Back to basics and trying something new
Recently inspired by AFDavis11's recently published article Straight Razor Place - Beginner's Tips: February 2014 , I revisited honing and took 3 razors back to the 8K level of the ladder.
What I discovered is that I can, if I concentrate and practice, achieve success honing with one hand with near zero pressure strokes. After reading the article, I realized that I had been using a tad too much pressure while honing on the light pressure side of the 8K stone. I was dulling the edge and simply polishing a dulled edge at the 12K level.
Well, today, I had the chance to shave with one of the three razors. Count it all joy, it just keeps getting better and better! Best shave to date? Leaning a heavy yes.
Did I try anything new? Yep. Love to.
I have been using boiling water from the kettle to soak a face cloth in and apply to my face before each pass(prior to this, I was only a cold water shaver)
I've been experimenting with different angles, shave and soap combinations, etc., but revisiting the basics with careful attention to detail was vital to the success I just had.
Pressure, angles, careful attention while honing to proper form and pressure, meaningful stropping(again, slow with care to form and complete proper laps, no sloppy passes). *and* practice, practice, practice...
Thanks, SRP and all you wonderful members. Early last year, I had no idea that I would have been straight razor shaving, let alone working on razors and maintaining them myself.
Kind Regards,
Simon
