Thinking about going Straight

[gull]

I'm not in a rush to start, but I just had a few questions first. I read through the whole "interactive" sticky and my mind is just blown by the amount of info. inside that topic. My biggest concern that's keeping me from switching is not the fear of the blade, but rather the amount of equipment I need to keep it sharp.

I need a stone to lap my hone. Then I need the hone itself. Then I need another hone as a finishing hone, then I need a strop, then I need stop paste, then I need a shrine to worship my razor!!! How am I supposed to carry all this stuff if I have to move!?

Okay, I found this website that calmed me down a little

http://www.whippeddog.com/imgs/StarterKit_Opening-1.jpg

and it shows how you only need one type of hone. Assuming I get my razor sharpened/honed professionally the first time I get it, do I really need multiple hones? Or do I just need a finishing hone? I would still need something to lap that hone with wouldn't I?

 

[Wid]

You're looking at the right place to get started. You don't NEED a barbers hone but they are nice to have. Larry offers some low cost, but good, equipment for a person to get started into str8 shaving.

Great guy to deal with and has a wealth of knowledge.

 

[wdwrx]

Shaving with a straight is a very rewarding journey. How complicated you make it is entirely up to you. A simple leather strop, a barber's hone and a single razor is all you need to shave well for the rest of your life (or so I've been told)
The fun (and costs) start when you fall into the AD's, be it hones (my big one) or razors (my other big one).
Like anything in life, it is what you make of it.

 

[Falstaff]

I've only been on the board a week, and I can see where RAD and just the general manliness would overtake the strongest of men. With that being said, is it the shave of a straight razor, or is it the experience that is what men here are after?
As with all gear hobbies, I can see this one sweeping my money down stream as well. In fly fishing it's Sage and Winston rods; photography it's Canon & Hasselblad.

Hello, my name is Clint, and I'm a Gearaholic.

 

[wdwrx]

... is it the shave of a straight razor, or is it the experience that is what men here are after?...

Hello, my name is Clint, and I'm a Gearaholic.

*rant: on*
IMHO.... Both. And more. I'm now getting shaves that are the best I've ever had. I'm also rewarded by the simple challenge of getting those great shaves; six or seven months in and my shaves still improve, almost every time. And honing the edge on the blade that gave me that great shave is rewarding in and of itself. It's an opportunity to learn and grow, and try new things, and earn the self-respect that comes with mastering a challenge. It's a chance to learn a bit of history, and mettalurgy, and mineralogy and shave-ology. It's a way to connect to a time when things were simpler, and slower. It's a way to connect to myself in a few moments of focus and concentration, with a bit of luxury thrown in, in a simple and slow task. It's a chance to learn from a group of people who like to obsess about the finest nuances of a blade's edge, and the way to get there. It's a sport and a challenge, and a hobby, with immediate, measurable feed-back. It's a way to connect with people from all over the world. It's a way to increase my self-reliance, and thumb my nose at monster corporations intent on manipulating me out of my money. It's all that, to me, and more.
*rant: off*

Every now and again I type this stuff, and then wonder "where the heck did that come from?!"

 

[gull]

Do I need to lap the barber's hone? How much does that strop paste help?

Also is there much of a difference between a $50 straight and a $100 straight? $200 straight? I'm not looking into some work of art here, I just want a good shave.

 

[kg4ghn]

Do I need to lap the barber's hone? How much does that strop paste help?

Also is there much of a difference between a $50 straight and a $100 straight? $200 straight? I'm not looking into some work of art here, I just want a good shave.

A barber's hone will need to be lapped initially, but then you should be good for a long time if all you are doing are touchups every now and then. I've never used strop paste so I can't comment on that.

As long as you get a quality blade you should be fine. I started with a Genco from Larry Andro(the whippeddog.com guy) and I still use it as well as a Dovo my wife bought me. Both shave great.

 

[Wid]

If you get a stone from Larry it comes already lapped.

 

[gull]

^That's great! I'm so glad I made this topic. I think I'm going to actually consider taking the plunge. I saw some razors on his site for $30! That's way too good to pass up. Is polishing important? I'm find with an ugly looking razor as long as it's cheap and works well.

 

[NBT]

I started with "the starter set" from Larry.
To date, I have at least 30-40 shaves with the razor and the only thing I do to maintain it, is follow the directions Larry sends you.
Following his "rules" I don't believe I will have to hone this straight for at least 6 months.
Pretty much shave...strop.
There are the tools provided in the starter set to bring a slightly dull edge back to shaving keen again...and "worst" case scenario... I send the straight back to Larry to have honed again.
Good luck, and happy shaving.

 

[sanfranciscian]

I would agree to just go with larry's package and by the time you would have to worry about any of the expensive stuff you will know whether or not straights are for you. then well yes it can get pricey depending on the path you decide on.

 

[woodturner]

+1 on using Larry. I started with a razor from him then bought another from him. Still using both razors in my rotation. Also purchased a new razor, but use Larry's razors more. In my opinion, go with used metal first and learn. You can graduate to other razors as the addiction takes hold.......and it will!

 

[California Cajun]

I'm not in a rush to start, but I just had a few questions first. I read through the whole "interactive" sticky and my mind is just blown by the amount of info. inside that topic. My biggest concern that's keeping me from switching is not the fear of the blade, but rather the amount of equipment I need to keep it sharp.

I need a stone to lap my hone. Then I need the hone itself. Then I need another hone as a finishing hone, then I need a strop, then I need stop paste, then I need a shrine to worship my razor!!! How am I supposed to carry all this stuff if I have to move!?

Okay, I found this website that calmed me down a little

http://www.whippeddog.com/imgs/StarterKit_Opening-1.jpg

and it shows how you only need one type of hone. Assuming I get my razor sharpened/honed professionally the first time I get it, do I really need multiple hones? Or do I just need a finishing hone? I would still need something to lap that hone with wouldn't I?

I still fear the honing part even though I have a Norton 4000/8000 stone and the Chinese 12000K and a coticule to make slurry because of the obvious concern about ruining a good blade. But you have to do it in order to maintain these things.

Yesterday was the most encouraging straight shave I've had in a long time and part of the reason is that it was a brand new blade. Another reason is that I reviewed the tutorial you referenced and got back to the cross the grain shaving. Finally, I'm learning not to put the kind of pressure on the razor that gets me cut up.

 

[Defend Tacoma]

I started out with Larry's starter kit and couldn't be happier with it. I have since upgraded pretty much all of it but it was a fantastic way to see if I would be into straight razor shaving.

 

[Bay Rum]

I started with "the starter set" from Larry.
To date, I have at least 30-40 shaves with the razor and the only thing I do to maintain it, is follow the directions Larry sends you.
Following his "rules" I don't believe I will have to hone this straight for at least 6 months.
Pretty much shave...strop.
There are the tools provided in the starter set to bring a slightly dull edge back to shaving keen again...and "worst" case scenario... I send the straight back to Larry to have honed again.
Good luck, and happy shaving.

I started with a setup from Larry. It got me going but I got SRAD from using the razor.

 

[Blue58]

That will be the hardest thing to learn is the angle and NO PRESSURE. the angle you learn pretty quickly but for some reason many people just have this insatiable urge to apply pressure when they shave. Use only enough pressure to get the razor to move from point A to point B no more no less. Once you learn those 2 main things the rest will be easy.

 

[gull]

Well I'm taking the plunge. I ordered my straight and strop and it's only a matter of time before they get here and I get to try them out.

I'll update this thread with the results.

 

[Wid]

Well I'm taking the plunge. I ordered my straight and strop and it's only a matter of time before they get here and I get to try them out.

I'll update this thread with the results.

Where did ya get it from and what str8 did ya get.

 

[gull]

I got it from the whippeddog guy and it's this one

http://www.whippeddog.com/imgs/DSCN8544.JPG

Only $23+$19 for the strop set.

---

I had another question. Can I use the barber's hone to hone safety razor blades? I know you're thinking why would I want to go through that trouble for a 30 cent blade, and you're right, but I was just curious.

 

[Wid]

Nice! Larry puts a nice edge on his razors. Congrats.