Thread: The Ponderings of a Beginner

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

Hey, Steve. How long did it take before you had to use a pasted paddle strop --- before you could no longer get the razor shave ready just by stropping?


Justin

Well, I've had a long standing issue (somewhat still going on). I've been able to get only 2 maybe 3 shaves before having to go to the pasted paddle (I don't use i t anymore since I got the Norton). Much of my problem was in the stropping.

Now, I've been able to extend that to 5 or 6 shaves before needing the Norton. I've learned that I can improve that by proper stropping which I'm still learning.

I can't figure out why I'm not getting the 4-6 weeks others do but I know stropping is the key. I've come along way but have a long way to go.

The barber's test I posted seems to help me determine better when that edge needs something more than just a strop but I'm also still learning sensitivity on my thumb. I do pretty good at testing the edge off the hone but the thumbpad test is a little more tricky. For example, I have been testing and noticed that I could feel the blade stick and move with my thumb. Tonight, I noticed that I could feel (on moistened thumbpad) that the edge felt as if it was shaving off my thumbprint.

I think I will credit what minimal success I've been achieving to the barber's thumb and thumbnail tests. Of course, there is the possibility, which I think is very real, that I am going to the hone more than I actually need to because I haven't completely learned the sensations for the thumbpad test. (I know, I need sensitivity training )

I say this because I get different sensations on my thumb but the shave doesn't always feel much different.

Because of those tests, I guess I can say I've gone from 2-3 per week needing to hone to 3x per month. Not great, but on my way.

Hope that confusing answer helps a little. Please, remember I'm still very new and still have much to learn.

Yeah, it's all good Steve. The main reason I ask is because I remember reading somewhere (before I started using a straight) that you only need to use a hone about twice a year. I don't know if that included using a pasted paddle strop or what but if this is some standard then we both have a ways to go. Of course this all has plenty to do with whether one shaves everyday or not and what type of beard one has. I've been shaving everyday or every other day and I have a medium beard that's fairly rough. Later,

Justin

P.S. I think I dull my razor mostly on my chin and mustache --that's some steel wool there.

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

Yeah, it's all good Steve. The main reason I ask is because I remember reading somewhere (before I started using a straight) that you only need to use a hone about twice a year. I don't know if that included using a pasted paddle strop or what but if this is some standard then we both have a ways to go. Of course this all has plenty to do with whether one shaves everyday or not and what type of beard one has. I've been shaving everyday or every other day and I have a medium beard that's fairly rough. Later,

Justin

P.S. I think I dull my razor mostly on my chin and mustache --that's some steel wool there.

Lynn once told me that a barber would send the razor out every 6 months for a professional to hone. Barber hones, pasted paddles, pasted bench hones and Norton's all equate to the same thing - the sharpening of the edge. So I think it's more about once every month to two months before honing is needed again.

Some people will use the pasted paddles in lieu of the stones. Some will use them as a finish polish after the stone.

I am learning to tell the keenness of my edge on 2 spots. Think of the "corners" of your chin. Right there at the jawline. If the razor's going to give me issues, that's the spot. I can usually end up feeling like I've ripped my face off in those two spots, as is the case tonight. The razor was plenty sharp, I think, but I went to the hone as a precaution. I think I may need to flatten out my angle in those spots. My chin area tends to need a flatter angle than the neck and sides do. I've also got another thing I'm going to try in the second half of my testing that this thread is based on.

It might help me get through those areas better and if I can, it will greatly improve my enjoyment.

I'll start in 4 more shaves and post.

In the meantime, learn the stropping as well as you can. You will delay the frequency of needing to hone (either on a stone or pasted paddles) by improving your stropping technique.

I got my shaving cream from Colleen today

My face can tell the difference. It feels healthy and nurtured. Not dried out in any way. I think I can confirm my first thought: TGQ shaving cream is better than soap for my face.

this is a little off topic but last night I wanted to touch up the edge on my razor. It was doing OK, I just felt it needed a little something. I was determined to try using the official X-pattern on my 8K Norton. So, combining the barber's test with the X-pattern, I produced a very nice edge. Tonight, I found out just how nice that edge was. This razor went through everything like a warm knife through butter.

Also, for the chin jawline and underside of chin, I flattened out my angle so that the spine was almost flat on the skin (even flatter than what I posted on shave #1). The result was much less irritation.

I'm also just about ready to throw one of my thoughts out the window. I am starting not to like the long strokes as much as I thought I would. It is turning out that a long stroke doesn't allow for me to adjust my stretching hand so by the time I get to the end of a long stroke, I've lost some tautness and some quality of shave. To be fair, I will give it the next two shaves but I'm well on my way to giving up on the long stroke.

The end result was not as close as I've gotten before but still very close and comfortable. I determined that this is because the cream I got from TGQ was not the same type of cream as originally purchased some months back. It's got all the wonderful features I've grown to love about TGQ cream but it mixes a little differently as the consistency of the cream in the tub is different now than before. I now need to figure out the right amount of water to cream all over again. So I was paying more attention to the cream than the shave.

I'm cutting part one short but 1 shave. Having followed the same proceduresI've confidently come to a conclusion:

1. My beard prep ritual is staying
2. Stropping during shaves is staying
3. Long strokes is out the window
reason: I have not been getting good results, I'm left with a lack of skin stretching control by the time I get down to the bottom of the long stroke and I think I tend to get a little sloppy as I take longer strokes too.

I know I said I would give it 2 more shaves but I simply cannot see what 1 more will do to make a difference.

On to part II (with slight modifications)

I have been extensively studying the barber's manual I purchased and I am going to modify part 2 based on this study.

I will keep:

1. beard prep procedure
2. TGQ shaving cream
3. Edge maintenance test


New variables:

1. Cutting angle: as presented in the barber manual - tip leading diagonally

2. Short strokes (perhaps 2-3 inches in length)

3. mulitple stroppings ( the manual lists in one shave the following: before starting, after completing right side of face, after completing left side of face (before moving on to the chin) and before starting the second shave (for me that would be ATG) - I know this seems senseless but they trained barbers that way so I want to see for myself

4. I'm also going to try and mimic the sections of the shave (as best as possible) as instructed in the manual (it's broken down into14 sections) - read about it here http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...wnload/gid,38/

So the main difference between what I originally proposed as test #2 and this is that I'm adapting the short strokes and shaving movements taught in the barber's manual (by the way, the link I've provided is for the manual of 1961. I have the manual of 1950 and nothing significant has changed in shaving methodology. This is what makes me want to modify my second round of testings.

I'm taking 2 days off to allow my skin to settle down, For some reason I have an abrasion on my right side of the chin and I want it to heal a little first.

Steve,

Just about everything I've learned about straight razor use came from a barber manual. There have been experiments here and there, but I've always ended up going back to the basic principals taught to barbers years ago. Those basics are the foundation for success in my opinion.

I think you are on the right track.

Scott

Originally Posted by honedright

Steve,

Just about everything I've learned about straight razor use came from a barber manual. There have been experiments here and there, but I've always ended up going back to the basic principals taught to barbers years ago. Those basics are the foundation for success in my opinion.

I think you are on the right track.

Scott

Scott:

From you, that means a lot. Thanks!

I am amazed looking at the one I have from 1950, the 1961 edition and even the 2000 edition from Milady that the techniques and basic instruction have changed little. That doesn't happen unless they got it right the first time.

Steve,

Short strokes are the way to go. I have used that for a while now with much better results.

Originally Posted by RichZ

Steve,

Short strokes are the way to go. I have used that for a while now with much better results.

How short? I'm thinking 2-3 inches but I'm open for advice

Originally Posted by steve

How short? I'm thinking 2-3 inches but I'm open for advice

Yes that is what I do about 2 - 3 inches.. It is just alot better.