Thread: Another newbie with newbie questions (long winded)

Since I'm very much a noob as well, I wouldn't put much stock in this 'advice', but here goes.

I too got in to this new hobby/obsession because I was interested in honing and sharpening. I've always liked keeping my knives as sharp as I could and that sort of thing interests me. So I've bought 3-4 junk ebay razors to practice before I try to hone my shaving razors. Sure I've probably wasted a bit of cash on bad razors but I put that cost in my entertainment/hobby budget.

The way I look at it it's what I pay for 'lessons'. When I decided to take up motorcycles, I took the rider courses. And god and my wife know I spend enough on accessories for that little hobby! Fly fishing, although I've been doing that my whole life, is the same way. It's just the cost of my hobbies.

So while the smart money stays away from the ebay and don't start off buying hones and all that; I still think it has been worth while to get some of that stuff and start practicing. I have learned several lessons that I would not have wanted to learn using my 'real' razors and have yet to do anything but strop them. Hopefully these lessons will serve me well once I do need to hone the razors I shave with.

It's like any other hobby: don't spend more than you can afford and don't expect to be good at up front. FWIW

Originally Posted by cgswss

... order a STRAIGHT RAZOR DESIGNS custom strop. I see these are available in a number of different leathers, and I can find no information on the different leathers and why I should select one over the other.

Craig,

Welcome to SRP! I see Glen has offered to talk to you by phone, so I know he'll definitely point you in the right direction. If you'd like to know more about the SRP strops, give them a call. You'll find that Don & Lynn are some of the nicest guys out there and will be glad to help you make a selection. I have a Premium I and a Premium IV English Bridle and love them both.

Originally Posted by cgswss

So I will feel bad if I screw one up, but its not like I'm taking one of only 50 made out.

I'd not worry too much about that. I bought a Roberson's Best at an antique store despite the fact that it that had been overhoned at the toe by its previous owner. Lynn cleaned it up & honed it for me last summer, and she's a sweet shaver. Glen changed out the scales on it a few weeks ago and honed it for me. See "Clothes Swap" http://straightrazorpalace.com/shave...tml#post737288 Is she the prettiest blade I own? Definitely not, but she takes a sweet edge (at least when Lynn and Glen hone her), and I always smile when she comes up in my rotation.

Greg

Nun2Sharp gave "the best advice I could give you would be to do business with our members in the classifieds or the vendors who sponsor the site." As to a strop, whatever you do practice with a butter knife. It take a lot of time to perfect that simple but essential skill. It sounds easy, but it is not so easy. And welcome but be aware, this can become addicting.