Thread: Bloodied and sliced newbie

well, the person who sold you the razor should know the condition of it. the label means that at one point of time that statement was true, however what happened between the box left lynn's house and got to yours is not known, so I wouldn't presume it's sharp enough to shave.

Sorry didn't read all the other posts but a question - can you ride a bicycle? If so, do you remember how many times you fell off before it became second nature? I rest my case.

Sorry to hear of your rather "rough start" into straight razors. They are indeed extremly sharp and have to be handled with great care. I know, I have a few little nicks on my thumbs from passing the danged thing from hand to hand!

I am a newbie to straights as well having shaved about a half dozen times in the past ten days. The first shaves were only under the sideburns and most of the cheek area (upon advice from threads on this forum). I agree with Wire Beards post above, especially watching videos and You Tube posts on shaving techniques. Lynn Abrams and Xman's videos for me have been especially helpful. I try to emulate their techniques using a dull straight I originally bought to practice stropping technique. Just getting used to handling the razor correctly in the hand and getting comfortable with blade angle took some time. As in sports muscle memory is key to good technique. I have watched their videos over and over gently feeling the razor on my skin. It may sound dorky but I think it has helped. This morning I shaved my entire face with one nick under my nose and know skin irritation and know follow up with a double edge!

I also have had the great fortune of having an experienced straight razor shaver that lives about a half hour from where I live. I visited him about ten days ago and what a great help he has been. Thanks Stevie (Zepplin)! Met through this forum and he's been my mentor in this endevour since. Steve showed my stropping, shaving and honing techniques on my first visit (which lasted about five hours). It was like a mini course on straight razors. Such a valuable asset and now good friend. I hope you might be able to find someone who might be an SRP member who could mentor you through straights as well. There are a lot of great guys on this forum.

So welcome to SRP. Good luck, go slow and know that better shaves are ahead.

Jim

Originally Posted by abeduler

EXCELLENT!! That's what i wanted to hear!

I got the razor on Ebay. It looks almost barely used, i'd say no more than a handful of shaves on it. The box has a taped message that says "Your Dovo razor has been honed to perection by Lynn Abrams, founder of Straight Razor Place" Whoa... i guess that's someone here. Just put together the two.

Lynn might have honed the razor at one time, but you don't know what was done with it in the iterim (Look! It's so sharp I can prune the hedges!). Not having a shave-ready edge may not be visually apparent...you have to shave with it (a Catch-22, I know...)...get it back to a honemeister (someone posted a link for Lynn) and then start again. Watch the vids, make sure you face is properly prep'd (hot water or hot towel, pre-shave oil if you want, good, hot lather), and go slow.

As a fellow newb, I'd *highly* recommend watching xman's videos. Especially his one-handed shave video. I have primary tremor (shaking hands), which is worse in my left hand than right, so I *have* to shave one-handed. Xman has it *down*. Thanks to him, my face still has all it's major components after my very first straight razor shave tonight.

I'm a n00b that has actually had a pretty good experience with the two razors I just bought off of eBay and honed myself (from 600 grit wet sand all the way up to 0.3 micron honing film, one of the blades had a nick in it, which I have removed). One blade was a Wostenholm IXL, and the other was a Morley Clover. This initial post has filled me with some doubt once I get to my next shave. The first one was just painful because of hair pulling, but no cuts (dull blade), and the second one (after honing/finishing) was awesome (WTG and ATG, even on upper lip, no chin though), with two very small nicks, some parts felt pretty bbs. No shower ahead of time either, just washed my face with warm water and used this stuff for lather, so with the two blades, the 600 grit sand paper, and the pinnacle honing films from woodcraft, i'm only in for $30, with a good shave under my belt so far. I'll let you know if the next shave is completely horrible, and I was just lucky earlier. Cheers!

Alright... I've got to say i'm very happy i stuck with it. I'm getting the shaves i always thought i could. The shaves have been going very well, the bumps and burn on my throat has gone away! Soft skin instead down there.

I did sustain a nasty cut on my sideburn and cheek. Tip for new guys... don't leave the edge on your skin unless it's moving! I had it there resting, thinking of my next move, then just a mm of movement sideways was all it took.


It cut the skin so smoothly... i didn't even notice until the sting. I can't believe how sharp those things are. Respect. That learned me respect. I'm still applying vitamin E, the scar is there.... not going away. While not as bad as Snake in "Escape from New York", it's still very visible. Permanent. But i'm a tough type ex-college football player/wrestler, so it not too distrupting.

So, i'm very happy i stuck with the straight edge, as i'm very happy. But i did leave the razor in the shower and it got peppered with some rust spots. I need to send it to the guy on this sight. What is the process? Send him some money along with my razor for a honing and can he do something about the rust spots? How much extra is that?

Also, i want another razor not quite as full hollowed as the Dovo Prima Klang. Something of a half or 3/4 hollow. Any suggestions?

Again, thanks for all of your help and allowing me to share my experience.

JJ

Originally Posted by abeduler

...But i did leave the razor in the shower and it got peppered with some rust spots. I need to send it to the guy on this sight. What is the process? Send him some money along with my razor for a honing and can he do something about the rust spots? How much extra is that?...

Congrats on your successes!

Send Lynn a private message if you wish

[QUOTE=abeduler;292455]

It cut the skin so smoothly... i didn't even notice until the sting. I can't believe how sharp those things are. Respect. That learned me respect. I'm still applying vitamin E, the scar is there.... not going away. While not as bad as Snake in "Escape from New York", it's still very visible. Permanent.

You realise everyone's gonna call you 'Snake' now

Congrats on the smooth shave. One should always 'Endeavour to persevere'