Inexpensive Straights, Hones, Strops, etc. for Beginners.

I have the Norton 1k. I think you’ll find it more than adequate for your bevel setting chores.

 

Oh, but it likes to drink a lot of water

 

Hey, so do I.

 

I'm still having great results from the Norton 220/1000 stone I picked up. I wish I had started with this stone, and avoided the King 1K. The King 1K is waaaaay too slow, and acts more like a 2k.

 

Bump.

It's been a while, and some newbies need to get familiar with a variety of things.

 

I use lapping films to hone my razors. You can get a whole progression for under 100 dollars. The equivalent synthetic stones would cost hundreds of dollars more and that's excluding a stone holder and a lapping plate. Slash McCoy and Mike Baker have youtube videos on how to sharpen your straights with lapping films.
I would recommend a 5/8 round point straight for ease of maneuverability and less of a chance of nicking yourself with the toe. I think you can still get a honed Gold Dollar from Razor Emporium for about 50 dollars.

 

Still holding at a $238 price point shipped US from Amazon

Shapton Kuramaku set 1-5-8-12

These are high quality and easy to use .. This is a really good set, not a bargain basement way into razor honing

Amazon.com: SHAPTON Ha No Kuromaku Ceramic Whetstone (F-set) Medium Grit (#1000) + Fine Grit (#5000) + Fine Grit (#8000) + Ultra Fine Grit (#12000) by Shapton : Tools & Home Improvement

 

If I had to do it all over again, I would have gone this route,to learn with. Much easier than jumping into Natural Stones.

 

Anyone ever heard of a Union SR2 straight razor? I tried to do some research but it was fruitless. The Union SR2 is currently on the shelf at the local Love's truck stop with a $12.99 price tag (weird place to spot a straight razor) and is on Amazon for the same price. Amazon says it's made in China. Anybody know how this razor stacks up as an "inexpensive straight for beginners?"

- Bax

P.S. I'm not trading my Focus R-28 -- it's the bee's knees!

 

Tbh, I haven't heard of it. It's common knowledge that a very high percentage of Chinese straights are poor quality based on Gold Dollar reviews. They usually are not shave ready and require an experience honer to get them shave ready. The steel is also not that great compared to Sheffield and Solingen steels. I would say these qualities probably will apply to the razor in question based on the very low price. Personally, I would stick to shavettes and master your technique so that it will be an easier transition to straights. Generally, you can get a shave ready straight for about 100 dollars or a shave ready vintage for about 50 if you do your research.
For a couple bucks more than the 12 and change for the Union razor, you can get a Parker shavette for under 20 dollars and you will get a fantastic shave over the razor in question assuming your technique is very good.

 

You can always step up your game, and but a shave ready Straight Razor from a member, in our Classified section. You will also need a strop. Much smoother shaves with Straight Razors, and not very expensive, usually under $50, shave ready.

 

I've been shaving with Focus R-28 shavette for over a WEEK.
Heck, I'm a pro already!
Pretty soon, I'll put a BLADE in it!

- Bax

P.S. Kidding -- I'm up to shave #8 with Wilkinson Sword (India) blades, and only 2 cuts. I'm getting better at it! I've found that a good, slick lather is more important with a shavette than it is with a DE. Learning all the time...

 

An "inexpensive razor to learn honing basics" -- I hadn't THOUGHT of that! Great idea! Instead of potentially ruining a vintage razor, I could learn on a junker. Although... I'm liking my R-28 so much, I may never progress to an old-school straight razor. I really like that R-28 a LOT. Thx again for that recommendation, by the way!

- Bax

 

Straight Razor shaving- Very Cool
Shavette shaving- Not so cool.

Like the difference between a Jaguar and a Hyundai. Both will get the job done, but one will get it done with "Style".

 

What a coincidence! I'm not so cool, either, so the shavette is a perfect fit!

- Bax

 

I’d like someone to point me in the direction of a J-NAT finisher KOPPA under $100 lol

 

You can find vintage dubl ducks for reasonable prices and they take super edges!

A beginner strop I’d recommend is the naked armor “BLUE EEL” from Amazon. Hey…. Your gonna kick it to pieces anyways lol. No need to get a good looking one.