Thread: Old man trying to learn more about a rekindled addiction...affliction....interest

Thank you all for the warm welcome. I have taken some time to read information from the forum library (very good information) as well as looking at YouTube videos on razors, sharpening and shaving. Soooo much information out there. I look forward to taking with you to get your input and doing some of my own trial and error (this is part of the fun....right?).

Originally Posted by Oldmanshaving

Thank you all for the warm welcome. I have taken some time to read information from the forum library (very good information) as well as looking at YouTube videos on razors, sharpening and shaving. Soooo much information out there. I look forward to taking with you to get your input and doing some of my own trial and error (this is part of the fun....right?).

"Part of the fun", yes! But... not without its pitfalls. Attempting to teach yourself how to hone while also learning how to shave with a straight razor is more than strongly discouraged. Many who try it quit both in short order. As suggested above, it would behoove you to get your razor honed by someone with the necessary experience (do NOT take it to a "sharpen shop"! If the person honing your razor doesn't shave with a straight, they don't know what a proper edge is.).

With that said, you most certainly can teach yourself how to hone... just not on your daily shaver. Start haunting your local antique shops, keeping an eye peeled for vintage razors made in Sheffield, England, Solingen, and Germany, to name a few places of origin. I bookmarked the two library pages of "good/avoid brands of straight razors" on my phone, so I could pull up those references quickly when out "in the wild" . I would suggest not spending more than ten bucks or so on a vintage razor you will use for self-education (make sure the blade has no cracks, or major chips/rust). There are plenty of them around, so there is no need to feel like you're destroying a piece of history.

If you come up dry in the search for razors to practice on, drop me a line. I have a few "beaters" without scales, sitting at the bottom priority of my "to-do" pile. I could part with one, as they were in a multi-item lot that didn't cost much. The only problem is finding them...

Hello and welcome to SRP.
Enjoy your time here on the forum.

Pete <:-}

Welcome to SRP, one old man to another .........

Welcome to SRP!

Take your time to learn from this sight and you will be rewarded with a reduced learning curve and great shaves, but be warned - you may develop one or more addictions! Have fun and enjoy! Great site and a great bunch of guys.

Hi and welcome. Definitely try connect with locals. Will really cut the learning curve. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask