Straight Razors

ADbassman · #1 11-02-2009, 01:07 AM

Hey,

I just got a Straight Razor for my birthday. I had been wanting one for a while, but never really got around it, so it was a welcome surprise yesterday. Biggest problem I'm facing right now is sharpening it. I have a strop for honing, but I think I may need to sharpen it on a whet stone first. Does anybody use a straight razor? I'd like to hear what sort of things you do for maintenance and use.

Holy War · #2 11-02-2009, 01:38 AM

I thought about getting one but figured they werent worth it.

Gillette Fusion for the win!

Jimmy Bones · #3 11-02-2009, 01:53 AM

I use my dremel for sharpening things. The conical grinding stones on a low speed setting are very useful.

klyph · #4 11-02-2009, 02:50 AM

Is it not sharp now? Razors have to have a polished edge, otherwise they shave unevenly (ouch!). I use Dremels for sharpening lawnmower blades and machetes, but they leave ridges on the edge. Which, on a razor, will leave ridges on your FACE! So if you go to a wetstone, it has to be VERY fine grit. You can buy waterstones in 4000 and 8000 grits, but they're expensive (especially one large enough to handle a razor!).

You will need to "charge" your strop with rouge or other polishing compound. Some people SWEAR that plain leather will sharpen/polish a razor, but on modern steel? I think not. Get a stick of rouge compound from Sears, I like to mix in a couple of drops of mineral oil (don't go crazy) on a Shooter marble-sized dollop of rouge, and spread this on your strop (depending on the size of the strop, you may need much less.). Back and forth, back and forth, make sure you're hitting the edge on both sides- doing one side at a time is easier for some. Patience is key- back and forth, back and forth... are you sure you don't just wanna use a Gillette Slim track II? Back and forth, back and forth... You know, it IS the 21st century! Back and forth, back and forth... Well, it's probably good to go. Until you shave. Then it will need a light stropping AGAIN (and again... and again).Remember to clean any rouge off the razor before touching it to your face. Clean your strop thoroughly after the first use with a slightly damp rag, the residual rouge should last awhile (but not forever). Using the traditional cup and brush to shave is fun, too. But your water better be HOT! Shaving oil (CVS) is highly recommended. Oh yeah- all that stropping will eventually wear the razor down, and you'll have to get a new one. Honestly, these are better as cheese knives or murder weapons than implements of personal hygene IMO. Have fun, Sweeney Todd, and welcome to the 19th century!

ADbassman · #5 11-02-2009, 03:27 AM

Given that this is carbon steel we're talking about, it shouldn't take that much effort to put an edge on it. I put a hella sharp edge on my chef's knife weekly, though this has to be razor sharp so I think I'll need a finer grit stone. Yes, the blades wear out eventually, but we're talking years. Not just a few either.

I've been using disposable blades (Mach 3) for years and I'm just getting tired of it. I go through 1 razor every time I shave cause they're just not sharp enough to get the job done a second time. I'm a patience person and I take pleasure in doing some things the old fashioned way.

PasdaBeer · #6 11-02-2009, 06:32 AM

wow 1 time? I have pretty nasty stuborn facial hair, and i still get a cpl weeks out of a mach3 blade.

Fusions, pfft, they do nothing but pull for me.

drteeth · #7 11-02-2009, 07:43 AM

For me, Fusions are useless the moment I have more than 1 day's beard. The blades get clogged up with hair (impossible to remove) and the razor becomes useless.

Thinking of learning to shave with one of these:

billhilly66 · #8 11-02-2009, 10:45 AM

Have it professionally sharpened. Check out the 'badger and blade' forum. It takes half a dozen stones and a college degree to sharpen one of those things correctly.

I’ve been using a safety razor like in the above post for a couple years now. It COMPLETELY eliminated ingrown hair problems.

PaulNYC · #9 11-02-2009, 11:03 AM

DeaconK · #10 11-02-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drteeth

For me, Fusions are useless the moment I have more than 1 day's beard. The blades get clogged up with hair (impossible to remove) and the razor becomes useless.

Thinking of learning to shave with one of these:

I've been using this type of razor for 40+ years (same razor!). About the only problem is that blades are getting difficult to buy. It used to be that there were several brands and now there are hardly any unless you go to a knife/razor specialty shop. Great shaves though!

billhilly66 · #11 11-02-2009, 12:55 PM

I get Merkur blades off Amazon. I ordered a buch 2 years ago and still have some left. They're arguable the best safety razor blades available and still MUCH cheaper than disposable face scrapers..

PaulNYC · #12 11-02-2009, 01:06 PM

I like Israeli Persona blades. I got 100 blades for ~$15 on ebay.

billhilly66 · #13 11-02-2009, 01:11 PM

I'll look into them, thanks! I'm about due to order another two year's supply. You guys using a badger brush and cake soap too?

warwick.hoy · #14 11-02-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billhilly66

I'll look into them, thanks! I'm about due to order another two year's supply. You guys using a badger brush and cake soap too?

Yup,...I got a "Dinosaur Egg" (just scrap soap balled up) from a local handmade soap company and a Coffee mug.

Lately I've been using an old Norelco for convenience but it isn't a very close shave (never was really). Is there a learning curve with those safety razors? If I make the switch I'm not going to cut my head off am I?

billhilly66 · #15 11-02-2009, 01:19 PM

You probably won’t cut yourself too badly………

Yeah, there’s a bit of a learning curve, nothing like a straight razor though. You will notice that the aftershave burns like hell.

ADbassman · #16 11-02-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billhilly66

I'll look into them, thanks! I'm about due to order another two year's supply. You guys using a badger brush and cake soap too?

I got some of that stuff along with the razor. Looks pretty cool, haven't tried it yet.

I'm thinking that getting it professionally sharpened might be the best plan. Any idea where to look for shops that do razors? There are a lot of places in town that do sharpening, but their specialty is mostly culinary knives.

geeza · #17 11-02-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billhilly66

You guys using a badger brush and cake soap too?

I did until I started using Shave Secret shaving oil. You can get it a most WalMarts too.
I have a Merkur double edged razor as well. I think it is the BEST way to shave.

geeza · #18 11-02-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADbassman

I'm thinking that getting it professionally sharpened might be the best plan. Any idea where to look for shops that do razors? There are a lot of places in town that do sharpening, but their specialty is mostly culinary knives.

Check this site. This is the page for their sharpening service, but the whole site is really good.

http://www.classicshaving.com/Straig...g_Service.html

PaulNYC · #19 11-02-2009, 01:59 PM

get some "My Nik Is Sealed Styptic Pen"

I prefer proraso shave cream to shave oil because the oil seems difficult to remove from my face.

Also, get some after shave tonic.

klyph · #20 11-02-2009, 09:16 PM

Nice link, geeza- thanks! A 30000 grit stone, wow....