Thread: Thankyou Everybody

For those who don't know me, I started straight shaving in January.

Thanks to the knowledge, tips and generous help from this site and its members, tonight I had my first shave from blunt razor through to BBS shave.

I started with a cheap razor from Larry @ whipped dog, then quickly moved to some better razors. Learnt the stropping basics on the poor mans strop and now use a modular paddle strop from SRD.

This afternoon I had my first real attempt at honing - a Gold Bug razor. Started with the Chosera 1k to set the bevel, then the Norton 4/8 (from Havachat, thanks), and finishing with stropping - 50 on rough leather and 100 on smooth leather. I didn't use any finishing hones after the 8k as I wanted to remove variables should the blade not shave well.

Was a nice smooth shave, admittedly not quite as smooth as the razors gssixgun had honed for me, but still comfortable and effective... plus very satisfying.

I wouldn't have been able to do this without this site and its members.

To those new or considering trying a straight razor shave, I would highly recommend taking the time and reading through the great threads here, and attend local meetups if possible or find a mentor willing to help. The local meetups I have attended allowed me to see first hand what it's all about and have met some great people along the way.

Thanks again,
Andrew

Hey Andy,
You've done well, the site definately is a brilliant resource but part of your success is because you have put the effort in to learn and asked the questions that you needed to ask to fill in the gaps.
I suppose I am saying that your success is as much or more because of your effort.
I

I think you have to give your planned and sensible approach to starting this new hobby it's due also. You did not jump in Helter Skelter asking question only after running into trouble. You are a pretty big part of your success too.

Bob

Thanks Ed & Bob.

Congrats on the honing success. Unfortunately that first blade just stokes the fire.

The information resource from those who have learned before us and those who are practiced and knowledgable is an incredible resource. Congratulations on your success.

Andy -- Isn't it nice feeling like you have friends and helpers even though you've never met them. I started about 6 months before you, but have gotten similar results, although I haven't gone "all the way" on honing yet, but I have the hones, so will.

Congratulations on your great progress! Best of all, it sounds like you're enjoying yourself, which is what's most important.

Just a warning, a the 15 month mark I have seven razors and more in the mail

Hi Andrew,
Congrats on your accomplishments. You would not have been able to do it w/o your research, getting gssixgun to hone a razor for you so that you could see what one feels like freshly honed & stropped & all the rest of you efforts. I'm sure it was a big challenge for you as well & you were successful at doing so. As told to many new people on here, there is so very much info on here to learn from & you took great advantage of that by learning everything you could in order to be as successful as you were, so keep up the great work & you will not only do much better as you go but you will be an asset to the SRP community from you achievements. You have done very well my friend!
Steve

Thanks everyone for your encouraging and kind words.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Andy -- Isn't it nice feeling like you have friends and helpers even though you've never met them. I started about 6 months before you, but have gotten similar results, although I haven't gone "all the way" on honing yet, but I have the hones, so will.

Congratulations on your great progress! Best of all, it sounds like you're enjoying yourself, which is what's most important.

Just a warning, a the 15 month mark I have seven razors and more in the mail

You should have warned me back in January lol. I'm up to about 40 razors. 12 Wade & Butchers, 3 x 7 day sets plus some others... going to slow down now, pretty much have the razors I want, hopefully I'm strong enough to resist the temptations... so many nice razors around, so many styles, so much history!