Thread: My disastrous first shave.

HI, Interesting comment about the parker shavette. Is this something other people recommend to learn shaving? I ask this as a beginner, have ordered a razor etc but haven't received it yet.

Sorry to hear of your experience mattabaum. I hope it improves for you. Would like to hear your progress, as Im a newbie as well. I hope my first attempt doesn't end up in emergency room like you, but time will tell

Originally Posted by AndrewJM

HI, Interesting comment about the parker shavette. Is this something other people recommend to learn shaving? I ask this as a beginner, have ordered a razor etc but haven't received it yet.

Hi AndrewJM. The Parker Shavette (there are others available) helped me to learn. It was cheap and to me it made sense as the razor was sharp and if I dropped it, no worries new blade, no harm done, I couldn't mess up stropping it, etc etc.

In a perfect world it would be better to go straight to a straight (no pun intended) but I didn't know anyone locally who could hone at that point so for me again the Parker made sense. A cheap introduction to straight razor style shaving.

When I picked up my straight I cut my self several times as I did when I first got my Parker but within a day or two I was as confident with the straight as I was the Parker. I learned much about light touch with the Parker and very quickly.

Its true my straight gives me a more comfortable shave than the Parker, but I for one looking back thought it was a good introduction.

Funnily enough my Parker was returned to me tonight by a friend I lent it to, he now has his own straight and like me prefers it to the Parker. However we both agree it was a good start for a couple of newbies.

Hope that helps

Thanks again Kev, you always seem to reply in detail to my posts

FYI I just emailed larry at whipped dog, ordered a sight-unseen razor, was only around $40, and the poor mans strop, I thought I may try first with that, just in case I drop it or something stupid. I figure I will also use that blade eventually to learn to hone. I also have the ralph aust kit on order with SRD, which I will use after the first couple of tries with Larry's blade. Im guessing I have a high chance of screwing up the blade when I try my first hone, so I didnt want to ruin the ralph Aust, and I needed to order the poor mans strop anyway, so I dont ruin the english bridle from SRD.

You'll have to let me buy you a beer sometime, when Im next up north.

Andrew

Originally Posted by AndrewJM

Why do paddle stops cut down the learning curve?

Because they don't flex. There is less chance of rounding the blade or so the theory goes

Interesting comment about the magnifying glass. Do others do this to inspect their blades after honing or stropping?

Sure do, its amazing to see the difference between each stage of honing , and also to check the bevel for damage etc. a great tool indeed.


Thanks again Kev, you always seem to reply in detail to my posts

FYI I just emailed larry at whipped dog, ordered a sight-unseen razor, was only around $40, and the poor mans strop, I thought I may try first with that, just in case I drop it or something stupid. I figure I will also use that blade eventually to learn to hone. I also have the ralph aust kit on order with SRD, which I will use after the first couple of tries with Larry's blade. Im guessing I have a high chance of screwing up the blade when I try my first hone, so I didnt want to ruin the ralph Aust, and I needed to order the poor mans strop anyway, so I dont ruin the english bridle from SRD.

You'll have to let me buy you a beer sometime, when Im next up north.

Andrew

I answered a couple of your previous posts in red as I don't know how to multiple Quote yet…lol

Larrys blade will be a great start and like you say it will be good to learn to hone on as well. The Ralph Aust will be superb too.

It can't be denied there is a learning curve, but its enjoyable what ever happens. I dropped my whipped dog razor, It did have a wee bit of damage to the edge, but it was nothing I couldn't sore our with my 12K barbers hone, and my poor mans strop kit also from whipped dog. I used a 30X magnifier to check my work at all stages and I got away with it. It was a great learning curve and I enjoyed the adrenaline…lol

Keep an eye on the Aussie bit of the forum as I believe Mike is attempting to get a meet up sorted. We'll have a beer together then

Thanks again Kev Dont worry , I dont know how to multiple quote yet either (or even what that means lol). Im trying to be a part of this community and hope im not breaking any rules by posting where I shouldn't etc, its hard with so much info and so many posts here, to know if posting a new thread is ok or if there is already a thread going.

Im looking forward to the learning curve actually. All part of the fun in my opinion. Took me over 100 shoe shines, different products and techniques to get the art down perfectly, I reckon I can put a shine on a boot now as good as any soldier.