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I'm a newbie all over again.

Scootch said:
I went with a stone since one combo stone is cheaper than one strop (though that depends on where you shop, shaving shops seem to apply a big markup on stones but a local hardware store sells them for less than half the price.)


Does anyone know of any store in the U.S. that sell Norton stones for cheap?
 
roughrider said:
Does anyone know of any store in the U.S. that sell Norton stones for cheap?
All of mine were purchased from Lee Valley. I have purchased a great deal from them and have always been impressed with their customer support. Top notch company!
 
Rik said:
All of mine were purchased from Lee Valley. I have purchased a great deal from them and have always been impressed with their customer support. Top notch company!

Ditto. Lee Valley rocks! I love that chain. I believe they're only Canadian though. They might ship to the states, http://www.leevalley.com (I believe.) Try your local yellow pages and look for woodworking supply stores, they usually carry a wide range of sharpening stones.
 
My 2 cents, its got little to do with shaving really:

I've been using a straight for about 2 years. I don't do it because its cheaper (though it can be). I don't do it for the closer shave (although it can be just as close and even smoother than a DE).

I do it because it takes so much more understanding of shaving to accomplish at the highest levels.

Its like taking up sailing after spending years as a power boater.

You should really consider atleast dabbling in it if you consider yourself a true wetshaving connisour.

Blade (already sharpened by someone else), IS important, and a strop too. I bet you can get both for under $60 if you work at it.

I find shaving with a DE very easy, got it after the first shave.

I am just now, after 2 years getting shaves better than a DE with a straight. My learning curve was longer than most, but it may give a little insight. For some its not a few months journey. But I loved every minute of it.

Its kinda like a Zen journey of enlightment where you learn how to do something really difficult, really well. In the end you learn how to pay attention to the details in everything. And that is what makes it important.
 
AFDavis11 said:
My 2 cents, its got little to do with shaving really:

I've been using a straight for about 2 years. I don't do it because its cheaper (though it can be). I don't do it for the closer shave (although it can be just as close and even smoother than a DE).

I do it because it takes so much more understanding of shaving to accomplish at the highest levels.

Its like taking up sailing after spending years as a power boater.

You should really consider atleast dabbling in it if you consider yourself a true wetshaving connisour.

Blade (already sharpened by someone else), IS important, and a strop too. I bet you can get both for under $60 if you work at it.

I find shaving with a DE very easy, got it after the first shave.

I am just now, after 2 years getting shaves better than a DE with a straight. My learning curve was longer than most, but it may give a little insight. For some its not a few months journey. But I loved every minute of it.

Its kinda like a Zen journey of enlightment where you learn how to do something really difficult, really well. In the end you learn how to pay attention to the details in everything. And that is what makes it important.

very nicely said my kinda guy, Zen and all that and what not !

At the same time as Kyle.. we are like (idiot) twin brothers it seems.. Straights are getting my attention more and more.
I have a nice Dovo at sight. will have to watch B&B dvd again for straight lessons. it all seems way more complex hone ? Strop ? and some straights just look breath taking.
 
SSLStudio said:
very nicely said my kinda guy, Zen and all that and what not !

At the same time as Kyle.. we are like (idiot) twin brothers it seems.. Straights are getting my attention more and more.
I have a nice Dovo at sight. will have to watch B&B dvd again for straight lessons. it all seems way more complex hone ? Strop ? and some straights just look breath taking.
There are a lot of reasons that I am going to try the straight, not least of which is the attractiveness of many of these razors.
 
Awesome Ouch, I got pretty good chef knives at home but im really not happy with them anymore. Im rather looking to go for 3 great chef knives instead.

The japanese master chefs use only 1 knive ! no way we western people can come close to their blade technique but this dvd seems I should get it ,it might help actually with honing a straight but im getting it primarily for my knives.

http://www.korin.com/product.php?pid=193&df=knife
 

ouch

Stjynnkii membörd dummpsjterd
SSLStudio said:
Awesome Ouch, I got pretty good chef knives at home but im really not happy with them anymore. Im rather looking to go for 3 great chef knives instead.

The japanese master chefs use only 1 knive ! no way we western people can come close to their blade technique but this dvd seems I should get it ,it might help actually with honing a straight but im getting it primarily for my knives.

http://www.korin.com/product.php?pid=193&df=knife


I'd pass on that DVD. It offers some sound advice, but nothing really too extensive. A personal lesson from Mr. Sugai, on the other hand, is most certainly recommended. It's free, and unforgettable. You would, of course, have to be in NYC to take advantage of that. Korin is one of my favorite local haunts, and I've spent a ton of money there (before I found this hobby, of course). My experience has taught me that one need not spend a lot to get great knives- the Tojiro DP line is an amazing value, and gives up little versus the megabuck brands. In person, I buy from Korin, but a fantastic place to order on line is

http://www.japanesechefsknife.com/

They carry the best from Hattori, Masamoto, Misono, and others, and their service is impeccable. Unless you're a professional (or amateur) sushi chef, I'd recommend sticking with western style knives, and leave the traditional knives (yanagi, usuba, deba) for the future. A good gyuto, or japanese chef's knife, is the one indispensable tool you'll need. However, just like this hobby, you'll have to get them all. I'd be glad to answer any questions.

Make sure you get Korin's knife catalog- pure porno!:tongue_sm
 
straight razors are more satisfying than DE's in my opinion. DE's seem girly after you have been using a straight for a little while. You read people talking about the new creams they are using or their new brush and it isn't that appealing when you are thinking about straights. with DE's I see most people focusing on what you get to compliment the shave....creams, brushes. with straights most people focus on the razor itself. i don't know if i'm explaining myself right, but I think you'd understand if you started shaving with a straight for a little bit.
 
obsessis said:
straight razors are more satisfying than DE's in my opinion. DE's seem girly after you have been using a straight for a little while. You read people talking about the new creams they are using or their new brush and it isn't that appealing when you are thinking about straights. with DE's I see most people focusing on what you get to compliment the shave....creams, brushes. with straights most people focus on the razor itself. i don't know if i'm explaining myself right, but I think you'd understand if you started shaving with a straight for a little bit.
That is a very interesting observation. I have spent the last several days reading myself blind in an attempt to grow my knowledge on straight razor shaving. On the straight razor forums, you do not see a whole lot of talk about creams, soaps, brushes, a/s balms, etc unless the person was initially a DE user. One interesting point that a gent made was that with DE shaving, your razor choices are relatively limited when compared to straight razors.

I am very intrigued by straight razors and straight razor shaving and will begin purchasing the necessary tools to begin shaving with one very soon.
 

Tony Miller

Speaking of horse butts…
Kyle,
As yu saw the focus of the groups is different. The straight razors guys sink their main money into razors, followed by strops and stones. Most have only a few, if not just one reasonably priced brush. You will find that our razors are far more expensive.

The DE guys seem to have no problem dropping big $$ on multiple brushes and expensive creams but sem to freak out if a razor sells for over $25 or they can't buy the blades in a group buy for next to nothing <g>.

We both spend a mint but in different directions.

Tony
 
Tony Miller said:
Kyle,
As yu saw the focus of the groups is different. The straight razors guys sink their main money into razors, followed by strops and stones. Most have only a few, if not just one reasonably priced brush. You will find that our razors are far more expensive.

The DE guys seem to have no problem dropping big $$ on multiple brushes and expensive creams but sem to freak out if a razor sells for over $25 or they can't buy the blades in a group buy for next to nothing <g>.

We both spend a mint but in different directions.

Tony
All very true. Some of the straight razors are so incredibly beautiful, you can see why they would be the focus.
 
Tony Miller said:
Kyle,
As yu saw the focus of the groups is different. The straight razors guys sink their main money into razors, followed by strops and stones. Most have only a few, if not just one reasonably priced brush. You will find that our razors are far more expensive.

The DE guys seem to have no problem dropping big $$ on multiple brushes and expensive creams but sem to freak out if a razor sells for over $25 or they can't buy the blades in a group buy for next to nothing <g>.

We both spend a mint but in different directions.

Tony

And here I am...stuck in the middle! :biggrin:

Randy
 
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