Thread: This newbie has turned the corner

I started wet shaving towards the end of 2007 using a DE and progressed to a straight razor after I was intrigued by all of you and decided to take the plunge into this great hobby. I lurked this forum and read and read and read until I joined around dec of 2007. I started with a brand new
5/8 Dovo Classic that I sent out to be honed. I also bought the Lynn Abrams DVD and watched it until I felt I was ready to put that blade to my face.

Like all newbies it was difficult at first. There is such willingness among the experienced shavers to help the newbies and I was no exception. At one point I packed my razor and decided that straight razor shaving was an exercise in self mutilation and all you guys were nuts. I was going to sell, throw or give away this cut throat that I could not tame.

I was fortunate that my frustration lead to someone extending their help and re-honing my first Dovo that I had very likely ruined in my quest to learn how to use it. I haven't looked back since. My next razors included
some shave ready razors that I have bought here and have given me
a true gauge of what a sharp razor is - Thanks Josh! My favorite is a goldedge doublduck.

I have been buying other razors on e-bay that I'm going to send out to be made shave ready by one of our own SRP honemeister, until I take the next step and learn how to hone them myself.

By reading all the information and reviews in this forum I have bought some excellent soaps that I use. My favorites at this time are the TGQ soaps. I started out with creams, but I have slowly leaned towards soaps and I now use them more than creams.

At every step of the way I am settling in on my favorites and will
eventually use about 4-5 razors in my rotation. I have 3 excellent brushes; a bk4 kent, edwin jagger and a massive shavemaster brush I use with hydrolast soap. I also have a Tony Miller hanging strop and a paddle strop that I bought after reading all the glowing reviews. It truly is an excellent strop and the custumer service I received was outstanding.

The DFW get together proved to be very informative to me and I
learned some more. Thanks to Dewey for putting it together. All in all, I feel that I have turned the corner and get excellent smooth shaves. I have a lot more to learn and I'm doing just that by reading all I can in this forum daily. I hope that eventually I will also be able to contribute. If it wasn't for the input from all the experienced shavers in the forums, I would have never gotten to the point where I am now. The words that I kept reading time and time again were : "Don't give up, it will get better" and it turned out be true. It finally got better for me. The key for me to reach this level was a very sharp expertly honed razor; just like you guys stress time and time again to all the incoming newbies.

It probably took me longer that most, but now that I'm here I love
shaving with a straight razor. My goal is to get a custom razor eventually
and be able to hone my razors myself.

I just need to learn how to stop buying more razors. Do we have a support group for that?

GeNn

Way to go GeNn! I remember at the Meet Up how you talked about wanting to make the jump.

Would the support group be called the RAD Assist group?

Congratulations on sticking it out.

You want a cure for RAD? Learn to hone
your razors and then you'll get
HAD (Hone Acquistion Disorder). I personally
have READ (Razor Equipment Acquisition
Disorder). That basically covers everything
in one disorder.

John

It is good, isn't it? Congrads!

R