First Straight

[eto]

Hello ,

First post since joining the forum. Figure I start with a straight razor purchase and ask if it is a decent one to start with, Its made by Thiers-Issard, carbon steel blade, and was purchased from the art of shaving folks.

Any good feed back from these. I know it should of been the other way around first do some research on the item then make a purchase but I just couldn't wait any more to get my first straight.

Thanks, and its great to join what seems to be a great group of people.

 

[Muirtach]

Should be a great blade. As long as you are sure it came shave ready you are set to go.

 

[Luc]

Welcome to B&B!

+1 on Earl's comment.

 

[JPM]

Welcome to B&B! Happy shaving.

 

[Bacchus]

Probably isn't shave-ready, send it out to a honemeister

 

[eto]

Probably isn't shave-ready, send it out to a honemeister

What would the honemeister do to make it shave ready?

 

[Bacchus]

Hone it!

Using some honing stones, you run the razor back and forth putting a very fine and very polished edge on it. It's better to let a professional do this for you at the beginning because it's very easy to mess it up and takes some practice to do such a good job

 

[sstuckey25]

Welcome. We are in the same boat. Congrats on an exciting new hobby.
+1 on the professional honing. It is the best $15 you can spend. a good honed razor will make it so much more enjoyable.

 

[eto]

Hone it!

Using some honing stones, you run the razor back and forth putting a very fine and very polished edge on it. It's better to let a professional do this for you at the beginning because it's very easy to mess it up and takes some practice to do such a good job

I sharpened a Straight a friend gave me with some very good stones that I have when sharpening my knives. Im pretty good at it and feel I have got good results. Just was a little nervous to sharpen the first new razor I purchased today. I will see how it shaves then see If I need to hone it up some.

Thanks

 

[sigman]

Highly recommend having a professional do it for you. Its not the same as honing a knife. A razor's edge must be near perfect, a knife will work if its remotely close to looking like this: >

I think theres a honemeister recommendation thread and a list on the site.

 

[calcustom]

Welcome to B&B.

 

[ama015]

Welcolme to the forum

 

[Cedrck]

I sharpened a Straight a friend gave me with some very good stones that I have when sharpening my knives. Im pretty good at it and feel I have got good results. Just was a little nervous to sharpen the first new razor I purchased today. I will see how it shaves then see If I need to hone it up some.

Thanks

Hones used to sharpen straight razors are quite different from those used to sharpen knives... and the honing stroke is quite different too. http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Honing

May I ask what type of stones you used?

 

[eto]

I used a 1k , 6k , up to a 8k kitiyama .

 

[leighton]

I'm sure you'll do alright. Just use the 8k. Bevel should be set, and the edge off the factory is around 4k already if not better.

 

[Cedrck]

I used a 1k , 6k , up to a 8k kitiyama .

Sounds good, you should be quite OK then.

Though I do not own one, I have herd too many shavers compliment Thiers-Issard not to believe it's an excellent razor.

For someone who didn't research before purchasing, you did good... enjoy the shaves.

 

[English]

It sounds to me that you should be OK to hone the razor.

The Kityama will polish off any unfinished business from the TI factory. It's a great hone for razors. You will need to make sure the hone is level as razors are very sensitive to uneven hones and you will need to use a light touch.

I assume you know about the essential requirement to strop the razor before use. It keeps rust off the very thin edge and realigns the edge thereby smooth the edge before use.

Enjoy and take it slow and easy.

 

[mdunn]

welcome aboard!
(also, remember that the technique for honing a knife and a straight are extremely different) - good luck!

 

[eto]

Thanks for the good feed back all, I am aware of the way to sharpen a straight, I practiced some on a old razer that was giving to me so feel good about it.

As for stropping. How often should this be done. Everytime before a shave?, or just once and awhile?.

Thanks

 

[Luc]

Thanks for the good feed back all, I am aware of the way to sharpen a straight, I practiced some on a old razer that was giving to me so feel good about it.

As for stropping. How often should this be done. Everytime before a shave?, or just once and awhile?.

Thanks

Everytime before a shave.

I strop my razors between shaves so I don't have to strop them. They are ready to use again when I take them out.