Straight Razors

Raoul

MadsL wrote: »

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.

Safety razor. I know the razor i'm getting is just a stepping stone either back to the safety razor or else onto a better straight.

MadsL

Raoul wrote: »

Safety razor. I know the razor i'm getting is just a stepping stone either back to the safety razor or else onto a better straight.

Give it 100 shaves before you decide - you have to commit - there will be times when you overshave with it and burn the face off yourself, or feel that you will never have the manual dexterity. Trust me it will all come together. I used to look at shave vids and go "Holy fuck, how can he shave that fast and not cut himself to shreds!" now it is "Why is he being so careful"

Raoul

Main worry is shaving with my left hand. Sure at first with the safety razor I was so so careful. Now I could do it blindfolded.

MadsL

I've never been able to shave with my left, I tried again the other day and it wasn't pretty.

I just (Op op op op oppan) kamisori style it on my left cheek.

Raoul

MadsL wrote: »

I've never been able to shave with my left, I tried again the other day and it wasn't pretty.

I just (Op op op op oppan) kamisori style it on my left cheek.

Yeah, I will try a bit with my left if I can't do it then no loss.

hitemfrank

MadsL wrote: »

I've never been able to shave with my left, I tried again the other day and it wasn't pretty.

I just (Op op op op oppan) kamisori style it on my left cheek.

You should take your own advice....

Give it 100 shaves before you decide - you have to commit

You pretty much have to force yourself to use your weaker hand. It does take time to get it but for me it's much easier to use my left hand than contort my right to do the same job.

I still cant use my left hand with a DE though - I'd do some serious damage to my face if I tried

MadsL

hitemfrank wrote: »

You should take your own advice....

Lol - busted!

mellow_yellow1

Hi Guys, (I hope a reasonably safe assumption on this thread)

Need help.

Got a christmas present of a timor hamburg ring straight razor from herself. "Shave ready" - Not. Arrived very blunt. I nearly ripped the face off myself trying the first time before testing on hairs on arm.

Ck out shaving .ie if you want to see the razor.

Tried stopping it - having watched many many videos on technique. No dice. At all. If anything slightly blunter.
Tried spending a lot of time on the canvas side- maybe 50 strokes, then back to 100, then 100 more on the leather side.
I'm reasonably happy i'm emulating the technique i've seen on youtube.

Help please - Although I feel that i'm emulating the technique i've seen on youtube my technique could be rubbish. Can the blade go beyond a point where stropping will put an edge on it? Do I need to drop more $$$ on a honing stone? OR paste + another strop?

Don't want to drop too much money on this before I decide if I want to commit.

Any assistance or advice welcome!

Cillin

Shaving.ie

Using a strop will not sharpen the razor.. strops basically maintain an already sharp edge. Sharpening is done on a honing stone of some type. Initially you are better off getting someone to do it for you so you will have an idea of what a properly honed razor should behave like.

mellow_yellow1

Thanks for your response.

So it's me not the razor Fair enough - kind of expected that.

Good idea re getting someone to do it for me - Do you you know anywhere this can be done? - I'm afraid I don't know anyone who shaves with a straight razor.

C

Shaving.ie

mellow_yellow1 wrote: »

Thanks for your response.

So it's me not the razor Fair enough - kind of expected that.

Good idea re getting someone to do it for me - Do you you know anywhere this can be done? - I'm afraid I don't know anyone who shaves with a straight razor.

C

If you are in Dublin, Waldorf barbershop may do it otherwise have a look at the honing services of strop-shop.co.uk ..... or else you have a good offer there in the post below

hitemfrank

If you want, I'll rehone it for you. PM me for my address if you're interested.

All it'll cost you is the postage of getting it to me. I should be able to get it back to you in a few days.


Or either of Chris' suggestions would do too.

mellow_yellow1

Thanks guys!

Frank, super kind offer. I might just take you up on that.

Will pm you.

Raoul

Well, when I first got my straight razor off whipped dog I had some updates here and I wasn't too happy with how it was going. Haven't had time to update again and look for more advice until now.

Since I have had the straight razor I have shaved probably 6/7 times. At the first shave I found that it was pulling the hair rather than gliding through it and it was suggested that maybe the hair was too thick and that I should use a safety razor first. This worked perfectly the next few times. Safety razor and then the straight, I was getting a good decent close shave.

However, I still with about 4 days stubble, I tried to use the straight razor again on its own and with the same result, dragging across the hairs.

I feel that my stropping technique has improved and I think originally I was putting way too little pressure on (zero pressure) and the blade was hardly being run over the strop. Now I put the slightest bit of pressure to ensure the blade is going over the strop evenly and it seems pretty good.

I'm still worried that I have to always to a pass with the safety razor first though as ultimately I would like to just use the straight.

Any advice is appreciated and thanks for advice previously given.

hitemfrank

The first thing that comes to mind for me is, are you using the right angle of blade to face? Then, are you using lots of short strokes to try remove the stubble or are you going for one long pass?

After that I would probably ask if the razor is sharp enough? It may just be a case of it's not sharp enough to do it comfortably.

Raoul

hitemfrank wrote: »

The first thing that comes to mind for me is, are you using the right angle of blade to face? Then, are you using lots of short strokes to try remove the stubble or are you going for one long pass?

After that I would probably ask if the razor is sharp enough? It may just be a case of it's not sharp enough to do it comfortably.

Definitely using the right angle for the blade at this stage. After my first pass, shaving with the straight feels good and everything comes off easily. I am able to do a long pass here as the majority of stubble has been removed.

However, if I try with the straight razor, no matter what angle, it just drags as soon as I move the razor down my face. I wouldn't be able to try to do a long pass if I wanted.

hitemfrank

Then it may be a sharpness issue or you need more beard prep time for removing that much stubble.

I would guess it's more likely the first one.

Raoul

hitemfrank wrote: »

Then it may be a sharpness issue or you need more beard prep time for removing that much stubble.

I would guess it's more likely the first one.

Yeah, I am leaning towards sharpness as I love my beard prep and do lots of it .

Is it just a case of getting it rehoned or is it just an awful razor.

hitemfrank

I highgly doubt it's a bad razor. A rehone and it should be good I would say.

Raoul

hitemfrank wrote: »

I highgly doubt it's a bad razor. A rehone and it should be good I would say.

Cool, thanks! Will have to have a think about it.

TheJims

hey lads been watching this thread the last few months, I don't have the euro this time of year to buy a new straight with all the accessories.

Anyone have any old/spare/second hand razors lying around at home they woulds be willing to sell on?

Wiggles88

Fraid I dont have any spare razors myself but a good place to check out is http://www.whippeddog.com it's a good place to get a low cost straight.

MadsL

TheJims wrote: »

hey lads been watching this thread the last few months, I don't have the euro this time of year to buy a new straight with all the accessories.

Anyone have any old/spare/second hand razors lying around at home they woulds be willing to sell on?

I might have something Jims, what kind of budget are you thinking?

TheJims

MadsL wrote: »

I might have something Jims, what kind of budget are you thinking?

something fair :P

give me a pm with what you have an an off the top of your head price and ill see what i can scratch together! :pac:

MadsL

TheJims wrote: »

something fair :P

give me a pm with what you have an an off the top of your head price and ill see what i can scratch together! :pac:

OK, I might have something. Gimme a wee while to have a sort out.

TheJims

TheJims wrote: »

hey lads been watching this thread the last few months, I don't have the euro this time of year to buy a new straight with all the accessories.

Anyone have any old/spare/second hand razors lying around at home they woulds be willing to sell on?

Still looking for anything spare lads, just incase MadsL doesnt come across anything

Raoul

Have you thought about whipped dog? It is highly recommended. I got a razor from there (its really cheap) I am not sure how happy I am with it. I don't know if it is my fault shaving or what but I don't find it very sharp. I am sending it off to an expert today so hopefully they will let me know what they think.

hitemfrank

Raoul wrote: »

Have you thought about whipped dog? It is highly recommended. I got a razor from there (its really cheap) I am not sure how happy I am with it. I don't know if it is my fault shaving or what but I don't find it very sharp. I am sending it off to an expert today so hopefully they will let me know what they think.

I wouldn't consider myself an expert but I'll certainly do my best for you.

TheJims

pressure is on now hitemfrank!

just had a look in whipping dog, looks dodgy lol

If nothing turns up here ill prob get one off him! but id rather buy one up off one of you guys for a start and see how i get on

MadsL

Right Jims. Had a sort out today and a look at one corner of the restoration pile that I have been tipping away at.

Here's what I can do. Screw selling you a razor, I'm going to give you one on the condition that you make a donation to the Santa Strike Force. I trust you know that is a boards charity that does cool things for sick and other deserving children. As to how much, I don't care or want to know - just PM a donation confirmation to me.

Next step is to choose your weapon. Here are 5 blades I'm part of the way into restoring - sorry for the image quality but a potato is all that is working; my camera's autofocus is knackered. So pick away at what suits or grabs you.





Step three - choose your scales, any of the colours, or I can put black ones on them.



So if you want to do this - I'll start a new thread and go through the restoration stages with better photos.

I'll cover the postage out to you.

Sound good?

Here's a link to bigger versions of the photos - click on them to make them as big as the original.
http://imgur.com/a/kv1es

TheJims

Great idea! Loving it! Right ill pm you the donation payment confirmation tomoro evening

So regarding choosing the pieces, I'm a fan of silly, bright and different colours, so the blue handle, or scale as the pros call it, Is right up my alley!

Choosing the blade is a little more difficult as I don't know any brand names yet.
As far as appearances go, the Gala and Crown & Sword 1 have caught my eye.

Is there anything in particular I should be looking at when picking a blade ?

MadsL

TheJims wrote: »

Great idea! Loving it! Right ill pm you the donation payment confirmation tomoro evening

So regarding choosing the pieces, I'm a fan of silly, bright and different colours, so the blue handle, or scale as the pros call it, Is right up my alley!

Choosing the blade is a little more difficult as I don't know any brand names yet.
As far as appearances go, the Gala and Crown & Sword 1 have caught my eye.

Is there anything in particular I should be looking at when picking a blade ?

As a newbie probably avoid the Gala - it is slightly pointy and liable to catch you out. I also have just noticed a small bend at the tip I don't know if I can straighten. The Crown and Sword is a good choice. Blue scales it is, so.

Into the rough tumbler with the Crown and sword tonight. More pics tomorrow.

Raoul

MadsL wrote: »

As a newbie probably avoid the Gala - it is slightly pointy and liable to catch you out. I also have just noticed a small bend at the tip I don't know if I can straighten. The Crown and Sword is a good choice. Blue scales it is, so.

Into the rough tumbler with the Crown and sword tonight. More pics tomorrow.

Extremely jealous!!! :mad:

Great idea!

TheJims

i know, this is awesome lol

be pretty cool to watch and read all about it as it comes together, then actually see it in my hands when its done!

hitemfrank

MadsL wrote: »

Right Jims. Had a sort out today and a look at one corner of the restoration pile that I have been tipping away at.

Speaking of your restoration pile, did you ever get around to finishing up the Barnescone you had a while ago?

The one in this link.

MadsL

@hitemfrank

Yes, I sort of did. I've finished the sanding/polishing but I'm still looking for some decent scales. I must finish it as I think it would suit my beard.

Nervous about the wedge honing though.

Some pics of it here.
http://i.imgur.com/3NlvTpV.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lCMNGA5.jpg

hitemfrank

You've had that thing like 18 months, finish the feckin' thing already. It's a great blade shape.

Have you not honed a wedge before?

MadsL

hitemfrank wrote: »

You've had that thing like 18 months, finish the feckin' thing already. It's a great blade shape.

Have you not honed a wedge before?

I know. I've also been fixing the roof, replacing doors, windowsills and repairing a pond system in my new house. Priorities, lol.

I've not honed a wedge, I have another I wanted to try first. But fair comment, it is a very pretty blade and probably 1850-ish.

hitemfrank

I can't really give you flack for not finishing that razor, I've a number of razor related things I've wanted to do but not got around to.

I have three empty cigar boxes that I plan to turn into storage cases for my straight razors. They have been sitting in the same spot for the last year or so gathering dust.

I also have a couple of razors I want to run through the tumbler you gave to me before you left for the US. I haven't got around to doing them because I haven't got pins, washers or a ball peen hammer. All things I could pick up rather easily on ebay.

I'll get around to doing them at some point.


I have honed one very near wedge though. The thing is quite warped though, so it currently has some crazy looking hone wear from when I got fed up trying to tape the spine in certain places ans just honed through the warping. Shaves nice though. It also needs to be repinned...

MadsL

Revisor sell pins and washers btw

hitemfrank

I had forgotten they sold those. I get distracted by their razors whenever I go to the site. They have added 7/8ths to their production now...

MadsL

A pack of pins and a €200 7/8ths will you are there then..

hitemfrank

That's what I'm afraid of

I'll probably order from there and pick up a peel hammer locally and get to it.

MadsL

hitemfrank wrote: »

That's what I'm afraid of

I'll probably order from there and pick up a peel hammer locally and get to it.

Got to polish your hammer first before the get to-ing...

hitemfrank

You know, if I wasn't such a learned gentleman I may mistake that piece of advice as a euphemism.

hitemfrank

Raoul wrote: »

Extremely jealous!!! :mad:

Great idea!

Raoul, your inbox is full. But answering your PM, yep got it.

Raoul

hitemfrank wrote: »

Raoul, your inbox is full. But answering your PM, yep got it.

Sorted now thanks!

hitemfrank

From another thread:

Insect Overlord wrote: »

I'm hoping to treat myself to something similar in the spring. Where's the best place to order an affordable, shave ready straight?

Just a couple of questions to try narrow down the search.

What do you think your budget would be for the razor (excluding the strop)? Does it have to be a new razor or would a vintage razor be of interest?

That's pretty much it really. If I think of other questions I'll ask them.

Insect Overlord

hitemfrank wrote: »

What do you think your budget would be for the razor (excluding the strop)? Does it have to be a new razor or would a vintage razor be of interest?

I'll probably try to keep it as cheap as possible in case it doesn't work out. A vintage razor would do fine. I don't really know much about prices, apart from what I've seen on Whipped Dog.

hitemfrank

Well if you want to keep it cheap a Whipped Dog razor would do fine. He would buy it back off you too, if you didn't like it.

You could also send me a PM around the time you are wanting to try out a razor and I'll post you a honed up Gold Dollar. If you like it you can buy yourself a nicer razor and send the GD back to me.


Look out for a cheap strop as well as you will likely out small cuts in it. You don't want to cut up a €70 strop the first time you use it.