Thread: My progress since last November

Last November AFDavis11 met with me to help with stropping and honing. Below is part of a private message I sent him. It may help other beginners in some way. Also, as mentioned below, many on this forum gave me great feedback and tips, so I thank all who post regularly for taking the time to help us beginners! The people here are really special.

Private Message Excerpt:

Thought I'd send an update on how I'm doing.

The razors:
Got seven of them now. Yep, I know...RAD. But I enjoy the rotation, which in a way keeps me alert.

• 2 Boker (Silver Steel), 6/8, both round points - the ones you've already seen
• 2 TI (different models), 5/8 & 7/8, both straight (American?) points
• 2 Ralf Aust (different models), both 6/8, round point and a Spanish point
• 1 Dovo (Forestal), 5/8, round point

Stropping:
Going well. Still rely mainly on stropping to keep my edges sharp. Glad to have figured it out last November, with your (AFDavis11) and other forum members' help. Thanks for the verbal handholding, so to speak! (Readers can check my post asking for help under the "stropping" forum here at Straight Razor Place.)

Honing:
Finally had to resort to a touch-up honing session with my 12K Naniwa for one of my blades. Worked beautifully. Shortly afterward, I bought a TI factory-ready shave state. Shaved with it for a month or so after C/O paste stropping, but eventually decided to take it to my Norton 4K/8K stones to set the bevel and refine the edge...and finish off with my Naniwa 12K. A world of difference in shaving with it now!

Thanks for your (AFDavis11) instructions during the session last November. I would not have the success I'm experiencing without your (AFDavis and other forum members) help!!! The honing process is really enjoyable. I'm watching the way the edge pushes the water on the stones and eventually seeing the water rise up onto the blade during strokes as the edge becomes really sharp. Light/smooth strokes. Using just the weight of the blade for most strokes. I'm using my loop to check the edge as I move through the stones, as well as using a Sharpie to make sure I start by hitting the right spot and angle along the entire edge on both sides. Tend to already prefer touching up with a stone to using paste. In any case, it feels wonderful to be able to judge my edges and know that I can bring them back to "shave-ready" state.

Shaving:
For the most part shaving with a straight razor hasn't bothered me. I'm mostly shaving WTG with the straight razors and cleaning up a DE. Tried a few XTG straight razor shaves too, but not enough to build muscle memory. One thing I notice is that light passes with good angle is key not only for comfortably close shaves but also for minimizing razor-edge trauma, which means easier maintenance.

Bottom line:
It's coming together. I'm enjoying the experience and the learning process, as well as getting wonderful shaves.

Bill

Bill,

Awesome update and we're all glad to hear you're doing well. Thanx for posting that. I've always found the folks who take the time to meet up with others have the shortest learning curve.

Alan

Alan,

If you're up for it, once the weather turns nice in the Spring, I'd like to meet up again to have you check my work.

Bill

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Bill,

Awesome update and we're all glad to hear you're doing well. Thanx for posting that. I've always found the folks who take the time to meet up with others have the shortest learning curve.

Alan

Alan:
I've said this before and it bares repeating, to you and all the mentors out there THANK YOU! From all of us that are new the help that this community gives us is simply awesome. I agree 100% , in my case the help I have received from the men that have taken the time, either in person or by PM, to respond to my inquiries and to guild me through the challenges has helped me immensely.

You all inspire me.

Looks like you are making some great progress. Keep up the great work

Originally Posted by FranfC

Alan:
I've said this before and it bares repeating, to you and all the mentors out there THANK YOU! From all of us that are new the help that this community gives us is simply awesome. I agree 100% , in my case the help I have received from the men that have taken the time, either in person or by PM, to respond to my inquiries and to guild me through the challenges has helped me immensely.

You all inspire me.

Thanx, we actually get a lot out of it too!

Originally Posted by Bcunning

Alan,

If you're up for it, once the weather turns nice in the Spring, I'd like to meet up again to have you check my work.

Bill

Bill,

Certainly, I'm already looking forward to it. We'll just have to deconflict with my fly fishing. A man has to have his priorities!