Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11

Thread: Hi everyone

  1. #1
    Senior Member bjrn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    465
    Thanked: 3

    Default Hi everyone

    Hi everyone!


    I've only been shaving with DE blades for a short while, but I'm already beginning to feel the urge to get a straight blade. There's somehow something very, very cool about sliding a naked blade across your face. So I thought I'd sign up over here, because this seems to be the place to be when it comes to straight razor shaving. I've browsed the forums a bit so far and wow, it's really full of information.


    I think I will buckle under my wants, and get a straight in a foreseeable future, but perhaps I could ask some questions first.

    Quite a lot of people are suggesting getting a starter pack from The Well Shaved Gentleman, I already have most of the gear needed, so I was looking at the two "basics" sets, and couldn't really figure it out. As I understand it, a straight would need stropping before each shave, and what I've read so far indicates that it's usual to use both canvas and leather for stropping. But there's also a basics set with a four sided paddle strop (with three sides meant to be pasted), does that mean it can be enough to strop using just leather?

    Next, I read that a straight will probably not be as sharp as a DE blade. I wonder how that works. People seem to get really different results with different DE blades, and some write about how they really need the sharper DE blades (like Feathers), how does that work with straight shaving? I can't imagine that everyone who is DE shaving is getting better shaves than straight shavers, otherwise places like this wouldn't exist. Is it ever an issue that the straight isn't as sharp as a DE? Or have I misunderstood the whole thing?

    And on a related note, I live in the Netherlands (Utrecht to be more precise), and was wondering if anyone knew any places in the Netherlands that sell "proper" shaving gear. I know of one in Breukelen (www.barbershopclassics.nl) where I ordered my DE stuff from. Are there any other decent places?


    Phew, that was longer than I thought when I started writing this post.
    Last edited by bjrn; 07-12-2007 at 12:22 AM. Reason: typos

  2. #2
    Super Shaver xman's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Lotus Land, eh
    Posts
    8,194
    Thanked: 622

    Smile Wlcome, bjrn

    I've never shaved with a DE so I can't even compare for you, but I have heard that teh Straight gives a closer shave. I'm sure the European guys will chime in soon enough with all the Euro goodies available.

    Welcome to the Forum.

    X

  3. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    St. Paul, MN, USA
    Posts
    2,401
    Thanked: 335

    Default

    Hello bjrn,

    Welcome from another who is new at the game. There are at least two other Nederlanders here on the forum, Kees and LX_Emergency. You can go to the members list and from there probably post a private message to them to learn more or what may be available to you from close to home.

    Bruce
    Saint Paul, Minnesota
    United States

  4. #4
    Frameback Aficionado heavydutysg135's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    1,367
    Thanked: 92

    Default

    Let me try to answer a few of your questions. Linen is absolutely not necessary for stropping a blade, only the leather is. Some people think that it helps in stropping because it either heats the edge or acts as a very mild abrasive which takes off corrosion before moving on tho the leather.

    As far as your question about the straight being less sharp than a DE in my experience the straight can be close to the same sharpness but they are much less harsh and more forgiving than the machine sharpened DE blades. I used to use a feather/slant combo for months; however, I definately get a closer and more irritation free shave with the straight. The harshness of the DE blade would not let me go ATG against my tough beard without getting nicks and razor burn. When I get a properly honed razor I can go against the grain without irritation and get a comfortable and BBS shave with less nicks and irritation than a DE can provide. With this said the learning curve to getting a great shave with a DE is much less than a straight because there are more components to a straight shave (honing, stroping, blade angle, technique, skin stretching). I am not sure if a properly honed straight razor edge is less sharp than a DE but I do know that they are less harsh on my skin. My whiskers can not tell the difference in blade sharpness (both cut well) but my skin sure can.

  5. #5
    Senior Member bjrn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    465
    Thanked: 3

    Default

    Thanks for the welcomes and the answers!

  6. #6
    Senior Member pilothaz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Hamilton, Canada
    Posts
    816
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    Welcome to the Forum!

    I don't know how the DE shaves either as I went from a Mach3/electric to straight razors. A jump yes, but it was well worth it. You will really get to enjoy the relaxation you can get from the shave, as well as the prep work and honing.

    Hope you enjoy, and will see you around the forum.

  7. #7
    Natty Boh dave5225's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    1,462
    Thanked: 183

    Default

    I'm 52 years old and my first razor was a Gilette adjustable DE . I did not like the DE because the blade was too flexible . I tried a SE , and it gave me too many nicks . I finally settled on a Shick injector razor , which in my opinion was the best razor at the time . I can get a closer shave with a str8 razor than I ever got with a DE , and I've only been shaving with a str8 for 3-1/2 months . As a matter of fact , I can get as close a shave with a str8 , as I could with my Mach 3 .

  8. #8
    Senior Member pilothaz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Hamilton, Canada
    Posts
    816
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dave5225 View Post
    I'm 52 years old and my first razor was a Gilette adjustable DE . I did not like the DE because the blade was too flexible . I tried a SE , and it gave me too many nicks . I finally settled on a Shick injector razor , which in my opinion was the best razor at the time . I can get a closer shave with a str8 razor than I ever got with a DE , and I've only been shaving with a str8 for 3-1/2 months . As a matter of fact , I can get as close a shave with a str8 , as I could with my Mach 3 .
    Yes, but how many passes would you do with the Mach3? because just remember that it would be x 3 lol

  9. #9
    Senior Member bjrn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    465
    Thanked: 3

    Default

    Okay, so I've been straight shaving for a week now, and thought a little progress report might be nice.

    I'm really, really enjoying it, and I'm getting surprisingly good results with it my rescaled Wapi as well. While I'm not getting BBS, I am getting sufficiently smooth shaves, and I can get quite close to BBS on my cheeks with just two passes (with the grain and across the grain).
    Below the jawline is still tricky though, with hair growing so I have to shave from left to right. And I don't feel comfortable using my left hand holding the razor kind of upside down and doing that on my neck so the right side of my neck is especially tricky because I can't reach it well with my right hand either without going against the grain (and that doesn't feel good).

    I've nicked myself twice during this week, once under my nose and once on my chin. Both very very small though so no bloodbaths. So all in all I'm very happy with how things have been going, and I'm really glad I decided to get into straight shaving.


    But today ... I was halfway though my second pass and was rinsing soap and stubble off the blade, but not holding it well and it slipped out of my hand. By reflex my hand shot out to grab the razor and bring it up again. With a bit too much force and I hit the faucet with the blade. So now I have a nick in the blade, about 1/5 down the blade from the toe.

    It's just a small nick, just halfway into the bevel, so perhaps I should get some hones and take this as an opportunity to learn a bit about rescuing razors from careless users. I've attached a photo of it, please ignore the digital artifacts and lack of proper focus, I was trying to get as close a zoom as I could.

    Luckily I'll be getting another (shave ready) razor soon from John, and I have my DE gear as well. But I'm certainly annoyed at myself for messing up a razor, especially after just having it for such a short time.
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  10. #10
    Still hasn't shut up PuFFaH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Poole, Dorset, UK
    Posts
    593
    Thanked: 44

    Default

    I have done the same thing to a razor in a fit of panic as it tumbles into the sink Since then I adopted the habit of a folded shaving towel draped over the sink and into the water with the top over the rim of the sink. I swipe the razor clean on this till the top area is covered with lather, then pull up a fresh area and so on till the end of the shave. When finished shaving, I pull the towl below the surface of the hot water so the lather and stubble float off. It is then used to wipe my face clean of remaining lather.
    This has saved me making the same mistake.

    PuFF

    p.s. the towl is not a terry type but a cloth type.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •