[JLStorm]

For the new guys out there, there seems to be a lot of confusion on what shave ready means to dealers, and what a truly shave ready razor means to an experienced shaver. Shave ready according to a dealer (generally concerning new razors) are razors that have been mechanically sharpened (generally on a waterstone type wheel) and then hand honed on a stone of some sort, TI for instance uses Belgian waterstones.

So if it is brand new and says "shave ready" why isn’t it REALLY shave ready??

The reason for this is most probably the cost of the man hours required to make a razor truly shave ready for our purposes, my guess is the cost of workmanship would drive the razor prices up and prevent a company from being as competitive in the marketplace with another company that does not spend this time and energy on finishing, and yet can still call their razors shave ready. These razors are sharp of course, and you could shave with them, so don’t think that you are getting ripped off or lied too.

The difference between a factory shave ready razor and a razor that has been honed by an expert such as Lynn, Joe Chandler, Bill Ellis, etc, is the experience level, time, techniques as well as equipment spent honing. The fact that all of their honing is done by hand with no machine grinding makes a VERY large difference in the final edge, and of course the closer detail to the edge that can be observed while hand honing. The shave from a Lynn honed razor will be a much more comfortable, close, and smooth shave than a factory sharpened TI, DOVO, or what have you, this means little or no pulling of your facial hair, and less razor burn, as well as a marker for the time when you yourself start honing.

How to get a truly shave ready Razor

If you buy a razor from Classic Shaving they offer honing services via Lynn Abrams which really makes it convenient to get a brand new shave ready razor that will make your learning curve easier. I also highly recommend the option of buying a used and/or refurbished razor that has also been hand honed and is truly shave ready, this will allow the new shaver to get a quality straight razor that is really ready to shave with. This option generally cost less money than a factory new razor which is not really shave ready according to our high standards.

Please check the Critical Info For Newbies sticky for information on where to find someone who will hone your razor, or sell you a truely shave ready razor http://www.straightrazorplace.com/fo...7407#post47407

Here is a list of members who are also listed in the above mentioned thread who offer new and/or used shave ready razors among other equipment:

1. Lynn Abrams (adjustme69) http://www.straightrazordesigns.com/ New and custom made razors, he also offers honing services through classic shaving as well as by PM on this site.
2. Jim Ayars (VintageBlades) http://vintagebladesllc.com/ Jim carries just about any shaving related item you can think of from shave ready razors, to brushes, soaps and creams; You name it, he has it or can probably get it for you.
3. Joe Chandler (Joe Chandler) http://shop.writerferret.com/ Restored Razors and sharpening services
4. John Crowley(John Crowley) http://www.shavingshop.com/ New and hard to find razors *a great selection of larger razors
5. Bill Ellis (urleebird) http://www.billysblades.com/Straights.htm A master craftsman who offers both custom made and beautifully restored razors
6. Tony Miller (Tony Miller) http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com/ Tony offers everything from new shave ready razors to custom made strops, and everything in between, including full shaving sets for the beginner.
7. David Uthe (uthed)
8. Robert Williams (PapaBull) Robert has a wide selection of rare and hard to find razors.

Why certain razors require more or less honing than others

Last but not least, the material that your razor is made from will also determine how much hand honing is required and how long your edge will remain sharp. Stainless steel for instance takes more work to achieve the same sharpness as carbon steel, but will also stay sharper longer. Also it has been mentioned that if a razor has more of a wedge shape (less hollowing) it will generally require more honing to achieve the same sharpness as a razor that has been partially or fully hollowed, this is due to the amount of metal that must be removed to achieve that perfect edge.

So what’s the big deal?

The bottom line is, at least for your first razor whether new or used, make sure it is truly shave ready by having it hand honed by an expert, this can make or break your shaving experience and WILL show you what sharp truly means. We have seen many new users give up on straight razor shaving because they tried to start with a razor that wasnt really shave ready resulting in painful and inadequate shaves.

I hope this helps eliminate some confusion for the new guys considering where to buy a razor and whether or not to have it professionally honed.

Regards,

Josh

[coully]

I do not regret diving headlong into this wonderful pastime and obsession for which it has become...lol...it has given me alot of enjoyment and knowledge as well as a great compliment of aquaintances and friends,a great many I have never met or seen but who offer their hand of friendship through the forum when ever they are on.

I had so many questions and so few people to ask until I found SRP.

This post by JL Storm is an excellent starting point for all you guys who want to take the plunge into Straight Razors and want to buy a razor or indeed get the old one from the cupboard thats been bugging you to try.

I made the mistake well no, learned by my mistake that a cheap razor from an unknown source or manufacturer does not always help so read the post carefully, for what I paid for my first Straight could have gotten me a quality piece from one of the many people mentioned by JL, my first real shave ready razor came from Bill Ellis and is still even with the addition of new ones one of my favourites and it came shave ready.

My advice to all you newbies and Im no expert is to utilise all the expertise available and get on in there, for the advice given is second to none on here and your first straight shave experience will be great and have you willing your stubble to grow faster so you can do it again.....

Go to the experts, spend as much as you can afford on a razor because the deals on here are awesome and atleast guarunteed that you can obtain them, get them shave ready from one of the listed members here, you will definately not regret it and off you go.

This is just my tuppence worth, thanks JL for putting it up there, and newbies, have fun...

regards,simon

[RichZ]

This was very good advice guys. I remember I recieved my first NEW straight razor as a Christmas gift several years ago. I rushed into the bathroom and didn't understand why my face looked like a piece of meat. ( Some say it was an improvement ) Through this site I learned my razor wasn't sharp enough. I now am a happy shaver with razors that truely are shave ready. Lynn honed a wedge for me and I still shave with it 2 years later with only minor touch ups. The people listed below and numerous others are wonderful helpful people who will truely go out of their way for you. Being a New Yorker I wasn't ready for that . Enjoy and take Josh and Coully's advice as this advice will be very helpful to you.

Way to go Josh and Coully

[superfly]

Originally Posted by JLStorm

How to get a truly shave ready Razor?

[b]

Spend a little time and effort researching this great site with enormous amounts of information, and learn the skill for yourself, just like your grandfathers did.

Originally Posted by JLStorm

So what’s the big deal?

The bottom line is, at least for your first razor whether new or used, make sure it is truly shave ready by having it hand honed by an expert, this can make or break your shaving experience and WILL show you what sharp truly means.

I don't agree with this. Make sure that the razor is shave ready by honing iit yourself, and shaving with it, suffering lousy shaves, and try to improve the results next time. That way you will truly learn the skill, and be able to pass it down to the next generations...

Nenad

[coully]

I think the point being made by JL is about getting your first razor and having a good experience by getting it honed properly by our resident 'experts',to ensure that the first time is good if not great, there is plenty time to learn honing later once you have had your first great shaves.

Another consideration is cost too, not everyone can just go and buy all the equipment and if the newbie doesnt like straight shaving , well its quite an outlay.

Whilst i dont completely disagree with you, its about getting guys to stay the course and not be too discouraged when their honing doesnt quite work out, as Im sure you know it takes a little time to learn.

simon

[mparker762]

I'll second coully. You need to know how good a straight shave can be in order to put up with learning curve on honing. I probably wouldn't have kept up with it if my first few shaves hadn't been so incredibly good, because I had a frustrating month at the norton before I could produce an edge worth shaving with (I amused myself during this period by suffering with the feather).

[superfly]

I understand what Josh wanted to say, and I agree that it is a very good way to start with a straight razor, and have sharpness benchmark, but it is for sure not the only way.

Nowhere in that post it is mentioned that a guy can simply read, understand and try to hone his first razor for himself. I only tried to give the honing another perspective. Expert honing is buy no means your only option when you are beginning with straight razor shaving, but it is a good one.

Nenad

[xman]

Hey, Josh. For this and all your hard work trying to set the new guys straight, it's my pleasure to present you with this
... Gold Star!


Please keep up the good work.

X

[idaho mike]

Originally Posted by superfly

I understand what Josh wanted to say, and I agree that it is a very good way to start with a straight razor, and have sharpness benchmark, but it is for sure not the only way.

Nowhere in that post it is mentioned that a guy can simply read, understand and try to hone his first razor for himself. I only tried to give the honing another perspective. Expert honing is buy no means your only option when you are beginning with straight razor shaving, but it is a good one.

Nenad

Several guys on the forum, myself included, have taken the do it yourself route and had success but I think we are in the minority. I'm still working on getting the perfect edge, but was able to get a reasonable edge on my first attempt. I've honed lots of woodworking tools, so I guess that helped.

[coully]

I for one am not much on the reading and study of things, by that I mean it took Randy Tuttle a few sessions on skype to teach me and the help I recieved from him has really put me on the right track and even now I still ask him the odd question or two, him and a few others.

I know can with a little time put a nice shave ready edge on a razor, ok it takes me a while but I get there,as will those of you who set out on this path and enjoy it..if time isnt an issue then use it and learn slowly and it will come.

simon

[vschwager]

I want to throw my little weight into this arena as well, since I also happen to sell "Shave Ready Razors". I sell mastro Livi's razors and a few Vintage Razors, which I have personally purchased, restored, and honed to shave readiness - I claim them to be shave ready, otherwise I won't sell them.

The first Straight razor I bought was a SS Dovo, beautiful, but useless, because it was blunt, new but blunt (I bought it in London from Geo F. Trumper). A few months ago I sent that razor over to Mastro Livi to have it honed properly. Mastro Livi regrinded it a bit, honed it, and when I got it back it shaved like a dream, the thing just glides smoothly over my face - effortlessly. However, after I first tried it I had almost given up Straight Razor Shaving due to the disappointment I experienced. If the razor had been properly honed before being sold I would have been spared no small amount of disappointment and frustration.

Any newbie buying that razor might have thought: Is this what Straight Razor Shaving is about? When I shaved with it most of my stubble was left exactly where it was, the paradigma was entirely wrong. Straight Razor shaving must be done using a shave ready razor, otherwise it's just a waste of time I think.

When I got my first "shave ready" Straight I finally had a benchmark that told me what I should aim for, how a "shave ready" razor ought to feel when properly used. Before that I had no comparisons available and I really thought that nothing could even come close to DE blades. That's why I don't entirely agree with some opinions here, a newby also ought to know how a "shave ready" razor feels, otherwise he has no idea what to aim for. So, it's good that you have a list of reputable sellers that provide truly "shave ready" razors.

Finally, if you buy a shave ready razor, most likely the honing issue will present itself a few months (or even years) down the road, by that time you should already be proficient with a straight razor. Honing should not be an issue right at the beginning - this might actually scare people away.

My opinion is that straight razors ought to be sold (when new) shave ready. The contrary to me is like buying a new car and then having to take it to the shop to have it tuned up.

[davidcarr3]

I completely agree with Superfly.

Alot of the appeal of the straight razor to me is the challenge of starting out with no skills and cheap or homemade equipment, working at it and ending up with this magical shave I keep hearing about.

If you start off with inferior tools, you will be far better at what you do in the long run.

[metalhead]

for me the honing is a good bit of the allure of this. i am a knife collector spending most of my spare time with a blade and a stone i love the feel of a staight on my skin but have never had the chance to really learn how to properly "clean up" the edge when dull. i see the points in both arguments on one side you get a razor that is ready to go so no stress or worry other than cutting yourself basically starting your addiction on the other side starting from nothing and having to learn and deall with the irritation until you get that perfect edge you will respect and take better care of you blade. in my opinion anyway

[Navaja]

My experience is that you have to learn both skills, honing and shaving, at the same time.

If you don't have a good technique, a "shave-ready" blade won't do much. Even more, if you're a beginner you can ruing a good edge on the strop really quick.

I started with a Dovo Shavette and a shave-ready Wapi. Immediately I bought a yellow coticule to maintain the Wapi, while I was working on my technique.

There've been times, when I was ready to quit, but I decided to stick with it.

I added a DMT-E and another Wapi (not shave-ready) and continued the learning process.

Three months later, I'm starting to get some results, I only use the Shavette for traveling and I'm able to maintain the edges sometimes better than others.