First Straight

Merkurologist said:
Billy's work is known to be excellent by people of this forum and over ATG, possibly others, but the point I wanted to make was that Billy is also very genorous with his time and advise. He has guided me on several issues over the last 7 months, basically since a month after I took up straight razor shaving.
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Take it from an American: Billy's reputation spans continents.
 
AlanT2 said:
My mistake Billy unable to find a Carl Rader with that insignia on Google so a golden oldie :) Now I need a new brush and some soap and start doing it properly. Was part of your stropping on this razor diamond paste?
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I Done 10 Sets on 0.5 Chro Ox & 4 Sets on 0.2 Red Rhodium for that Particular Blade..I Personally Don't Use Diamond Pastes as its a Slightly Faster Cutter & I Reckon & its Easier to Over Do Matters..But..Thats Me Talkin Mind..Others Like it & Use it..:D

Billy
 
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Nearly three weeks in and definitely liking the SR shave makes your skin feel better than any DE shave Carl Rader still hanging in there with just leather stropping. Might give it a taste of the 0.30 CrOx strop soon. Best of all I cleaned up and beveled a couple of ERN SRs I bought and got a good shave out of both of them. Learning how to strop a SR razor properly is an essential unless you want to cut a lot of strops up. Still at the bottom of the learning curve but you will get out what you put in. Need a couple more SRs now to try and sort out which of the hones I have are actually worth using as SR finishers.
 
AlanT2 said:
Nearly three weeks in and definitely liking the SR shave makes your skin feel better than any DE shave Carl Rader still hanging in there with just leather stropping. Might give it a taste of the 0.30 CrOx strop soon. Best of all I cleaned up and beveled a couple of ERN SRs I bought and got a good shave out of both of them. Learning how to strop a SR razor properly is an essential unless you want to cut a lot of strops up. Still at the bottom of the learning curve but you will get out what you put in. Need a couple more SRs now to try and sort out which of the hones I have are actually worth using as SR finishers.
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A Wee Tip on the Chro/Ox..Its a Thing Many Overdo..7/10 Sets..A Guiding Thread. Usually Hits the Mark..The Thing is to Use it Sparingly..Its Great Stuff but Less is More..An Edge Can be Ruined with it..o_O

A 12 K Naniwa Super Stone is a Hard to Beat Finisher in the Right Hands..Its a Great Stone to Introduce Oneself to Honing..Also..A Natural Thuringian is a Good Choice an All..It will Work from around 8 K to 12/16K..EBay is Always Full of them from Time to Time..:D

Billy
 
Thanks for your advice Billy always welcome. Don't have the cash for another stone at the present but the ones you mention would go on my shopping list. Trans Ark I have has a toxic part about a third of the way down so no use for an SR. Salmen slate is doing the job as a finisher and I will work through the other stones to see if any of them are suitable for razor work. Trouble is I am loath to mess with an edge that is what I consider shaving sharp with a nice clean consistent bevel.
I do have a series of Chosera up to 8K so for getting the bevel set I do have the right stones for the job. Doing it right first time every time will take practice but like the shaving itself I will get there.
 
I'm certain Billy needs no more recommending but I'm going to do it anyway. I know no one has called him in this thread indeed he was never mentioned by anyone in any negative way and I'm not accusing anyone of that. When I decided to dip my toe into the SR water he was the person I turned to for advise and it was given freely and honestly. That is what you need, anyone will blow smoke up your ass to get a few quid out of you but Billy won't. He will tell you what you need to know and more. He is a genuine bloke and a honer of the finest order. Whether you buy a razor from him or send yours to him what you get back will be the very best it can be. He is great to work with, doesn't overcharge anyone and is my first port of call for all things to do with straight razors. I cannot recommend the guy highly enough. I understand if someone has had a bad experience deciding not to use forum members for honing but there are honers and there are honers and I am more than happy to trust my razors in Billy's skilled hands anytime.
 
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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These days I agree but there was a time when it was all man had so they had to learn or like in countries such as Turkey use a barber for their regular shave where it is part of being a bloke to go to the barbers for a shave still. I think the fashion of facial hair such as goatees and elaborate moustache's came from the fact straights were so difficult to use and keep up to. I've raised the problem before as I see it. Most of us who want to straight shave no longer have the skills passed down father to son so the first time you put what is an incredibly sharp unguarded blade to your second most important part it is frightening and you must be confident you are in control of the blade to get a good shave. You tube video's can only do so much to show "How to shave" eventually you have to give it a go and see how you get on. There are safer and easier ways to shave these days so giving up if you don't get on with it is much easier than it used to be.
 
Nisse said:
Modern SR shaving is mainly about bragging rights :)
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Bragging about what exactly ? The blade you are using or because you have learned to shave with one? We've had this conversation on here regarding Stainless Steel razors and anyone who posted on SOTD was just Bragging or showing off and now unless I'm mistaken we have moved on to straights, what will be the next razor that people may think twice about posting on SOTD worried that they may be seen as just bragging or showing off?
 
Nobody except forum members even know or care how I shave or what I use so exactly what bragging rights? An SR shave for me is something I enjoy, take my time over and get a better shave from. The areas I need to touch up with a DE are shrinking slowly and putting an old razor back in to use pleases me. Suggest you find a good barber and enjoy the experience yourself, I did.
 
Modern SR shaving can be described as unnecessary. That being said, so can shaving full-stop. More and more people are growing beards and it is becoming far more acceptable. Using a single-bladed razor can be as well, as can lathering with a brush, buying multitudes of soaps and pre-shaves etc. In fact, when I first started shaving (back when I was only aware of carts, prior to growing a beard and using a trimmer) I used to shave in the shower before uni. Took no extra time out of my day and was a chore - yet it did the job required.

I use an SR from time to time because I enjoy the experience of using one. It isn't necessary for me and if anything I tend towards the lower maintenance razors with disposable blades for swiftness and ease. I wouldn't say I'm bragging by using one, but I can see why people may, especially with comments along the lines of 'you're so brave/foolish to use an unguarded, surgically-sharp razor'. Doesn't work for me though, I shave for me ultimately.
 
Benz3ne said:
Modern SR shaving can be described as unnecessary. That being said, so can shaving full-stop. More and more people are growing beards and it is becoming far more acceptable. Using a single-bladed razor can be as well, as can lathering with a brush, buying multitudes of soaps and pre-shaves etc. In fact, when I first started shaving (back when I was only aware of carts, prior to growing a beard and using a trimmer) I used to shave in the shower before uni. Took no extra time out of my day and was a chore - yet it did the job required.

I use an SR from time to time because I enjoy the experience of using one. It isn't necessary for me and if anything I tend towards the lower maintenance razors with disposable blades for swiftness and ease. I wouldn't say I'm bragging by using one, but I can see why people may, especially with comments along the lines of 'you're so brave/foolish to use an unguarded, surgically-sharp razor'. Doesn't work for me though, I shave for me ultimately.
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I think everone shaves for themselves and for the pleasure they get from it, I can't imagine anyone going to the expence of buying a straight razor and strop at the very least just so they can brag to people they are probably never going to meet, it is just a ridiculous thing to suggest and I feel much the same about stainless steel razors ect, I think that to suggest that people only post on SOTD just so that they can brag about or show off their kit is equaly ridiculous as I have pointed out before and to suggest such things just makes some people or at least me feel uncomfortable about posting when this type of nonsense is being banded about, rant over!
 
In my book bragging or showing off is a fact of life, right or wrong, good or bad, cool or ridiculous, I am not judging just observing moving on trying to stick to the mindful road :)
 
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