Grandfather's old straight

[Toltepeceno]

Hello, the last time I visited my mother she gave my grandfather's straight. I used to watch him shave with it at the kitchen table long ago, he died in 63 or 64. It's bad looking, but I have every intention of cleaning it up. I have no idea what it is, just an old straight with bad looking yellowish scales. Probably a cheapie as we were po, but it matters not to me. That's the story, now for the question.

I have every intention of fixing it up and shaving with it. To me it would be great to use the razor he did. Would it be better to learn on a shavette or just wait for it? Sorry if it's a dumb question.

 

[silver]

I would just go for it if it were me. I would love to see some pictures.

 

[Toltepeceno]

Thanks for the reply Silver, but I left out part of the story. I accidentally left it at my mother's house with some other stuff and it will be a few months. Sorry I left that out.

The reason for the shavette question was to learn (at least somewhat) before getting it.

I WILL post pic's when I get it back, probably ask cleaning up/restoring advice also. I have been kicking myself in the backside ever since I got back and found out I forgot it, I was jazzed at getting it.

Sorry again for leaving that part out.

Edit: The rabbit of Seville was my favorite BB episode.

 

[Steve56]

I'd buy a good but cheap razor from someone on BST or invest 15-50 USD in a decent eBay razor. Start with that until you get your Grandfathers. You'll learn how to treat and maintain the razor too.

Cheers, Steve

 

[Toltepeceno]

Thanks steve, good idea.

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Superior Shave is a resource with shave ready straights.

I learned on a shavette before going to a straight - mistake. Cut myself more with the shavette in a week than the past two years with a straight.

I would HIGHLY recommend going to youtube and watching those guys shave with a straight. The guy who worked for me best was GeoFatboy.

Hope that helps.

Oh, and by the way if you saved money by using a DE, just imagine how much you will save now that you don't have to buy blades! Ahem, cough, cough...

 

[Toltepeceno]

Thanks captain and I agree, a straight would save more.

 

[PapaFish]

Thanks captain and I agree, a straight would save more.

I sure hope my kids / grandkids / great-grandkids find my shaving stuff priceless, it's the only way I'm coming out ahead .

I have had good luck with my Sextoblade (shavette), but I had a good amount of straight shaving experience before I got one. The good thing is it would defer the need for a strop and other maintenance items.

However, if you are going to be using your Grandpa's straight anyhow, you could get a good shave ready straight and a strop and be all practiced up when you get his razor again. Actually, you could do a couple restores so you are REALLY ready .

 

[Toltepeceno]

To me his is definitely priceless.

Thanks papa and I was just looking for old straights on ebay and here on the forum for that reason. I was also looking at a straight on ebay called "gold dollar" that ships for 17.00 shave ready, don't know if they are good or not.

I really like the idea though of trying a restore before working on his old one. I can do just about anything custom with a 1911 pistol, so figure I have a slight foot up in the mechanical dept.

 

[PapaFish]

One of the guys here on B&B sells Gold Dollars for around $22, and they come shave ready. It's hard to say if a $17 eBay shave ready razor will do anything but tug and pull. I would spend the extra $5 and get a sure thing.

 

[Toltepeceno]

OK, thanks for the tip.

 

[gruntedshaves]

Well, first things first. I respect you more so for remembering the old things; many people tend to forget everything. I would definitely take pictures of it, I only restored maybe like 50 blades or so, nothing crazy, just rebuffing and polishing. I wouldnt mind giving you advice when you take pictures of it. Also, everything can be done by hand. I do it by hand, dont always worry about having power tools. just a heads up.

 

[Toltepeceno]

Thank you grunted, I would appreciate that and will absolutely take pictures and ask questions.

Hopefully I will never forget the old things, I never plan on it anyway.