try the veal!

Wiggles88

Hmmm I was afraid of that. I was also looking at the starter kit from theinvisibleedge.co.uk (or maybe mix and matching my own kit). They advertise as shave ready so probably a better bet in that regard. Anyone have any experience with their razors?

MadsL

88 euros delivered will get you probably the best honed edge in the world, Lynn Abrahms from Straight Razor Designs has honed ten of thousands of razors. Plus you get your next honing free.

Here's some options at price points:

Dovo Best Quality
88 EUR delivered
http://www.straightrazordesigns.com/dovo-straight-razors/professionally-sharpened-dovo-best-quality-black-5-8

Deal of the month -
116.2253 euros
Stainless razor - http://www.straightrazordesigns.com/boker-straight-razors/professionally-sharpened-boker-stainless-steel-5-8

That nice Dovo Bismark - about €130
http://www.straightrazordesigns.com/dovo-straight-razors/professionally-sharpened-dovo-bismarck-pearl-6-8

Strop sets (razor and strop) start at €120
http://www.straightrazordesigns.com/straight-razor-strop-sets/dovo-best-quality-black-5-8-straight-razor-strop-set

No affliation, but the guy is without equal when it comes to honing.

Wiggles88

Ooh those look great. Think I'll go with one of his, had a few searches and everyone has nothing but good things to say about the guy.

Can't wait to try it out :P
Thanks for the help!

MadsL

Just be patient when it arrives, it takes at least 100 shave to know what you are doing with it, take it slow.

Buy the cheapest (but still decent) strop you can find as you will cut it when starting out, everyone does.

Good luck, and plenty of support and advice here and at sites like straight razor place. http://straightrazorplace.com/

Raoul

MadsL wrote: »

88 euros delivered will get you probably the best honed edge in the world, Lynn Abrahms from Straight Razor Designs has honed ten of thousands of razors. Plus you get your next honing free.

Here's some options at price points:

Dovo Best Quality
88 EUR delivered
http://www.straightrazordesigns.com/dovo-straight-razors/professionally-sharpened-dovo-best-quality-black-5-8

Deal of the month -
116.2253 euros
Stainless razor - http://www.straightrazordesigns.com/boker-straight-razors/professionally-sharpened-boker-stainless-steel-5-8

That nice Dovo Bismark - about €130
http://www.straightrazordesigns.com/dovo-straight-razors/professionally-sharpened-dovo-bismarck-pearl-6-8

Strop sets (razor and strop) start at €120
http://www.straightrazordesigns.com/straight-razor-strop-sets/dovo-best-quality-black-5-8-straight-razor-strop-set

No affliation, but the guy is without equal when it comes to honing.

Wish I had seen this before ordering my whipped dog, still waiting on it but not looking forward to it after seeing what some other guys have gotten.:(

Raoul

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Mantic59 goes straight
http://blip.tv/shavetutor/how-to-shave-with-a-straight-razor-6460228

Really good video!

MadsL

Raoul wrote: »

Wish I had seen this before ordering my whipped dog, still waiting on it but not looking forward to it after seeing what some other guys have gotten.:(

Who says you have to have only one razor? I would recommend at least two anyway, if you are sending your razor off for honing then what do you shave with.