What's the bare minimum? I'm moving from DE to straights. I have a Parker shavette, plenty of soaps, creams, brushes, etc. Just break some DE blades in half and jump in? I've seen a few great youtube vids on straights.
What's the bare minimum? I'm moving from DE to straights. I have a Parker shavette, plenty of soaps, creams, brushes, etc. Just break some DE blades in half and jump in? I've seen a few great youtube vids on straights.
IMO, if you are using a shavette you might as well stick with a DE. To me the attraction of using a SR is the DIY maintenance of them, and the fact there are no consumables. I've never gotten the point of the disposable blade versions.Is OP inquiring about straights or shavettes?
If you're referring to the Parker shavette, uh... yeah, that's kind of "it". Go slow, mind your angle.
My experience with shavettes and my FAC found a new approach and technique to shaving to explore without investing time and money into honing. I have found it to be rewarding on those levels.IMO, if you are using a shavette you might as well stick with a DE. To me the attraction of using a SR is the DIY maintenance of them, and the fact there are no consumables. I've never gotten the point of the disposable blade versions.
I suppose, but that is an expense regardless of how you shave, unless it's electric.My experience with shavettes and my FAC found a new approach and technique to shaving to explore without investing time and money into honing. I have found it to be rewarding on those levels.
Also, are soaps/creams not considered consumables?
Step 1.Ok, so if I don't go with the shavette, I need:
- A truly shave-ready SR, honed by someone who is experienced in SR honing and shaves daily with SRs so that they know what shave-ready really is
- Any good places for one that's ready that won't break the bank?
- A leather strop - Ditto. Where to get this? How to use it?
- Instructions on how to properly SR shave - Love to get some
That's a helpful olden book!
Knowing your location would help us advise you on where to get things done.That's a helpful olden book!
Thank you Slash, for the best advice I think I'm getting.Yup. You already got brush and soap, so just a shave ready razor and a decent hanging leather strop. That will hold you for a few weeks. Then you need a way to touch up or maintain the edge. A strop does not hone. Honing is the precise and controlled removal of steel, aimed at pushing the two bevel faces inward toward each other until they meet in a precise apex, and then further refining and polishing the bevel, which smooths the edge and improves shave comfort and cutting power. Stropping straightens out the dinged, dented, and folded over bits of steel at the fragile edge, restoring cutting ability and comfort. You strop before every shave. At some point, stropping no longer will bring the edge back, and the razor must then be honed, typically only on the finishing stone of your progression. The length of time or number of shaves before this is needed, varies with your razor, your facial hair texture and heaviness, and your shave technique. Beginners sometimes only get about 10 shaves before the razor needs a touchup. Experienced shavers usually go a month or more, and some guys have gone well beyond 100 shaves without honing.
One source of confusion is that we refer to a piece of balsa with some diamond paste on it as a balsa "strop", even though the main action of it is a honing action, due to the presence and reliance upon an abrasive, and even though the razor is always stroked with the spine leading, edge trailing, like on your leather strop. But in reality, yeah, a very small amount of steel is removed and so technically it is honing. Yeah, misleading, inconsistent, confusing. Deal with it.
Strops can be improvised in an emergency. Not having a leather strop is not an emergency. I would forego the use of phone book, newspaper, an old belt, etc as a strop. Just get one. Our main strop guy here is @Tony Miller and his work is good, and he stands behind his wares. See if he has anything suitable for a beginner. A "Rich Man" strop from Larry at www.whippeddog.com will get your hand in the game. Don't let the "Rich Man" bit discourage you. That is just in comparison to his extremely basic "Poor Man" strop. An Illinois strop is okay, a bit basic, but cheap. You will likely slice up your first strop while learning, so no point in shelling out $200 for a nice horse shell strop on which to make your newbie mistakes.. OTOH, don't bother with anything from Pakistan or China, either. You can also make one. A 3" wide strip of vegetable tanned cowhide leather about 36" long, two D rings from a saddle shop, and six Chicago screws are all you need to make a decent strop. Try McMaster - Carr for leather. Skip Tandy and similar craft shops. Their leather is crap, generally. If you slash it to bits, no biggie, just get more leather and replace it.
A progression of balsa strops, PROPERLY PREPARED AND USED, can keep your razor sharp forever. If you can't be bothered to do it right, you will get the same results that everyone else gets, which is to say, a band-aid and an aspirin approach instead of whole health care. See this thread, and read it all the way through before buying anything. (1) How To Use a Pasted Balsa Strop | Badger & Blade
Next best thing is to figure on honing on a good finish stone every few weeks. The Naniwa 12k SuperStone is a good one. You will also need to lap it when you get it, and periodically thereafter, which is another topic. Lapping film can also be used, for a much cheaper entry point, and like the balsa thread, there is a lapping film thread that is required reading before buying stuff, or you will waste your time and money. (1) Lapping film, try it. | Badger & Blade
Again, you do not need to hone and do not need honing equipment right out the gate. Get your toes wet with just a shave ready razor, and a strop, first.
99% of all internet shave ready razors are not shave ready. Sellers have learned that buyers expect to see "shave ready" in the listing, so they put those two magic words in there even if they do not have a clue. NOBODY who does not shave HIS face every day with a straight razor should be trusted to hone yours, or to judge an edge to be shave ready. Disregard or disbelieve or discount, at your absolute iron clad, chiseled in stone, definite and certain peril. Exceptions are sellers in the Buy/Sell/Trade sub forums in established straight razor forums like this one. Reputations are at stake, and easily bruised with a long recovery time. If a member here places a listing in the BST forum here, and describes the razor as shave ready, yeah, it most likely is. There are a few trusted sellers on fleabay, and amazon. Check in here before you pull the trigger. You can mention a seller by name, or even post a link to a "Buy It Now", listing, just not to an active auction. Ended auctions, no problemo. Avoid Etsy, if you want my advice.
Honing your own razor is a thing. However, it is best to wait until you have experience shaving in the manly fashion, before trying to hone. Serious. Get a few successful shaves in, first, before you even think about it. Remember, you can always send it out to a forum member or someone known to the forum as a good honer.
(1) Is My Razor Sharp? The Treetopping Test | Badger & Blade
That is one sharpness test that is of some use in determining shave readiness. The REAL test is the shave test, but if you are not yet experienced at straight shaving, then it is pretty worthless. Another popular test is Hanging Hair Test - home of the famous Belgian Coticule Whetstone.
Good luck, and Happy Shaves!