Thread: Found a Razor, want a kit, need opinions!

Hey guys! Let me introduce myself. My name's Mel and I'm 20. I'm a complete beginner to the world of straight razor shaving. My facial growth is underdeveloped, I can grow sideburns and a little chin but other than that it doesn't come in enough. The hairs aren't super thick or hard just yet so I figure i'll learn to straight shave before it all comes in.

Now for my question: I found a 6/8 James Whitcomb & Co Extra Hollow Ground at my house. I have read that beginners shouldn't start on full ground as they are sharp as a mother. But, I also don't want to buy a nice razor and ruin it because I have no idea what I'm doing. Would you guys also recommend against sending this razor out to be honed, getting used to shaving, stropping, and maintenance then getting a kit like a Dovo Straight? I would really like to use the Jacobs as I wouldn't have to buy another razor before getting my first real one.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!


Mel

Send it out and have it looked at and honed. 20.00 for honing is far better than buying a razor you may not need right now

You should get it honed, likely it isn't currently shave ready and due to your inexperience you won't be able to tell.

I wouldn't worry about 'ruining' a razor unless you drop it or tap it off the sink or something. Even if you roll the edge from stropping it can be honed out. Chips and cracks on the other hand....

I say use what you have though if it is usable, post some pics, the experts here (not me!) should be able to tell a lot by that, ie hone wear. Get a strop and some soap/creme and have at it. While you're waiting for it to come back from honing I highly recommend you read EVERY article you can find online about straight shaving. The more informed you are the better.

Read the Wiki. Send the razor to be honed. Find some soap/creme and a brush and practice lathering. Watch the stropping videos and practice on a belt with a butter knife. Get Lynn's DVD and make some popcorn, kick off your shoes, and relax while you take the tour. When the razor comes back sharp you will know what sharp is and whether or not you can keep it that way with your stropping. Sideburns and a little chin stubble is as fine a parade ground as you will ever train on.

Welcome

Thanks for the advice guys! Just as I suspected, I shouldn't go running out and buy $200 worth of straight razor equipment. My birthday is coming up, and i'm going to ask for a strop, brush, etc.

Being gentle with my nail, I can't feel any major divits in the blade, but hey i'm no expert at all.

Here are some picture of the Jacobs, sorry for the crappy quality! I am at school and all I have is my phone. I can take better pictures when I go home and have my real camera.

I have read that beginners shouldn't start on full ground as they are sharp as a mother.

I disagree. _Any_ razor that works will be sharp as a mother. There's no difference in sharpness between a properly-sharpened wedge and a extra-full-hollow grind.

There's a difference in _feel_, but that's not something to worry about until you can shave pretty well. And if your beard is light (which is what it sounds like), a full-hollow will be fine forever.

Use what you have. It seems to be in decent condition, nothing that a proper honing couldn't fix.

Charles

Hi. Well I reckon that's a really nice razor. I'd get it honed (like everyone says) and use that. Full hollow razors are really cool, they sound excellent (though for you you'll maybe only hear it on your chin )

A beginner can use a full hollow fine (in my opinion). In fact, I'd go so far as to say I'd recommend it. The tactile feedback a really thin razor gives is much greater than with a thicker razor; like a wedge.

BTW, I wouldn't polish it at all, unless it has some rust in the pivot. That patina is really cool and it'll help you see the edge easily when you do start honing (which you will, unless you're a wuss)...

Welcome!

Originally Posted by dubblewubble

Hey guys! Let me introduce myself. My name's Mel and I'm 20. I'm a complete beginner to the world of straight razor shaving. My facial growth is underdeveloped, I can grow sideburns and a little chin but other than that it doesn't come in enough. The hairs aren't super thick or hard just yet so I figure i'll learn to straight shave before it all comes in.

Now for my question: I found a 6/8 James Whitcomb & Co Extra Hollow Ground at my house. I have read that beginners shouldn't start on full ground as they are sharp as a mother. But, I also don't want to buy a nice razor and ruin it because I have no idea what I'm doing. Would you guys also recommend against sending this razor out to be honed, getting used to shaving, stropping, and maintenance then getting a kit like a Dovo Straight? I would really like to use the Jacobs as I wouldn't have to buy another razor before getting my first real one.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!


Mel

Welcome....

First tell us what you shave with now. That
will set the stage for us.

You should read the beginners wiki.
Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Wiki

A sharp razor needs a strop each shave. You will need a good one
but it need not be an expensive one.
You can send a dull razor out to get it sharp for modest bucks
and is recommended.

A good shave soap and brush can improve any blade shave.
So even if you use a razor like a Yellow handled BiC razor
your shave can improve with good "latherin". If you are
on a budget and in the US start with the:
"Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set (Soap, Bowl, Brush)"
Then try a short list of the famous shave soaps and creams...
You will want a better brush some day but you need
to start some place.

Welcome aboard!

Nice find... blade looks to be in decent shape, (or at least nothing blatently scary). +1 on the honing.

At this point, I usually suggest whippeddog.com, since Larry posts here on occasion, is a top notch guy, and his gear is inexpensive and dependable. Now for a starter strop, a couple of soap samples, a brush and a coffee mug and you're off to the races without a huge investment.

Read read read practice read read practice read practice practice practice.

Let me begin by saying that this is by far the most welcoming and informative forum I've ever been a part of. You guys are definitely going to have me coming back to this forum whenever I have questions!

And right now I shave with a Gillette pro glide. I mean it works, but straight razors and the act of shaving have always interested me. Learning new things is quite appealing to me. I think I'm going to get it honed. That could take a few weeks and I'm anxious! But perhaps that's a good thing, I can keep myself occupied with research and practice while it's in the mail. My birthday is coming up, and I could ask for a kit from the boys at SRD but it seems like the economical thing to do would be buy a separate brush, cream, and strop and see how I like it first.

Looking at that kit, it looks like a good investment to get into the hobby. I do enjoy upgrading and customizing too, so hopefully this hobby develops and becomes a lifelong activity of mine.