Thread: I return, Victorious!

Two weeks ago today, I met with Dewey, Kriton, spazola and a few other folks in Arlington. 2 days prior, I had received a Wapienica from Lynn, and I wanted to talk to everyone before I actually tried it. I'd been reading the forums for about a month, and had seen goodness-knows how many videos and writings, and felt pretty prepared. Now I'm ready to tell you what's happened since then.

That afternoon, I hit a Walgreen's and picked up a Van der Hagen boar brush and puck o' soap. Cheap and simple. For those of you who did not meet me, I will let you know, I keep a full beard. For the moment, I'm still only shaving three areas: Left cheek, Right Cheek, and Throat. I'm just short of blind in my left eye, so I've been doing the right side with a straight until I get used to the 'feel' of it, and am confident enough to do the other side without benefit of seeing what I'm doing.

The Wapi is pretty nice, I get a better shave with it than the M3 or Gem. I started using the straight on the right, and the M3 on the left cheek so I could compare vs the old-style shave. Now I'm doing Gem on left, Straight on right, and the neck depends on how balls-y I'm feeling.

I now understand the complaints about the Wapi steel scales. They make it harder to control the angle on the blade, as if it slips out of the vertical, the weight really tries to pull the blade.... but I think I've dealt with it OK so far.

I think I need to work on my lather (and read up on soap/brush use in general) as the VdH soap I got at Walgreen's seems to really have some suction on the blade after a moment or two of motion. I don't know if that's normal, but it is a bit disconcerting. I used a bit more water the last few times (thinner lather) and it seemed better.

Also, the last time I shaved, I did three passes, and it was just this side of BBS, minimal irritation, and I feel oddly proud of myself.

I did accidentally knock the blade against the sink while rinsing on my last shave, and there was a tiny, tiny nick on the blade. It is big enough that I can see the scratch it leaves on a strop, so I don't know if I want to use it on my face before I do something about that.

Overall, I'm loving the straight. I would appreciate advice on lather/soap, but I can research that on the forums if need be.

Oh! I did have one mishap: On my first shave, part of my sideburn became clean-shaven, so I had to thin both of them. I also had a tiny cut, right where I first placed the blade on one stroke. No bleeding, my styptic pencil remains unused.

--Maeglin

Congrats on the shave...but i belive the blade needs to be rehoned. Why is it i cant find DVG soap here in my city

Yes, I think IsaacRN is right about the razor. Send it to one of the people that offer such service. congratulations on the shaves.

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

Why is it i cant find DVG soap here in my city

Because you are spoiled living there! And I'm envious. I'm few hours away - still accessible but such a pain.

sorry for hijacking the thread - please smb set it back on track

Im saying i cant find it...how is that being spoiled :P

It seems such a small nick in the blade. If there's a Dallas-based honemeister reading, drop me a line, I could buy you lunch if you felt like bringing a stone to the table.

Really, it seems like such a small thing... I wonder if it could be stropped out of existence. <sigh> Probably not.

After re-examination, I think it will need to be re-honed.

--Maeglin

Nah...same thing happened to me...but i dont know how i got the nick in the blade...but it showed on the strop. Lynn was gracious to take it out for me.

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

Im saying i cant find it...how is that being spoiled :P

Because you have access to so many better options!

Jordan

Maeglin,

Didn't you say you met some people from the area? Why don't you check with them, or see if there is another meeting you can go to. However they may be busy, in which case I don't see an alternative to mailing it.
You have already dealt with Lynn, I had my razors honed by JoshEarl and heavydutysg and I can recommend them both.

Denton, TX?

The Von Erichs were from Denton...any of them still live there?

Hey man, I am sorry I just saw this thread - Good to hear you are doing better with that razor - now get that damn beard off you heathen- go Romanesque man, clean shaven.

I just had ScreaminZ over to the house this morning and we tried to do some honing, I would have been happy to have you come down - we are going to get together at some point soon, when I have had a chance to flatten my Norton flattening stone (log story) - just get with me!

K