Thread: First Straight Shaves

Originally Posted by TomSlick

Maybe I should just put in a new blade. Gotta find out where it goes. What do I twist?

OK, now I'm confused. Are you saying that your razor is a shavette with replaceable blades? I find it had to imagine that Ralf Aust would make a shavette. I may be wrong, but I suspect that if you have a shavette, then you don't have an Aust. If you have an Aust, then you don't have a shavette.

I think that we really need a photo of this razor.

I think maybe he was joking.?

First owner may have buggered up the edge, if you read here much you should start with a shave ready edge! But I'll say this , get it done so that variable is taken care of , then the next thing is, you don't know how to shave yet! It will take time and learning all over a new skill set, plus learn to stretch the skin properly. And by the way the La Toja shave stick, it's very good so don't hold it against him, this guy was new and didn't really know what he was doing cause of being a newbie hisself but he sent you good stuff just use it right and you will ve fine, but don't think it's an overnight process,, a few months from now you will be able to judge an edge,, good luck. Tc

Ive only just started as well. My first shave was just like yours, down the side burn and finish with the DE. I also expirienced a lot of pulling. I got mine from whipped dog so I knew the edge was not the problem but my lack of skill. I have had several more shave since i started and they have progressed rather well. Stick with it and it will start to all come together.

Phil

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I think maybe he was joking.?

Yah, that makes more sense. I did not expect that from a beginner!

Sorry about that, I was just playing around. I've been a member for less than a week and I find myself jerking a distinguished member's chain. I will try for more dignity in the future.

Back to the straight razor: this morning went just fine! Massive improvement. I stropped nicely and made the angle of attack much shallower. Yesterday I think I was holding the razor at approximately the same angle of my DE blade. The advice for 1 or 2 spine widths of the razor was well received. I shaved my cheeks and was very pleased.

Maybe it was just the Mitchell's Wool Fat that I brought out this morning? It fixes everything.

Thank you all for your advice and encouragement.

Really, the first few shaves have nothing to do with "a good shave". It's like a meet and greet between you and the razor. If you don't nick yourself and/or have bad shave burn you were successful.

After that then you can begin to concentrate on the shave itself. I'd reserve judgement on the razor for the time being.

Originally Posted by TomSlick

Sorry about that, I was just playing around. I've been a member for less than a week and I find myself jerking a distinguished member's chain. I will try for more dignity in the future.

Back to the straight razor: this morning went just fine! Massive improvement. I stropped nicely and made the angle of attack much shallower. Yesterday I think I was holding the razor at approximately the same angle of my DE blade. The advice for 1 or 2 spine widths of the razor was well received. I shaved my cheeks and was very pleased.

Maybe it was just the Mitchell's Wool Fat that I brought out this morning? It fixes everything.

Thank you all for your advice and encouragement.

Absolutely no apology is needed. I'm usually the guy putting his foot in his mouth. You simply made a good joke that I assumed to be beyond a beginner and so I fell for it. No dignity is required, just keep experimenting!

I'm glad to hear the next shave went better.

I am progressing about as well as I can. Developing the dexterity is just going to take some time. I have even done the mustache/lip area. Just getting the blade into the right position is a challenge. You would not think that getting the razor into a position to shave under your nose could be such an issue.

Being fairly cocky, I was thinking "How can you slice up a strop? Just lead with the spine and flip it on the spine. That isn't very hard." The answer: When you slice a strop, it happens real quickly. For example, stop to adjust your grip on the razor a little bit and lose concentration on which direction you were going. One little split second move in the wrong direction and you are looking at a cut on the strop. Cocky, but not unprepared: I bought 2 of the poor man's strops from Larry at Whipped Dog. The nice bridle leather strop will have to wait.

Originally Posted by TomSlick

I am progressing about as well as I can. Developing the dexterity is just going to take some time. I have even done the mustache/lip area. Just getting the blade into the right position is a challenge. You would not think that getting the razor into a position to shave under your nose could be such an issue.

Being fairly cocky, I was thinking "How can you slice up a strop? Just lead with the spine and flip it on the spine. That isn't very hard." The answer: When you slice a strop, it happens real quickly. For example, stop to adjust your grip on the razor a little bit and lose concentration on which direction you were going. One little split second move in the wrong direction and you are looking at a cut on the strop. Cocky, but not unprepared: I bought 2 of the poor man's strops from Larry at Whipped Dog. The nice bridle leather strop will have to wait.

Thats why it pays to start with an old belt... Like mine.

This is my second belt from years ago. Hangs next to my 3" strop to remind me to pay attention [emoji1]