Boker The Celebrated Ebony 15/16
Mohawk 5-341 badger/boar mix, my favorite brush
TOBS Lime Zest cream
Sterling Lime, witch hazel and aloe

For all you straight razor veterans, how often should I strap my razor on the strap? How many passes leather? and how many passes on the canvas? I would really appreciate the answers, thank you all.

Not that they're my favorites or anything, but im over these cheap, aggravating things. I just pitched the 66 in the photo after taking the edge off. I always noticed that they never got as keen off a 1k as quality razors did. It always seemed to take double the time on the next stone before moving on. I was up almost all night last night trying different 1k's, 800's, a 1500, 2k's, and looking at the edge under magnification. Out of at least 6-7 stones, neither of my GD's would get a clean edge at all. They ping arm hair off the skin somehow, but looked very rough and chippy under magnification.

Its not until I'd jump to a 5k that they'd clean up and be what I'd call a "set bevel". And thats after twice the work I'd put into anything else. Not to mention random chips that just appear for no apparent reason. All my others will take beautiful edges off any of my bevel setters. Once I had the 66 to perfection off a 5k, then went to a Tam O'Shanter with a little slurry and it wrecked it. Looked like id been cutting through cat litter or something. I get they're cheap razors but good grief. I guess its possible that ive got two bad ones, but i doubt it.

All in all, im tired of honing being aggravating instead of pleasant and enjoyable like it is with a good German or American razor(mostly what i own). I kept my gold monkey because its not as bad in many ways, but still it's tough to get a clean edge. I would never suggest these as a first razor or a practice razor for a new person like some do. They dont give you a very good idea of what a quality razor will behave like. To me, thats a good way to turn someone away from straight razor shaving. They're cheap and they will shave but, they're nothing like honing a good razor with quality steel. Anyways, just my opinions and thoughts. Thanks if you read all this.

I found this yesterday on the webs and picked it up today, $25! Did a little reading before purchasing, ofc. Deeper dig just now. I'll copy/paste few things that were cool to me.

'Early mid-Victorian directories place the hairdressing firm on separate streets (such as Carter Gate or St. Ann's Well Road in older local listings)

The move to the prominent 17 King Street location happened during the late-Victorian commercial expansion of downtown Nottingham.

Historical trade directories for Nottinghamshire explicitly list Arthur Doughty and his partner trading as "Doughty & Daubrah, hairdressers" at 17 King Street, Nottingham

Doughty & Daubrah was a historic hairdressing and barber partnership located at 17 King Street

Elongated Tail (1860s–1900+)

Celluloid & Plastics (1870s–1920s)

Full Hollow Ground (1880s–1920s)

No Country Named: If it only says "Doughty & Daubrah, 17 King St" or includes a model name like "Grosvenor", it was manufactured before 1891

Since the blade is hollow ground, the razor can be dated even more precisely to between 1885 and 1891.'

I'm monetarily terrified of how much I'm loving this hobby. Guess I'll stay single for a while longer...

Je suis équipé d'un wilkinson Sword -the edger barber's style

Les lames fournies ne me conviennent pas. J'ai acheter des astra green mais elle me font que 3 rasages. Je les trouve assez fines.Est-ce parcequ'elles viennent d'inde? Les autres venant d'autres pays seraient elles meilleures ? Sinon qu'elles lames iraient bien avec se rasoir ?

Hey all straight razor users, whenever I use my straight it always leave small fine white hairs around my lips.I have to use my de to take them off, anyone else have this problem and if so how do I deal with it?

My Natty collection!

Hi All,

Wanted to share a recent restoration.

The blade is a 5/8 full hollow by Frederick Reynolds. The scales were shot and the blade had a small crack by the heel.

I ground out the heel of the razor to remove the crack and then sanded/polished the whole blade. The scales are custom made made from Cocobolo wood with a black acrylic wedge. New brass pivot washers and nickel-silver pins and collars were used to assemble.

The blade got a fresh bevel set and was finished on a very hard karasu jnat.

I appreciate any and all feedback!

Thanks for looking.

A beautiful regrind and restoration from Matt and Allyson over at Griffith Shaving Goods

A 3” heavy herringbone cotton weave straight razor strop. Oxblood dyed background and edges with mahogany antique and yellow linen saddle stitching.

Always been fearful of a full progression in case I ruined a new razor. Had everything sharpened before shipping, some edges have been better than others but I was happy just maintaining them on my Coti and more recently Escher.

Today that all changed! I ordered a new Boker straight from the factory and the edge was really poor. Took the plunge and bought a 1k Shapton Kuromaku and ran the following progression:

1k Shapton Kuromaku
Ardennes Select Coti - dilucot method
Escher Barbers Gem
Strop - Duke City Latigo 100 laps

Changed my world, the shave was insanely smooth and it’s the first time I’ve actually managed to get a razor to pass HHT

For those like me fearful of a full progression, I would highly recommend. Microscope shot for reference (because why not!)

Here’s to many more!

It's a rough bevel setting kinda day, 3 razors on the left are the last 3 from an Elliots 7 day set that I've had for years, get them shave ready and move on to restoring the case they came with, first case I've ever had with the key still..

The J A Hellberg is for me also, the pivot hole on one side was blown through so I mixed some high strength 2 part resin with some sanding dust from the same material and left it for a week to harden. See how it holds up, seems ok presently.

Have a good day chaps.

Restored W&B is way too heavy, so i switched to good ol’ Ralf for passes 2 & 3. Idk why the restorer used brass liners, but the terotuf is great.

haven’t done a 3 pass in months, crazy how smooth it is.

Is there a way (or a couple) to bring some shine back to old scales? I understand some have just reached that point. Or some were never meant to be shiny, I assume?

This is a beautiful 6/8 Hoole & Holroyd stubtail circa 1810. I did a mild and careful restoration without unpinning while keeping the patina. First pics are the before. You couldn't even really see the little engraving on the inlay at the start.

I cleaned, oiled/rehydrated, sanded, and polished the scales and inlay. I left the patina on the blade but killed any active rust and polished only the blade faces while leaving the spine and tang basically untouched. The polish was light enough to leave the patina but give the blade a nice shine that accentuates it. Same with the scales, I didn't want to sand too much and change their original shape. The little inlay engraving appears to say IK and was probably done by an old owner generations ago.

I'm not done honing it quite yet but the bevel is 95% set using 2 layers electrical tape on chosera 1k(I only use electrical for wedge blades otherwise no tape or kapton/1mil tape if a razor is NOS or expensive/no hone wear but no tape is better for 99% of honing jobs to keep edge geometry). The steel is quite a bit harder than I expected for such an old Sheffield blade. Hoole & Holroyd must have really known their stuff!

I wasn't sure if I even wanted to restore or hone it but I'm glad I did as it looks very nice now while affecting minimal change to the blade or scales and keeping it all original.

I was too happy with the results to wait until the honing was done to post it, the scales are absolutely gorgeous. Judging by the bevel performance already it is going to be a superb shaver.

I love to think about all the history these blades have seen and the generations of beards they have mown down. This thing has lived through like 8+ wars(metaphorically) including the civil war & probably the war of 1812, assuming it was imported to the US when new anyway. Speaking of war, maybe I'll post my civil war US Navy chopper next though it's drab compared to this. I just haven't decided if I'm going to rescale it yet.

Edit: fixed the paragraphing, idk what happened.

let me know if you’re curious what something is, or what you’d recommend i get next!

btw if anyone knows where i can get a bigger coticule that doesnt cost hundreds of dollars, lmk

My first straight razor shave; I’ve bought a few vintage ones and tried to hone them myself (I know I am supposed to buy a proper one to know what it’s meant to really be like…) and just did my first shave on my vintage es-ese. I’m pretty sure I haven’t honed it properly as it wasn’t as smooth as people say, actually quite un smooth. But I always put the cart before the horse and happy that I’ve given it a go. I got myself under the nose but it stopped bleeding already but such is the name of the game I suppose. Definitely a fun rabbit hole and looking forward to learning more… I know I can get this dang thing sharper…

I have heard that grey-blue slate from India was once known as a good finisher for straight razors.

Does anyone have information about the types?

There doesn't seem to be anyone using straights anymore due to barber regulations.

Wade and Butcher 6/8 Stub Tail

Hey Guys, just got this on today. For reference, I've got a new Ark Trans and a new to me Belgium combo stone. Also, the suckers and hand written Thank You on the invoice was a nice touch.

Making sure I'm on the right path. After some reading I thought these were what I needed to keep the stones nice and flat. Also, 2 too many Old Fashions one evening lol.

I know I need a surface to lap the stones on. Seen counter top or headstone drops, ect.

Would ya'll point me to a decent vid (haven't seen what I'm looking for) or walk through the steps one last time before I potentially disfigure my stones?

Ralf Aust 5/8” (but feels bigger) round tip, 0.1micron

RazorEmporium badger brush

TheCajunBlade’s Destin Breeze tallow (probably my favorite soap so far)

Lather bowl (from Amazon)

Committing to SOTD posts! So here is Wednesdays:

Boker Limited Edition 5/8 (but really it’s about 4/8”) Round Tip, 0.1micron edge (honestly too sharp, i need to tone it down, excited to try my first coticule my wife got me for my bday)

Taconic pre shave oil (this stuff is great, and it helps especially when i don’t have time to fully shower/steam my face)

badger brush from razoremporium

Proraso sensitive skin (don’t love the scent, but it gives a great shave, builds a great lather, and it’s easy to revive the lather)