I do everything I can to help.

Point of clarification. You can strop modern non carbon blades. If you are like me and you skin doesn’t like the Plattunum coating on the blade, it will chage how it shaves. That said, stropping modern blades doesn’t seem to make them more keen, but does make them last a little longer.

Great photo and even better post. That is so cool that you're able to enjoy a family heirloom.

Ha ha. You’re gonna like this rabbit hole. You will need some new and finer stones. Don’t worry, we’re all mad here.

Thanks, Clint!

i like the reserve classic .,will try the reserve cool and spice. i like traditional scents mainly as well

Boris isn't sober because he was surveiling me during my morning preparations. There's a reason my wife doesn't wear glasses in the morning. Boris was not aware of this and paid a dear price. As for cookies I have my stash. Why do you think @BaylorGator hasn't seen his portion? Boris may or may not be borrowing from the Rich to give to the poor as penance for his "viewing indiscretions".

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Sounds good to me Troy.

Already liking it.

I have some pretty fine Jnats that some people feel are too fine for a chefs knife. Maybe in the 15K range or so.. Lately though I'd been adding some finer compounds onto some of my coarser stones to create hybrid edges. I've been working with 4micron down to .125 micron.

What got me thinking here is those compounds I'm guessing would make pretty good strops for a blade.... I know it's only a matter fo time before I try out a straight but for now... How cool would that be to try this out on a safety razor?

That's something I advocate. When learning a new style of razor do what you can, and finish with a known tool. I'm not trying to slow your learning by suggesting "the crutch". Just a way to combine learning the new razor, and getting a SAS (Socially Acceptable Shave). Those guys working on straight razors are learning totally new grips working with a longer blade, and (gasp!) no safety bars or guards. They go into SRs hearing that it takes as much as 100 shaves to attain basic skills. Early on they probably shaved their cheeks only in a downward WTG pass, followed by finishing with their previous safety razor.

I’ve got an heirloom razor. I had a cheapie razor rescaled with custom scales and cleaned up so I could keep it going for my grandkids. It’s a cool feeling. BTW, Torreys have great steel and shave well.

Yeah, I think we can already count you as one of the dark side. If you have stones up to 15k, you should be ready. I stop on mute of my knives at 5k, and that’s probably overkill.

Inquiring minds want to see your knife and stone collection.

Finally got my Shavey award for most inappropriate use of menthol back from being honed. Thank you @Keithmax. Great three pass shave today. If you haven’t heard, the Queen will be closing The Shave Den Shop at the end of this year. Get your TSD stuff while you can.

Thanx for the encouragement on Mystic Waters....I plan to make a purchase next year.

He might have enabled me, but I'm already planning on a Mystic Waters purchase next year. Oops, maybe he was the one who enabled me in the first place!

Wow. Very cool looking razor.


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It’s good soap but not the easiest to lather.


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Evil laugh. OK... I was looking for something to do tomorrow and needed to do a photo inventory anyhow... The stone I was thinking of is called a Nakayama Iromono and it's very fine. Although now that I think about it I wonder if it's hard enough for effective use on a straight razor (so much I don't know).

I'm with you on the 5K threshold although I love pushing it.

Right now my avatar is a shot I took of a Japanese vegetable knife (nakiri) that I just love. The pattern on the face (cladding) is a damascus steel that was made to resemble frost --- hence its name Shimo. The edge is done in a steel (SG1) that gets wicked sharp and since this knife is made to chop and not slice I take it up as high as I can in refinement. I use the Nakayama Iromono and end up stropping at .125 micron. I can only get about 2 or 3 sessions out of it when I go that high but ... Man... so much fun when I do.

Have to go a little stronger loading it?

Shave Report #14

Gillette (Flat Bottom) Fat Handle Tech (Made in England)
Astra SP (2nd use)
Bluebeard Doubloon Boar Brush
TOBS Peppermint
Nivea Sensitive Post-Shave Balm

A truly excellent shave today! So close and so smooth! One tiny weeper as result of my being a little over-zealous on my cleanup pass under the chin. I have also added some J-Hooking on my jawline to my cleanup pass - this has yielded excellent results! Techs really do give great shaves!