Thread: OH MY! Am I in over my head?

I recently purchased a razor and strop from AliExpress. Cheap, but you wait forever for it to get here from China. About a month so far and not here. So I ordered another from eBay and it was here in 3 days. A much better one I believe with leather strop. Quickly I realized it didn't come with a sharpened edge. I thought I was going to be able to start and learn shaving and learn the honing process as I went. The more I read now the more daunting it gets. I almost wonder if I'd best forget it. It seems at every turn I could ruin something and have to buy again. I can't do that as a vet on a disability income. I had to think of this purchase several times before I let the money go. So now I'm stuck with a razor that won't shave and one still on a slow boat from China.

Is there any way I can learn this technique? Stones, grits, pastes .... holy heck? I can't find anyone in this area that does this sort of thing. Maybe I could practice on the cheap one from China ... if it ever gets here. Are stones and pastes expensive?

Is there any help or comfort I may get that this is not rocket science because at this point it looks like I could misfire and blow the whole thing off the launch pad the first time I move a wrist. Dear Lord I did not realize it was such a production. But I truly would like to learn as the safety razors are no longer giving the close shave I like. Guess the old hide is changing a bit. I suspect if there is some place you can send your razor to be honed it's gonna be pricey!

Thanks so much for any interest in my post! Jack ":-\\

Hi and welcome to the forum from a fellow newbie.
Don't get disheartened as there are lots of people on this site who are both very knowledgeable and will, I'm sure, be able to help.
As for sending your razor off to get honed, again there are many on here who will surely offer to hone your razor at very good prices.
Give it time and read all you can and step by step you'll be able to hone with equipment that is very inexpensive.
Good luck and I sincerely hope that you don't give up because it's a wonderful learning experience.

Jack, Welcome to SRP!

You might want to look at the SRP library section titled Getting Started, particularly the Beginners Guide. Straight Razor Place Library - Straight Razor Place Library
Pictures and brand information for the razor you have might help people give you advice but generally razors purchased off ebay or made in China are not recommended. New folks here at SRP are usually advised to purchase a razor from a known, trusted vendor like Straight Razor Designs that sells quality razors that are properly honed. Another place to find a quality razor is the Classifieds here at SRP.

My advice is to send out your razors to be honed by a professional while you are starting out. Learning to properly strop and use a straight razor might take awhile and you want to focus on that for now. Leave honing for later.

Originally Posted by DMA

Hi and welcome to the forum from a fellow newbie.
Don't get disheartened . . .

Thanks for the quick and kind response. It is helpful to say the least! ":-DX jack

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Jack, Welcome to SRP!

You might want to look at the SRP library section titled Getting Started, particularly the Beginners Guide.

Neighbor and I are doing this along the same lines and we know what a good quality one costs. This one off ebay does have German surgical steel but while impressive to me that probably means nothing to the seasoned straight razor shaver. Well perhaps it's best I got these cheaper ones at first before I know how much I can really put into it. $100 or more for a good one and I would have never gone for it. Thanks for your imput also! jack ";-Dx

Could you please provide a link to the ebay razor that you bought? I'm sorry to say that often cheap razors are so for a reason. Did you buy a new cheap razor or a vintage cheap razor?

Hello jackdashack and welcome . Check out member services ....http://straightrazorpalace.com/class...wcat.php?cat=4 In what state do you reside and can you provide pics of your ebay razor,also your china razor will probably disappoint you and almost certainly will not arrive shave ready. But do not despair , we can help you on the journey if you stick around !

Originally Posted by Utopian

Could you please provide a link to the ebay razor that you bought?

Yes sir cheap is usually always cheap. But I could not get into something that was going to cost much much more without some cheap trail run. Just can't do it on vet's disability pension. Here is that link. I don't know if you have to be an eBay member but chances are you are. Many are. Here is the eBay link. I believe somewhere I saw the name Nohl ??? Does that sound like right?

Blue Handle Folding Shaving Straight Razor Leather Sharpening Strop | eBay

Originally Posted by Wirm

Hello jackdashack and welcome . Check out member services .... But do not despair , we can help you on the journey if you stick around !

Here is the eBay link. I believe somewhere I saw the name Nohl ??? Does that sound like right?

Blue Handle Folding Shaving Straight Razor Leather Sharpening Strop | eBay

I'm sorry I have not seen that particular razor before but it looks just like all of the other razor shaped crap that cannot hold an edge worth a damn. Your cheap trial run could have been accomplished almost as well with a butter knife.

If you PM me your address I will mail you a vintage razor to try out.