Who uses a straight razor?

plik said:
I recently purchased a strop from my local mall's knife shop (Fiesta Mall in Mesa, AZ). The guys there don't know anything about straight-edge razors, so I need some help.
All the strops I have ever bought have been smooth. Is the leather reversed? Is the other side rough as well?

As far as the pumas stone, I thought that was more for cleaning the strop, and the stiff lather would be from your shaving soap.
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I thought it was backwards when I first looked at it. The other one in the store was the same way. And the print and company name is on that side. The back of it is very smooth and polished looking; however, it has lines pressed into it, like corduroy. I found a few other people with the same question on Yahoo groups (http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/straightrazorplace/message/9136). So I'm pretty sure it was supposed to be that way, but no one knows why.

I've been trying to find some way to contact Illinois Strop Company, but I can't find anything on them. I think I'm just going to take the strop back to the shop.

Thanks for straightening out the pumas stone and soap issue.

Also, what about the angle of the blade while stroping, should it be flat against the leather or at an angle?

Thanks!
 
hello everyone i just joined the bladeforum and thought i share my straightrazor experence with everyone. i`v always prided myself as bieng good at sharpening knives and have been at it since i was 9 or so in my fathers shop, he was a boatbuilder and had an old treadle roundstone and a bunch of large flat stones to work with . in my teens i sharpened a ti buck folder so sharp i held a cigarette at arms length and loped the filter clean in 1/2 "ya i know not smart or safe lol " in my 20 i was getting peeved at the price of shaving so decided to pick up an antique straight razor and proceded to methodicaly sharpen and strop it to a keen edge things went well for about an month shaving with it untill one morning when i was up close to the mirror with a cat weaving at my feet wanting to be fed and the optical effect of glass in front of the mirror causing a misjudgment i heard a strange sound ! it sounded like crushing popcorn or styrafoam i thought this was strange and looked down at the cat nothing there then noticed my neck felt warm , i looked up and it seems i had cut my earlobe clean in 1/2 i did not even feel it just the strange sound lol i quickly clamped my wound shut between my fingers and don`t think i let go for at least 3 hrs when i di everythig seemed to be in place an thus ended my straightrazor use too anyone i`d recomend a mirror of the polished metal variety and shut the door to the bathroom also keep the firstaid kit well stocked :-)
 
plik said:
Also, what about the angle of the blade while stroping, should it be flat against the leather or at an angle?
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Flat. With no downward pressure on the blade. Let the weight of the razor do the work for you.
 
hey guys.. new to this area of BF
i just picked up a Dovo Razor, one of the Astrological, a badger hair brush and C.C.'s almond soap. Waitin' on a strop. I need some advice on shavin'. I am about to jump into this, but the only facial hair growing right now is chin and upper lip (being that i am 21 and slow facial hair growth). What can i do to get started and what tips are there for the two above facial areas? I DEFINATELY plan to take my time and would like to learn all that i can. Thanks in advance. :D
 
KnifeAddictAK,

Well, the chin is one of those troublesome areas for straight razor users. At least it has been for me and for the people I have discussed the issue with. But hey, take it slow, take it easy, and I am sure you will be all right. Here is more information than you probably want right now:

http://www.en.nassrasur.com/razorcentral/index.html

Good Luck,
Javier
 
So do I have this right? You hold the blade perpendicular to your skin and use a light touch. Is it kind of like scraping the whiskers off rather than slicing? I use an electric and a disposable, but am fascinated with having another opportunity to use a sharp blade in another daily routine.
 
JaviFL said:
KnifeAddictAK,

Well, the chin is one of those troublesome areas for straight razor users. At least it has been for me and for the people I have discussed the issue with. But hey, take it slow, take it easy, and I am sure you will be all right. Here is more information than you probably want right now:

http://www.en.nassrasur.com/razorcentral/index.html

Good Luck,
Javier
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Thanks man, couple ah days ago.. I went through with it and not a scratch or cut!!!
:eek: :eek: :D
just need to hone my razor and strop it before i shave again.. been two days since i used it, but don't have all my supplies :D :rolleyes:
 
fasteddie, check out this site http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/straightrazorplace/. You have to join to view the FAQ, but it's free and worth the effort. There's a wealth of information in there. I just began straight razor shaving two weeks ago, here's a few of the things I've learned in that short time.

1. Lather up very thickly with a good shaving soap and brush, not anything out of a can. Do this after a hot shower and let it sit for a few minutes. I use this time to strop my razor. After the razor is ready, put a wet, hot towel on your face for 30 secs or so to further soften your beard. Lather up again and get ready to shave.

2. Keep the skin you are shaving under tension. Use one hand to hold the razor and the other to pull the skin tight. This is especially important on the underside of your chin, I got severe razorburn when I did it wrong.

3. DON'T hold the razor perpendicular to your face. You're shooting for maybe a 30 deg angle between the blade and your skin. A good way to start is hold the blade flat against your skin and then raise it very slightly before starting the stroke. Don't pull the blade sideways or you'll cut yourself, badly.

4. Preparation of the razor is key. Strop lightly, very little pressure is required. I was having trouble from pressing too hard. I've also found it helpful to strop it again after shaving my cheeks and before starting on my chin.

Other than that just be careful and get a good cooling aftershave, nothing harsh. I got some Nivea for Men and am very pleased with it. Good luck. :)
 
philsrazor.jpg


This "Magic Razor" imported from Italy is what I use. It takes standard razor blades; you break one in half and the half fits into a sliding holder that retracts into the body of the "blade" so that just the razor edge protrudes.

I use only water. It works well for me.
 
I was told by an old man you can practice on a baloon.

Spread up the shaving cream on a blown up baloon, start shaving the baloon by scraping off the lather.

If the baloon burst, it mean you have just cut yourself. Never try it myself though. :D
 
Howdy, We have a complete support system for those who are thinking about shaving or collecting straight razors. We have members who sell them ready to go. There are links and files that contain a wealth of information. We might even have a 12 step program for those who become addicted to purchasing straight razors. I too wish Yahoo was as nice a forum as this, but we've been growing for 4 years and still going. Come visit. Lynn :)
 
WadeF said:
I started with a Dovo, but now I wish I went for a TI. I'll get myself a TI or two at some point. I've been having fun restoring older razors I find at antique shops and shaving with them. Some of them work great. :) It does take a lot longer, but I think it's fun.

What kind of strop(s) do you use? I have a rindleather and russian red leather from Jemico. I'm thinking about picking up Dovo's wide strop sometime.
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Wade and others.
I'm interested in this as well, but dropping the cash for 2 or more strops and a quality razor and the compounds etc. needed seems a bit much all at once.

Is there a particular razor cheap enough to start with that isn't junk, and more importantly, can you get by with a single strop -> which would you reccomend if you can.

Thanks for taking the plunge so you can advise us. ;)
 
...don't know if anyone has ever posted this site on this forum, but check this out...

www.rayrogers.com

He makes straight razor style blades on liner lock platforms. I have the Mark II "Rayzor" and think it's great.
 
aside from the plain coolness factor, you just get a much better shave with a straight razor. with a mach-3, by afternoon i already have shadow, but a good shave with a straight razor lasts much longer - often ill just shave every 2 days.

you should stay away from *new* razors, and never buy anything thats stainless steel - it wont hold an edge. you can get some nice razors on ebay or if you look around in pawn shops, make sure the edge has no nicks and is straight. when buying, pitting is not good, but staining or even slight surface rust is perfectly fine. you shouldnt be paying more than $3-10 bucks for a razor: remember you are buying this for shaving, not to mount on a wall. same applies as for knives: boker, henckels, solingen steel etc. are good, sheffield steel is usually the best. nicks/chips can be ground out but it is not worth the trouble - stay away from them, and do not try shaving with a nicked razor if you value your face.

a badger hair brush will probably cost you a lot more than the razor, and isnt 'necessary', but it certainly adds to the experience and everyone should use one - even those who shave with disposable razors.

once you have *cough* practiced on yourself - and are confident you can do so safely - offer to shave your wife's or g/f's legs for her :) trust me shell be very impressed.


i actually have a question myself:
has anyone who shaves with a straigt razor tried one of the pocketknife/straight razor combos? i believe boker and some other manufacturers make them... however ive only seen them online and they seem like they are flat ground from stainless steel - both indicators that they are useless as anything but novelty items.

cheers,
-gabriel
 
Only thing of value i can add is,

When i shave, i hold a steaming hot cloth against my face whereever i plan to shave, this softens the stubble a fair bit, taught to me by an old school barber.(2-3 minutes all over your face)

I do this every shave, and it does make a big difference.

And, i use Barbasol, from a can,regular formula, not soap i know, but it does not bother my skin like soap or other commercial lathers.(with a horse hair brush)

Peace

WR
 
I learned to use a straight razor in Northern Italy in the 80's from the old barber that would give me the best shaves of my life near every Sat. morning.
Since then it is the only way to shave for me. Being self employed and not in the public eye I tend to only shave a couple-three times a week, mostly and when I do I have two razors I alternate with. One is a G. Woesterholm from the late 18thC, wedge blade, hard to maintain, but a great shave and the other is a 1830's vintage W&B, best razor I ever held....
 
One of my main skills as a craftsman is the ability to sharpen just about any tool. Particularly as a woodworker, I am constantly surrounded with razor sharp tools that i judge by the degree a dry hair on my forearm leaps into the air when severed. I don't really bother with such tests these days I usualy just know an edge is super sharp. "Razor sharp" isn't the ultimate, there are all kinds of levels of sharpness that will cut hair from skin.

However, I never really got the sharpening a straight razor thing. That bugs me. I remember reading a British mystery novel in which the bad guy's character was described in terms of his tendance to mangle his razor edge maintenance. There are two types of people apparently those deft in Razor maintenance, and those not so deft. What I did get from that description is that "sharpening" was not the whole key.

Anywho... I hate to say it, but one day as a lark I bought a German straight razor that uses dispossible safety razor blades. Best razor I have ever used, and I still use it 10 years later. The German blades can last up to 6 months. Sometimes I have tojust thrown them out or I would never change them. Not each blade wears the same. They have a primary sharpness that is wonderful, but that goes quickly enough, but they stay off peak almost indefinetly. Gilletes are not nearly as nice, and I get at best a month out of them.

I have never cut myself, but then I am a pro with cutting tools, and have been shaving hair off my body for over 30 years with various planes and chisels. So keeping the bevel angle is second nature to me. I can shave the hair on the back of my neck, and have never cut myself. I have a few family member's who's hair I cut, and I do worry when shaving them. So far I have never cut them, but part of the info I have while shaving myself is the feel of drag at the skin level. I know when the angle is too steep and I risk diging in. I tend to be too conservative on my first few passes on others, and the result is the shave is sometimes not as close as it should be. So I end up going over it several times, which is not the perfect shave. Still learning I guess.

The best features of a Razor are that you can cut in at beard edges or sideburns, or the back of the neck, and the cut is totaly precise, with zero setback. The other wonderful feature is that the offcuts all froat above the razor. One can sweep away 3" of hair, or one day's worth, in a single pass, with nor irritation from wedged hairs. The multi blade razors work OK, but I always found the jamed in hairs raking the skin, an irritation.

I use Pears soap right off the bar, and a good brush for lather.
 
Though I doubt anyone will want to follow me in my disgrace on the mater of dispossible razors, I found the brands are as follows:

Shavette razor

Merkur Super Blades (or others like Gillette)

Pears soap

Caswell-Murray brush

Has anyone found a source for hand clippers? They have a clipper head like the electric ones, but they use a hand shear rather than an electric motor.
 
OK, after years of disgrace I took my Bartman razor out to the shop and sellected a black Arkansas stone, and gave it some strokes. Then I did some rather poor quality stropping, I guess I will have to make one. It now shaves pretty well, but I think I need to sharpen it on an 8000 stone, or some 5u paper and strop that.
 
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