Thread: Reaching back to go into the future

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Points

the shave was nowhere near the smoothness that I would want for my Hollywood face

Classic!!!

Stick with us Folded....in about 6 months straight shaving will be 2nd nature. Well, it took me 9 months, but I was stubborn to give up my DEs.

Originally Posted by foldedandhoned

Thanks everyone for your opinions.
I think I got got. I thought I did a fair amount of research but...
This SR thing is now a challenge for me and I will shave nic free one day.
Does anyone have a suggestion about a new razor for me to buy?
The blade I got from VSR is stamped with a crest in the German tradition...Egales, feathers, talons, all that, and I can barely make out the letters GB.
I live in a very remote part of the states and can't just walk down to the local razor shop and pick one up.
Oh, and I don't have a potty mouth, I speak and type English in all it's colorful glory. Misspellings included.
Nor am I a hippster.

Best
Folded

There are several options in the classifieds right now. How much money are you willing to spend? If you want brand new you'll want to look after the names Dovo, Boker, Whacker, Hart, Revisor, Theirs Issard, or Ralf Aust. If vintage will work, the classifieds have a lot of options. I recall a nice looking Bartmann there last time I looked. But in the world of vintage razors, the name brands are so plentiful that its hard to suggest any one brand. Generally the most common suggestion is a 5/8 or 6/8 round tip for a new user. I would go with the 6/8 myself as I find its size more ample and optimal for my hand. I also prefer a square tip since I can more readily see where the final cutting edge is. The round tip is often suggested because its a little more forgiving around your facial features. But to be honest, after a dozen shaves, you're probably aware enough to avoid cutting your ear off. You're budget will have a lot to do with picking your best option so let the group know what you're working with financially and some recommendations will likely follow.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Honestly this is just going to get very confusing but I will try...

There is no such thing as "Real" Damascus any longer, there are people out there chasing it

What the custom steel guys call Damascus is actually "Pattern Welded" steel

What is being sold as Damascus by the Pakistani Steel slingers is total crap at this point in time

Some of the Damascus being sold in the US by US companies that supply knife steel is also not suitable for razors

Before any of you say it "Yes I have tested every single one that I can get my hands on" every time I see some poor newb that has been suckered by a new name out there I send a PM and ask to test the razor..

Keep in mind besides the quality of the steel the actual geometry of the razor comes into account too, many of these are simply RSO's or Razor Shaped Objects and cannot shave regardless of the steel


Some of the Quality Pattern Welded / Damascus does make for a good razor... note I did not say great but that is another thread in itself...


Now let all the steel bangers jump in

Not a bit confusing, thanks. That was perfectly lucid, especially considering how much razor dust, oxides, mentholated pre-shave lotions and badger bristle tips you've probably inhaled over the years.

(It was my assumption something called "damascus" as a typical lower-priced first razor purchase would likely be a sad performer. Thanks for your further explanation.)

Originally Posted by WW243

...straight razor shaving is not a b*^%#, it is worthy pursuit.

I would have to agree; the practice is perhaps mildly artful, demanding of progressive practice, slightly demanding of concentration and, most important, strictly requiring the user to know his tools and how to maintain them. I was getting OK shaves in a week or so and perfectly acceptable shaves in less than a month.

Can anyone out there offer me any words of wisdom?

It was not a bitch for me. I read the stickies, practiced with a butterknife and bought an old but professionally honed/stropped first razor.

I wish you (Folded) nothing but improved luck with the next purchase.

On your shave experiance it sounds like either improper prep or pressure or both the lack of skin pressure is realy the hardest step to nail down and if you have a realy heavy thick beard you can dull a blade with improper prep ... the steel should hold edge well ... stroping is another hard step if you have a tendancy to lift or roll the spin away from the strop you can damage the edge also you can apply to much pressure when stroping obviously easily apply to much pressure stroping just as shaveing

Well all you can do is try and gets refund, and put it behind you. No sense in Getting angry. If its any consolation the first razor bought was not a razor i should have bought.
My first shaves (after Getting a properly honed razor) were still not encouraging, but it is coming together now, provided I don't try to change things (using a different razor for example) then I take a few paces back, but that's ok because I can still see the improvement.
I will tell you the things I have been doing, but they might not work for you, however as I like being thrifty where possible (most of the time) none of it is expensive.
I cold water shave, after washing my face as a minimum, or showering.
I use Palmolive shaving soap, glycerin and shaving cream mixed together to make my lather.
I lather twice before shaving, one on top of the other with a very short break inbetween.
I have been using a cream with vitamin e in it both pre and post shave, the vitamin e is supposed to help calm and heal skin.
I use alum to help grip my skin when stretching. Stretching is important if you want a good shave.
I relather between passes, I usually break this down into areas ie left cheek, shave that bit etc. This is only on second/third passes.
After shaving I use witchhazel, followed by vitamin e cream.
If I am at home (rather than away at work) I spray on some EDT so I smell nice.
Hope this might be a catalyst for some more questions, though with my level of experience I am almost out of answers.
Regards ed.

Put the bad experience behind you if you can. Read the library on this forum and if you have specific questions ask them. Forget about having experience with sharpening knives, believe me honing a straight is different.

Bob

I just bought a vintage razor (Wade & Butcher 6/8) from the classifieds on this sight. I hope it will be more enjoyable than the shite I purchased from VSR.
You guys have been very helpful and have passed on a lot of good information. I suppose that it's all up to the practice, once I get a decent razor.
I know that my experience with knives is totally different from a shaving blade...new skill to learn.
So, is it important to pre-shave? How much ritual is necessary? What exactly have I gotten my self into?
Best,
Folded

Sounds like you are on the right path. Takes time to learn, after a year I still learn new things and techniques.