Thread: My experience with a new guy...can anyone help?

I was recently PMed by a new member who doesn't live far from me. He said he was having trouble sharpening his razors He just couldn't get his razors to shave comfortably. I said I could help and gave him my number. He called and we arranged a place to meet. I brought a couple of razors and a few hones and he brought two of his three razors, one being a 5/8's Mehaz and the other a no name Solingen! I expected to find these razors poorly honed, maybe a double bevel or some such problem. What I found surprised me, as they were both shaving sharp! The Mehaz had a barely distinguishable frown to it, but still damned sharp! The no name Solingen was waved about a quarter of an inch over my fore arm hairs which gave my arm an instant crew cut!
I find that I am a poor teacher as I have trouble translating what I know into words adequate enough to describe to someone how to go about doing what I already do, But this didn't stop me from trying! I talked to him about prep, stretching the skin, proper stropping, anything I could think of that might get him a better shave! after a bit we parted ways! I took the no name Solingen home with me to see how she shaves and boy did she ever shave! Very nice indeed!
I called him later to let him know about the shave and offered to help him with his technique and his stropping, but my impression is that I only succeeded in discouraging him. I hope this is not the case, but I thought I would throw this experience out there to anyone who may be able to word things better than I can and maybe help this guy out!
I see that he still peaks in daily so I doubt that he is too discouraged but I am certain that any words of advice will be helpful to this man!

Oh, by the way, he has only been using straights for one month and he uses a feather for practice and to get the idea of what sharp should be! He says he has no issues with the feather!

Even though I don't have one, I doubt he'll ever find a better shaver than the Feather. JMHO

Originally Posted by JMS

I find that I am a poor teacher as I have trouble translating what I know into words adequate enough to describe to someone how to go about doing what I already do

Oh I can relate man, and when you trying to put it into text, even harder.

Originally Posted by JMS

Oh, by the way, he has only been using straights for one month and he uses a feather for practice and to get the idea of what sharp should be! He says he has no issues with the feather!

Perhaps that was his problem? Feather requires different angle, and feather sharp is different from hone meister sharp. I had a few minor issues when changing from feather to real straights, and I believe I have even mentioned before to newbies, that they should start with a real straight, then advance to a feather.

$5 casino dollars, says thats the problem.

I shave with a feather AC also. It is very different from shaving with a straight even tho it looks like a str8.
I use mine as the standard for how sharp my razors should be. However, it does take a slightly different angle/technique to use it. This was a slight problem when I started but I don't think about it anymore. You get an feel for what the right angle for the razor is after a while and it is just slightly different for a regular straight and a Feather AC.

It sound like a normal case of "expectations". New guys have an idea in their head of what shaving with a straight razor should be like. Usually they are off the mark by a wide margin. Couple that with a lack of skill in technique and their bubble gets burst quickly.

Compliment him on the sharpness of the edge's and just keep in touch with him.

Just my $.02,

I think we are all proud of the trouble you have already gone to. Sometimes you can lead a horse to water but you can not make him drink.

I don't know if you can remember when you first started but you need to develop a confidence level when you are shaving against the grain. Any razor will stick when it hits the bristles if you push too lightly. The confidence is knowing just how hard to push and also knowing that if the blade isn't sharp enough, with too much pressure, you might cut yourself. The Feather needs a feather touch. The sharp straight razor needs a little bit more than that. Maybe that's his problem. Confidence. That is very difficult to teach.

Thanks for the posts guys! I hope this helps!