Thread: horrible first straight razor shave experience

I don't mean to be discouraging, and I'll be interested to see what you do with the fine Major's gear once you get and try it. However, there is a lot of combined experience on here (SRP), and I believe I can with some certainty tell you that SR shaving may just not be for you. Decent double edge safety razors and a years supply of blades can be had for closer to $20 than anything you will ever get in the SR world AND give you a closer and more comfortable shave than you'll get with any disposable. Think about going that direction and read the posts in the "shaving with a DE razor" section of the forum. This is supposed to be enjoyable and comfortable for you, not dangerous and aggravating. Buying a decent 8K stone and getting your current stones to a usable (lapped flat) condition to handle rehab work on the Gold Dollar you have will cost more (and continue to be more aggravating) than the path I am suggesting UNLESS you fall in love with the shavette that the Major sends you and stick with it.

For instance, if you decide to go this route, look here: http://www.maggardrazors.com/product...safety-razors/

One major thing. You keep quoting $100 as the price for a good razor. This is not so. You can get a dovo best quality for 8 if you want brand spanking new. Or you can go the vintage route. I have 12 razors. 4 of them free and 7 were anywhere from 10-30 dollars and one (my first) was a dovo pearlex (170). I sometimes regret buying that razor because if I was smart then that money could have turned into at least 5 other razors. I know a lot of us suggest people to stay away from vintage ebay razors as they don't know what to look out for but I have some good experience with finding good razors for cheap and I can keep an eye for something that would suit your budget. Or I can suggest some good razors to keep an eye out. Genco's are what I suggest a lot of newer people buy if going the vintage route. They are great blades and can be had for quite cheaply while still being in great condition. Heck I got a Genco for 20 and it was never used. A friend of mine was also able to get a similar deal. I believe his was NOS too.

Why don't one of you razor hoarders ,do a Pay it forward !!! And get this guy up and running !!!! It's a win -win......I have done it 3 times...no brag ..just fact..LOL

Originally Posted by nessmuck

Why don't one of you razor hoarders ,do a Pay it forward !!! And get this guy up and running !!!! It's a win -win......I have done it 3 times...no brag ..just fact..LOL

I believe a few members have done this, some of them only to find the stuff for sale on ebay a week later.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I believe a few members have done this, some of them only to find the stuff for sale on ebay a week later.

I spoke with @razorfeld and even better news for @metulburr... Along with the shavette, I'm going to send along an actual straight razor. @razorfeld sent me a gold straight to help when I was learning. I'm going to send this along to metulburr and keep the "pay it forward" going. It was originally honed by @razorfeld and @cudarunner did a touch up on it recently as I didn't have my stropping down yet. It's a good shaver and should give him a chance to compare the shavette and a good straight.

Your generosity overwhelms me.

I believe a few members have done this, some of them only to find the stuff for sale on ebay a week later.

I can assure you that its not a ploy to make a profit. I will remember and pay it forward when i can.

Again Thank you.

Originally Posted by metulburr

Your generosity overwhelms me. I can assure you that its not a ploy to make a profit. I will remember and pay it forward when i can. Again Thank you.

No worries. Your tax dollars pay my salary so you basically paid for the Parker. And @razorfeld hooked me up with the straight I'm sending, so thank him.

Originally Posted by metulburr

Your generosity overwhelms me.


I can assure you that its not a ploy to make a profit. I will remember and pay it forward when i can.

Again Thank you.

metulburr, just to keep the confusion from happening, Major is sending you a Gold Seal straight. NOT to be confused with the Chinese Gold Dollar. The Gold Seal is a reputable brand and an excellent shaver when maintained properly, as Major will tell you. Do enjoy and go slow to learn more in depth at each step you encounter.

Originally Posted by nessmuck

Why don't one of you razor hoarders ,do a Pay it forward !!! And get this guy up and running !!!! It's a win -win......I have done it 3 times...no brag ..just fact..LOL

Ok I man up send me a PM and I will send you a shave ready vintage SR. Need and address and name. I got a few that are in my hoard and if your serious We the community want to help.
All we ask is that when you get to a better place ....pay it forward

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

metulburr, just to keep the confusion from happening, Major is sending you a Gold Seal straight. NOT to be confused with the Chinese Gold Dollar. The Gold Seal is a reputable brand and an excellent shaver when maintained properly, as Major will tell you. Do enjoy and go slow to learn more in depth at each step you encounter.

@Razorfeld
I at first thought it was a Gold Dollar. Which i assumed was just professionally honed. That makes me even more excited. Thank You.

Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

Everything is in the mail. You'll have a great straight and a Parker if that doesn't work out. I sent you about 200 blades of different brands.

@MajorEthanolic
Thank you so much Major. wow, that is a lot of blades. Thank you. Does this straight razor have to be honed or stropped before use? I apparently am unable to hone it due to inexperience and not high enough grit.

Originally Posted by ultrasoundguy2003

Ok I man up send me a PM and I will send you a shave ready vintage SR. Need and address and name. I got a few that are in my hoard and if your serious We the community want to help.
All we ask is that when you get to a better place ....pay it forward

Thank you ultrasoundguy. Msg sent.




I am not sure about these different brands and the differences between them. The parker and blades make sense though. I will try them out and report back. Do you guys hoarding razors use a lot of different razors or specifically just one?