Straight Razor Sharpening/Honing

mash, this a recipe for disaster....shirley...

I had a wet shave at Trumpers once with a straight blade. worst shave ever...

the chap had to dig out the mach III to do it properly...

i was going to say something rude about you by the means of a pun but thought better of it !

I had a shave a Trumpers and thought it was the bets thing ever until I had an 8 quid one from the Ali Baba's on Wandsworth Bridge Road. Granted I didnt need a shave for 3 years after the Trumpers one but Ali burnt my ear hair off and had the football on.

Yep, Turkish barbers FTW. The Cutting Room on Theobald's Rd is brilliant. A new one has just opened up in Dulwich Village, which is a touch closer to me.

@Zed, your jaw is obviosuly too manly for a mere single blade.

That's what all the laydees say

Hmm, so my Edwin Jagger turned up and I am not that impressed. Totally blunt, so off I go looking for honing places.

Check out this:

http://www.strop-shop.co.uk/category_info/Razor_Honing

"NB: PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME CYRIL SALTER, EDWIN JAGGER OR ANY RAZORS ON THE SRP 'TO AVOID' LIST"

Going to try and get a refund and buy straight from that chap.

Grr.

Refund sorted.

Ordered this instead:

http://www.strop-shop.co.uk/product/5%7C8_Vintage_Ivory_Wilkinson_Straight_Razor_WILK-05

Bring on the rivers of blood.

@johnnyhotdog would you be up for giving some instructions on honing and stropping, in person?

I have a strop but no stone, yet.

I would but I'm not in London, sorry.

It really isn't the black art that people think it is - if you watch the videos on YouTube and get some of the great advice from straightrazorplace, you will get the hang of it.

It's daunting as you don't want to ruin your razor but with a bit of care and patience, you'll get it right.

Also, no matter what anyone says or how it's advertised, no razor is sold 'ready to shave with.' It simply doesn't happen. You will always need to strop and possibly need to hone a brand new razor. Always.

I had a straight razor once, it was a very cheap, you just snapped a razor blade in half and slotted it into the end. I got a 3 inch cut across my right cheek, which scarred for about a year. I would have looked like I'd been in a bar fight were I not obviously a chumpy little tit.

It's going pretty well, only small nicks so far and I am totally amazed at how it glides through even thick growth. The last night I shaved for the first time in two weeks, a nightmare with a safety razor. No problem.

My problem is doing the left side of my face, being right handed. Above the jaw line is ok but just can't seem to fathom how to do below.

Any hints? Should I switch hands?

While my less-than-impressive facial hair doesn't require a straight razor, I have a friend who's recently started to use one and he said you should use your other hand for the other side of your face. I guess it takes some practice though!

This guy runs a shaving company and loves filming shaving tutorials.
It appears he uses the same hand for both sides of his face.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDR_1hg-xNs"]DOVO
STRAIGHT RAZOR SHAVE FULL HOLLOW GROUND BLADE Wet Shaving First Pass with Grain Cut Throat - YouTube[/ame]

Can't give you any advice myself as I still use a safety razor. The day I find a vegan strop is the day I make the switch.

vegan strop??
you having a fit :)

You're a strop...

BTW Le Reej, 7.30pm...

Interested but am doing some potato printing at a friend's house. Maybe afterwards.

Bring the prints for show and tell. See you there.

This guy runs a shaving company and loves filming shaving tutorials.
It appears he uses the same hand for both sides of his face.

Can't give you any advice myself as I still use a safety razor. The day I **find a vegan strop is the day **I make the switch.

Can't a strop be made out of canvas or similar? Does it need to be leather?
What is so special about leather?

(Not that I ever use my strop given I can't get my razor sharp enough)

vegan strop:
http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.com/3-Heirloom-Artisan-Synthetic-Vegan-Friendly-Strop-3Veg.htm;jsessionid=0E6255B3A26BA25613FA7006AB59955D.qscstrfrnt05

Cheers guys, I know they exist, I've just never found one for actually for sale and with my minimally bearded face a safety razor is usually more than adequate so I can't say I've pushed it.

It's more of a, "One day I'll get round to it and that guy will happen to have his order book open".

Also, for anyone who gives a shit (Probably no one but never mind), I whole heartedly recommend Taylor's synthetic badger brush.

This guy runs a shaving company and loves filming shaving tutorials.
It appears he uses the same hand for both sides of his face.

Can't give you any advice myself as I still use a safety razor. The day I find a vegan strop is the day I make the switch.

OK, just watched the film and he does switch hands and mentions that it is harder to learn but advisable to do so.

Time to htfu, I suppose.

He also mentions that he estimates it takes a hundred shaves to get truly proficient. At my rate of shaving that will take about two years.

Learn on your ball sack, you'll get proficient much more quickly?

Palms first, then ball sack.