First Hone and Shave in Costa Rica

Hello all...

I don't speak up much here, but I thought I would share a success story of sorts. I'm down here in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. To say the least, there is little around for resources.

This year I muled-in two razors from Whipped Dog, and have been learning everything in a trial by fire (AKA: YouTube).

One blade is marked with "English steel," and ironically seems to be stainless. The other is from Solingen, and bares the brand "Graef and Schmidt." That one has tarnished some over time.

They're both 5/8 half-hallows. The Solingen is my preference, even though the blade is loose in the scales, and I don't know how to tighten it... yet. It seems weightier and comes to a corner in the toe.

I think the biggest hurdle has been stropping correctly. I still think I could be a more gentle stropper, and I'm not sure about my pace.

This may drive you nuts, but I scuttle Ivory soap in an old coffee mug. It's cheap, it works, and it's available here. My brush is dying, but I picked up a new one last week so we should be good going forward.

Now the hones... Norton, 4K and 8K. I just brought them back from LA. I lapped them myself and used Lynn's circle method for setting the bevel on the 4K, and finished on the 8K. I also have 1K and 2K stones, but don't think I need them yet. What I should have picked up was a finishing stone.

After honing both blades to the best of my ability, I stropped them and shaved one side with one, and the other side of my face with the other blade. No nicks, but there is some hair left unshaved. The really fine hairs are not easy for me to get... so far.

I am still on a 2-pass with some clean up but hope to 3-pass in 2016 and become a better honer. I know, better equipment would be a good place to start, but other than that I am open to any advice on stropping, honing and fixing scales.

Thank for reading.

Damon

To tighten the pin on the scales you can tap the pin with a spoon repeatedly. A chasing hammer would be better, but a spoon will work. Do about 10 taps per side and repeat the cycle until it is tight.

For stropping, it is just practice, practice, practice.

For honing, it sounds like the bevel isn't set all the way. Go back to the 4k again. Make sure that check the bevel under magnification.

Thanks... When you say "under magnification," I assume you mean a microscope, yes? I don't really have access to one. :cry:

Get a loop 10x, I'm sure there are several in Costa Rica,,, jewelry stores.

Treat that brush like your own hair, if its a badger brush,,, Ivory soap is famous for how well it cleans the skin,,, meaning that its stripping all oils/everything from the hair in the knot. This will make it hard, brittle,,,,,,,

Solution,,, if your going to keep on using Ivory soap,,, you will need to get some good hair conditioner/revitalizer & use it once weekly on your brush,,,,, squirt a little in your palm,,, work the brush in your palm like you are lathering the conditioner,,, then let it sit "tips up" for 2 minutes,, so the conditioner can work its way toward the knot base,,,, then rinse the conditioner out under warm to cold water,,, then let dry tips down until your next shave.

There are tons of women in Costa Rica with beautiful hair, so there are dozens of choices readily available for conditioners,,, ask around for which is best.

For magnification, a good 10x loupe or magnifying glass will work. 10x is good enough to see that bevels are meeting.

Got it, thanks. I will find a magnifier.

Thanks. That may be why my first brush started shedding hair like it had male pattern baldness... Didn't think of that. I am switching to a synthetic now. Do you think the advice stands?

If you are watching YouTube check out the vids by gssixgun. He has lots of vids from honing to tighten pins.