Thread: Ok newbies..Iam going to pay it forward.......

We're off to a good start !!!

Hmm, might as well make this my first post. First I want to commend nessmuck on a truly generous PIF!

I just completed my 3rd week with a DE razor after spending a few decades using various electrics. My first shave I got up early on a Saturday and locked myself in the bathroom. I have no idea why but that first shave ended up really smooth - so much so that I think I spent the rest of the day touching my face in amazement. All the rest of the shaves have been lessons in trying to make a good shave less of an accident and become the expected result.

One of my hobbies is woodworking and I have a fascination with hand tools. My skill in woodworking made a quantum leap once I learned how to make a plane and chisel scary sharp [1]. At the time I thought that using a straight razor would be really cool, but dismissed the silly thought as I could even get razor burn with an electric and every time I tried a disposable it was painful, a poor shave, and even worse burn. This morning I was staring at my face and listening to my de razor doing its job and it dawned on me that much of my previous problem with non-electric shaving was the prep was skipped. Amazing how the quality of the finished project is often driven by the quality of the prep/setup work.

So after shaving I went to the shop making curly shavings (of wood) and decided that maybe it was time to look into straight razors. Wow, information overload! Sooo many choices and I am not even sure where to start. So I found this site and started trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible. My initial search was to find out as much as I could about the feather AS. My thinking was that it would simplify the learning process because I didn't have to worry about my honing skill and could work on learning how to drive the blade. But I am beginning to have doubts about how useful the Feather AS would be as a starter straight. On the other hand it sounds like it would be an awesome option while traveling (less stuff to pack)

Another thing that concerns me about using a straight razor is that it looks very much like an ambidextrous process. I am left handed and thought I was more or less ambidextrous but for the last couple days I have been shaving the right side of the face with the right hand and the results are not quite as smooth as the left side. So how long does it take to be able to use the razor equally well with both hands?

What I would really like to find is someone local (near Seattle) that can help me get started and show me the ropes. I am probably not the best candidate as I am not 110% committed to using a straight yet. You might call me straight curious and am trying to research straights as much as I can and then lock myself in the bathroom early some Saturday morning when I have plenty of time and truly figure this stuff out. I would be grateful for references to good learning resources both on the net and/or in person as well as pointers for where to obtain the hardware (either brick/mortar or online).

- ruckin




[1] Scary sharp - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

All that touching of a clean shaven face has a special term here on SRP...it's called Faceturbating...!!! And we all do it...............

Originally Posted by guitstik

Yea, sure, right. We won't believe it till we see some pictures. Welcome to the madness.

!st SE purchase via e-bay. Barely had it out of the package before I started taking it apart. I didn't pay much so this was to be my effort. A bit too much curve in the scales and still need to put some finish on it but here is my first effort. Had a few other issues but I'll save that for the appropriate forum.

The others haven't arrived in the mail yet. Will upload before and after pics when I get to work on those.
FWIW I still can't get it sharp enough to shave with.

Okay woah ...wait ...hold on... Are you guys getting help ? I mean the contest is on and all but I hope your finding answers in other threads. It just dawned on me that most of the time these stories are followed by a barrage of advice and offers. I don't have time to follow every body so I figured I would do a reality check here just in case :<0)

Yea I'm getting help from the threads here and the library section. The video I watched first was how to make lather with cream not soap so my next attempt should be better. I got the opus X SRD soap and love the smell. I'm looking forward to Monday morning when I can try it all out again! And will be my first stropping attempt as well.

Me too. I have found the library and am trying to soak up as much information as I can. In the mean time I am working on my lathering technique with my DE razor. I received a helpful PM about being left handed (thank you). My big thing now is to see if I can make the honey-do list a bit shorter so I can get my first straight. 24 hours ago I was sure I wanted a Feather, but now I am very strongly leaning toward basic starter razor and strop from one of the vendors here unless anyone can point me to a reputable brick/mortar place in the greater Seattle area. When I figure out what I am getting and/or actually get it in hand I will start a thread so as not to be too far off topic and gum up this one.

ruckin.

Hi all I'm new here and am trying to learn before buying my first straight. I had gone back and forth between an electric razor and cartridges for most of my 61 years. A little over a year ago I got into wet shaving but used a Mach3 blade. A few months ago I started to shave with a DE razor and have to tell you I'm hooked. My wife is complaining I have more products than her. I find the time spent is so relaxing and enjoyable. However, it has been my goal to get a straight razor and use it everyday. I like the looks of them and frankly I believe that is the way shaving is meant to be.
Thanks for letting me share my story. Please send your PIF to Joe as he's the infantry guy and putting our needs ahead of his

Well I just started to use a straight razor that I bout about a week ago and now it my wife let it hit the ground and it has nicks in it. Not to mention it was a cheapy.

But I have wanted to straight shave for months and finally got over time which is rare for me and then I get it use it for a week and .... Well the end is that I have to use a regular razor for a while again :/

Plus one of my goals is for my daughters to expect a man to use a man razor to shave

Thanks for the read
Anthony

Originally Posted by sdpike

Hi all I'm new here and am trying to learn before buying my first straight. I had gone back and forth between an electric razor and cartridges for most of my 61 years. A little over a year ago I got into wet shaving but used a Mach3 blade. A few months ago I started to shave with a DE razor and have to tell you I'm hooked. My wife is complaining I have more products than her. I find the time spent is so relaxing and enjoyable. However, it has been my goal to get a straight razor and use it everyday. I like the looks of them and frankly I believe that is the way shaving is meant to be.
Thanks for letting me share my story. Please send your PIF to Joe as he's the infantry guy and putting our needs ahead of his

Never too old to learn the craft..I took it up 5 years ago @ 53...and I still have a steady hand !!!! I know a lot of people....but Iam the ONLY one using a straight...they just shake their heads........