First Straight

Floid_Maniac said:
Thanks mate. This was not and is not my intention.
I just had my bad experiences in the past, as I wrote above and will not sharpen my straight or any other straight I will buy in the future by forum members anymore. I think it must be allowed to say that. :rolleyes:
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Absolutely, my apologies if my response seemed to assume this. I think there was a fair clarification on my part that 'professional' in this area may be deemed a loose term.

Either way, Alan is on the right path and I'm sure he'll be fine with one of Billy's straights!
 
Benz3ne said:
Absolutely, my apologies if my response seemed to assume this. I think there was a fair clarification on my part that 'professional' in this area may be deemed a loose term.

Either way, Alan is on the right path and I'm sure he'll be fine with one of Billy's straights!
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Billy has a very good reputation here on TSR and he will not getting that if he would not do a good job. ;):)
 
I have Had Razors Sent from All Over the Globe..Very Few have Had a Superb Shaving Edge..9 Times Out of 10 the Bevel Has Not Been Properly Set..The Razors I Get to Re Hone that have been Properly Honed are a Pleasure to Work On & they Seem to Come from the Same Few Folks here in the UK that Can Do a Fantastic Job..o_O

In Short..There Seems to be Very Few that Can Put what I Would Call a Superb Shaving Edge on an SR for Whatever Reason..That Does Include Some Big Name Vendors By the Way..That Said there is a Number Folks I Know in the UK & Elsewhere that Can Indeed Put a Superb Shaving Edge on a Straight Razor..:)

If there Was Some Sort of Regulation on the Quality of Honing Work..Say a Test or a Practical Exam & Maybe Certification there Would be Very Few Vendors Selling So Called Shave Ready Razors..:D

Billy
 
And once a proper honing job is done by a meister it is a pleasure to shave with of course but also keeping it in good shape for a long time with the use of strop and lapping film is possible even for a dilettant like me.
 
Fergiebilly said:
Just to Add..Some Guys Will NEVER Get a Shave Out of a Properly Honed Blade..Regardless Who Honed it..If it was Easy to Use an SR Everybody would Be Doin it..Its Always Worth Remembering that..SR Shaving is NOT for Everyone..:D:D

Billy
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This is also one of the reasons why I don´t let my straights honed by forum members anymore. You always get or have to read this argument by self called straight honers. You don´t have this behaviour by professional straight razor manufacturers. If you get a no shave ready razor, just send it back and you don´t have to listen or to read something like that. Today I called Ralf Aust and told him that I made a mistake while stropping my straight honed by him. What a nice and gentle man. He said just send me 5 Euro for shipping and I will hone it again for you. No sentence like "SR Shaving is NOT for Everyone..:D:D".
I think that no serious straight razor manufacturer would hire one of this amateurs to hone their straights. It is too easy today for everyone buying some stones and offering "honing" straights. :D:D
 
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Floid_Maniac said:
This is also one of the reasons why I don´t let my straights honed by forum members anymore. You always get or have to read this argument by self called straight honers. You don´t have this behaviour by professional straight razor manufacturers. If you get a no shave ready razor, just send it back and you don´t have to listen or to read something like that. Today I called Ralf Aust and told him that I made a mistake stropping my straight honed by him. What a nice and gentle man. He said just send me 5 Euro for shipping and I will hone it again for you. No sentence like "SR Shaving is NOT for Everyone..:D:D".
I think that no serious straight razor manufacturer would hire one of this amateurs to hone their straights. It is too easy today for everyone buying some stones and offering "honing" straights. :D:D
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Well Well..You have Forced My Hand Here..I Can Tell Ya..I Have Had a Number of Brand New Razors Sent to Me Honed by Mr Ralf Aust..They All NEEDED Taken to the 12 K Finishing Stone & Some Even the 8 K Stone..They are Properly Bevel Set & Close to Shave Ready..But..I Have IMPROVED EVERY ONE & the Owners are Delighted with the Difference..FACT..My Friend..;)

Billy
 
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:D
 
Okay, so it's difficult to not read into the above comments. I would argue, as someone who has been straight razor shaving for only 10 months, on-and-off, that the statement of 'SR shaving is not for everyone' is entirely correct. There are people who won't have the manual dexterity, concentration or perseverance, or even time on their hands to be able to comfortably straight razor shave. Whether or not the honer tells the buyer this is more down to the attitude/personality of the honer than 'professionalism' as such. I will also say that dealing with someone who is 'gentle' in their approach can definitely be favourable. I dinged a razor from 1908 against my faucet early into my straight razor 'adventure' and Fergiebilly didn't call me a "bonny f*ckin' tool, och aye" or anything of the like, he's courteous, just he'll tell people stuff straight when necessary.

As for Billy's response; absolutely they could be touched up and smoothed out/further sharpened but they might be entirely suited to the buyer directly from Ralf Aust. I think finishing a couple of razors by one individual does not mean that they're lacking in ability. E.g. my first straight from Billyji1 (eBay seller, well reputed) was good and did a great job of shaving but having one from Fergiebilly was far smoother, sharper, easier, not as grabby etc...

Let's dial this back a bit, chaps! I think it's been a long day and tensions are high! :D Like I said, there is definitely more than one variable at play here.
 
First shave with the Carl Rader #38 6/8 SR supplied by Fergiebilly. As supplied the razor was nicely finished, scales have probably been replaced and the edge was hair popping sharp for it's full bevel, arm hair only with no skin contact. Prep was just as any other shave, two days of stubble, new user, worst case scenario. Stuck to the easy bits cheeks and jaw line WTG only, nice smooth quiet shave. One nick when I did something stupid. Finished shave with Wilkinson DE but did not go over the SR areas already shaved.
Impressed but I will have to look into pre shave prep more. One foot on the learning curve :) Will give the razor a simple leather stropping before next use.
 
AlanT2 said:
First shave with the Carl Rader #38 6/8 SR supplied by Fergiebilly. As supplied the razor was nicely finished, scales have probably been replaced and the edge was hair popping sharp for it's full bevel, arm hair only with no skin contact. Prep was just as any other shave, two days of stubble, new user, worst case scenario. Stuck to the easy bits cheeks and jaw line WTG only, nice smooth quiet shave. One nick when I did something stupid. Finished shave with Wilkinson DE but did not go over the SR areas already shaved.
Impressed but I will have to look into pre shave prep more. One foot on the learning curve :) Will give the razor a simple leather stropping before next use.
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Glad You are Enjoying the 1st Steps in You're SR Journey..Those Lovely Scales on the Carl Rader Solingen in the Centre of this Pic are ORIGINAL..That Razor Had Never Been Honed Before I Got My Hands on it..:D

Billy
 
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