Thread: OH MY! Am I in over my head?

Originally Posted by jackdashack

Thanks SOLITARY~ Well when I started to shave I knew right off something wasn't right so I quit. Hey I wonder if there is any worthiness to practicing with an non-sharpened. Getting the feel of how to hold the razor and stretch the skin? Maybe a little even? Thanks for the hearty wishes SOLITARYSOLDIER from this old ANCHOR-CLANKER! lol Jack ":-Dx

Sure, dull the edge on the lip of a glass, you can practice stropping with that or lather up an do some pretend shaving to learn angles and grip and using both hands. I did that with a butter knife, but a dull razor would work way better

Originally Posted by rodb

Sure, ~ ~ I did that with a butter knife, but a dull razor would work way better

How about that. A good idea from me after all! haha! Makes buying the cheapo's I bought not a total loss.

Originally Posted by jackdashack

How about that. A good idea from me after all! haha! Makes buying the cheapo's I bought not a total loss.

Yes a good idea to learn how to strop and even honing strokes when and if you go that route. Unfortunately the easiest way to learn shaving is with a sharp razor. With a dull razor I found I would never know I was making technical mistakes until I shaved with a sharp one and received a cut / razor burn.


I'll extend this offer to you. In the classifieds, I am selling a DMT EE 8k with some chromium oxide, a Hard Arkansas stone and some components. If you want, I will PIF them to you so you can maintain your razor, with one caveat. If you don't stay with straight razor shaving you send them back.

I'm even later to the party.

The blue handled RSO is essentially a low end pocket knife that doesn't hold an edge. The scales are actually nicer than the blade, but a bit to heavy to attempt to balance the blade for shaving - again, think pocket knife. It does make for a pretty good paint scraper though. (One of my friends grandkids bought him one and he let me play with it).

Welcome to SRP!

Originally Posted by criswilson10

I'm even later to the party.

The blue handled RSO is essentially a low end pocket knife that doesn't hold an edge. The scales are actually nicer than the blade, but a bit to heavy to attempt to balance the blade for shaving - again, think pocket knife. It does make for a pretty good paint scraper though. (One of my friends grandkids bought him one and he let me play with it). Welcome to SRP!

A good laugh from this one with the point taken also. I am listening carefully to everything said here. Thanks! Jack ":-Dx

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Yes a good idea to learn how to strop and even honing strokes when and if you go that route. Unfortunately the easiest way to learn shaving is with a sharp razor. With a dull razor I found I would never know I was making technical mistakes until I shaved with a sharp one and received a cut / razor burn. I'll extend this offer to you. In the classifieds, I am selling a DMT EE 8k with some chromium oxide, a Hard Arkansas stone and some components. If you want, I will PIF them to you so you can maintain your razor, with one caveat. If you don't stay with straight razor shaving you send them back.

SOLITARY~ Such a nice gesture. Above in the comments Utopian has offered to send me 1 or maybe 2 of his collection to try already honed. Not for sale but for me to see how I do with real ones ready to shave I take it. I accept this offer with great wonder that there is still trust in this world. But he trusted the right guy in my case. I will try them and send them back and then I will know if I should proceed. I will honestly tell you now that my confidence is a bit shaken by all the pitfalls I am hearing. I know there must be something good to all this to many. I hope I am one. I do know that anything I like I will take on and learn if my mind is put to it. Let me see how I do with Utopian's offer of trial. I assume he must have amassed a few before he found his favorites and the one being sent is an extra. It's nice to be able to see what I can do first. I have all these archived here to refer to and I'll get back once I get them on site and see how much blood I lose. If you don't hear from me Utopian has my address. Call 911! lol I live alone. Jack ":-Dx

Originally Posted by jackdashack

A good laugh from this one with the point taken also. I am listening carefully to everything said here. Thanks! Jack ":-Dx

I want to make something clear. For the OP or any other beginner reading this thread...

We are not being snobs in saying that the OP made a mistake in buying this razor. I do believe that he made a mistake, even though his logic of buying cheaper before buying more expensive seemed reasonable. If he had bought a cheap vintage razor, the approach would have had some hope after honing. Unfortunately, with the purchase of what is only a razor shaped object (ROS), the money is pretty much wasted--again, in my opinion. This is because these cheap new razors are made with steel that cannot hold an edge, and for that reason they are not functional as razors. That is why we call them razor shaped objects.

Don't worry about of the pitfalls or blood loss. Most cuts are more like paper cuts and my worst cuts have been to my fingers because I wasn't paying attention.
Just go for it and learn to enjoy shaving.

Me too Cris. I keep band-AIDS for my fingers, I have yet to need one for my face.

Really late I think the party is over. Hi and welcome. It feels overwhelming at the beginning but once you start it is easier than you think. The shaves will fall short in the beginning but you will get there. Good luck with your shaves