My first cut

I've been slowly learning this art of SR shaving for about 3 months. I've had a few little nicks and weepers along the way, but nothing unusual. One tiny jab with a French point the first time I used it. But nothing I would call a cut, until the other day. I've been using mostly a 6/8 razor because the 5/8 I bought on Amazon (before I discovered this forum) was not shave ready. I just got the 5/8 professionally honed (thanks Lynn and Don) and was giving it a test drive for the first time. I was about midway through my first pass when for whatever reason, I let myself get distracted and repositioned my thumb on the blade instead of on the jimps behind the blade. That was invigorating to say the least! Luckily, a properly honed razor creates a nice, clean cut, so the little bugger stopped bleeding after a few minutes of pressure.

Moral: Just like responsible firearm handling demands you always know which way your muzzle is pointing, proper SR handling demands you always know where your edge is! The look my wife gave me when I asked her to help bandage my thumb was enough to burn that lesson into my brain.

I feel better now having confessed that embarrassing moment :)

--Steve

Take solace, the thumb cutters club is not as exclusive as you might think.

First off Steve welcome to SRP and congratulations on finding your way here and on deciding to learn this age old skill.

Your experience and advice are spot on, any moment of distraction is an invite to a negative experience and perhaps a painful consequence.

Great to see another member here in the Pacific Northwest, if you need assistance with honing shoot me a PM I would be happy to help.

FrankC

So how was the shave? :p

In the future take a pic. SRP has a thread just for cuts.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...tml#post989192

Well, hopefully it will be the last, but odds are against you. I have lost track of all the cuts I received. Most of them were from a shavette. I finally gave up on it. I stick with a 'real' straight razor. I guess I just don't have the dexterity to work one or my face/beard type does not get along well with them. Show them respect, because they have no respect for you.

We are here for you and understand.
I've cut my fingers more often than I've cut my face.
And I'm still trying to figure out how I cut the hand holding the strop handle when I was stropping, but sure enough, I did it.

The 5/8 and I kissed and made up today. Good shave except the goatee area which I still struggle with. I didn't like the balance on th 5/8 as much as the 6/8, but it was definitely easier doing the ATG pass on my neck with it. Best results so far in that area.