My Straight Razors

[mjsorkin]

Here are my first five straight razors:

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=5353

Left side from the top:

Revonah, Hanover Pennsylvania
Dovo 5/8 Ebony Silver Steel, Germany
Pick, Indiana

Right Side from the top:

Kropp, possibly from 1910 but I'm not sure, Germany I think
Shumate Barber, USA

The Dovo, Kropp are in great shape. The Revonah is okay. The Pick and Shumate are not in good shape and are practice razors.

My Strop: A Dovo, It works but I wish I had a Tony Miller.

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=5352

My Hones: Soaking before use
http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=5355

Strop Dressing and Microscope: Microscope is a great honing aid.

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=5356

Hope you like my stuff,

-----Michael

[Kyle]

Nice.

[xChris]

You should have no problem getting some really good shaves with those. Good luck with the honing (I need to go ahead & get one of those microscopes myself).

[PalmettoB]

Nice setup.

[joel]

Every time other people post pictures of their straight razor setup - it is a painful reminder of just how obsessive compulsive I am.

Nice rig! Now all ya need is a TI :wink:

[PalmettoB]

Every time other people post pictures of their straight razor setup - it is a painful reminder of just how obsessive compulsive I am.

Nice rig! Now all ya need is a TI :wink:

Joel, could you even get a picture of your straights and setup on one screen? :w00t: :biggrin:

[joel]

Joel, could you even get a picture of your straights and setup on one screen? :w00t: :biggrin:

Absolutely not. :frown:

[mjsorkin]

Joel,

I've got the same case of OCD as you do. Unfortunately it's my budget that varies. :biggrin:

------Michael

[johnmw1]

Hi Michael,

Nice set up, you and I are at about the same with our straight razor acquisitions, it's gotta stop.:wink2:

I had my first straight shave yesterday, and it was the worst shave of my life. I have never seen so much blood from one shave, and this morning I have some serious razor burn.

This then leads me to my question, what microscope are you using? Because before I go any further with straights, I want to be able to see what the blade is really like microscopically. There have been other discussions on microscopes in the past, and some are saying a loupe is good enough, and others are saying a microscope is really needed.

Regards

John

[joel]

Hi Michael,

Nice set up, you and I are at about the same with our straight razor acquisitions, it's gotta stop.:wink2:

I had my first straight shave yesterday, and it was the worst shave of my life. I have never seen so much blood from one shave, and this morning I have some serious razor burn.

This then leads me to my question, what microscope are you using? Because before I go any further with straights, I want to be able to see what the blade is really like microscopically. There have been other discussions on microscopes in the past, and some are saying a loupe is good enough, and others are saying a microscope is really needed.

Regards

John

John,
Is your razor new? What kind is it?

[mjsorkin]

It's the 10$ Radio Shack microscope that you may have seen mentioned before. It's small and cheap but it works. I place my blade flat on the hone and then place the microscope over the blade and look through at 60x magnification.

As you hone the blade you are leaving scratches on the bevel. Your scratches will look different than what was already on the bevel from whoever honed it before. It looks like a different color. When the entire bevel is the same color/scratch pattern under 60x magnification then you have honed the entire bevel. The edge should look smooth and not ragged.

It sounds like your shaving technique is an issue here too. I have never cut myself while shaving with a straight, not even on my first few shaves. Go to the Straight razor forum here and describe what you did when shaving and you will get lots of input. Also check out straightrazorplace.com forums.

----Michael

[johnmw1]

John,
Is your razor new? What kind is it?

Hi Joel,

No the razor was not new,( J. R. Torrey 5/8 spike point) but it did come from a well respected ebayer, with the often used lines "It opens and closes snug and smooth on the pivot pin and perfectly centered between the handles." "This razor comes shave ready." Now don't get me wrong, I'm not taking a poke at anyone at all, I just perhaps expected too much.

I did have a two day growth, but I did go through all the proper prep, had a good lather etc etc. It did pull right from the off, I was very aware of blade angle, and tried to keep it at the correct 30 degrees. The blade just kept skipping and jumping. I started on the easy parts, and even changed hands for the left side of my face. For all of my trying by the time I got to my lower lip and chin I was a bloody mess. I did not give up, I tried and kept trying, had problems on the jaw line, and also down the neck. It was not a too close a shave, and I had some wonderful contortions going on in the mirror. I finished of finally after fear of actually slitting my throat with the skipping. Thats it, if that is what straight razor shaving is all about, I maybe having a quick sale of the dozen or so straights I have acquired recently :smile:

The shave was that rough that I did finish off with my slant, which by this time probably also added to my huge razor burn today.

I must also add that I do have a razor that has been honed by Lynn, but I have been saving this for when I get a microscope or loupe so as I can compare. Perhaps it was naivety on my behalf, and I certainly am not having a pop at anyone, and perhaps I should have touched up the razor on the bench strop, but I didn't.

Regards

John

[rtaylor61]

John,

I've purchased several razors from the gent you purchased from. All were definitely shave ready. Sounds like this one either slipped through the cracks, or you may need to work with your technique. Is this your first time shaving with a straight?

Randy

[johnmw1]

Hi Randy,

Yes it was my first straight shave.

I hope I was not coming across as having a pop at the person I bought the razor from. That was certainly not what was intended. Perhaps I just need to work on my technique a whole lot more. :smile:

One difficulty I did notice was I wear specs, and to start a shave initially I have to take my specs off. Now I am as blind as a bat without them, so therefore I stand as close to the mirror as possible. This posed a bit of a problem with the straight in my hand as the handle kept touching the mirror. I just had to move away slightly until I put my specs back on.

I think my biggest problem was with the pulling and skipping, it just was not comfortable.

As this is not really the correct forum for this discussion, I am happy if this discussion is moved elsewhere more relevant to straights.

Thanks
John

[rtaylor61]

John,

For your next shave, lather up before stropping your razor, giving the lather time to work. Then rinse and re-apply before beginning the shave. Also, using timid strokes will not produce a proper shave. Respect the razor, but don't be afraid of it.

Randy

[soapbuddy]

Nice!:smile: