Thread: The First Touch

Thanks netsurfr!
I have an update. Thinking that I may have messed up the edge by TNTing when I shouldn't have, I waited to try again until my Filly strop from RupRazors came in. It did, and this morning I used the pasted side to frehen up the edsge of the Kropp--about 8 passes, until the edge looked smooth in the light. No random sparkles, etc. Then, 30 passes on the linen and 20 on the shell.

This time, I got a very smooth cutting pass on my cheeks. I extended a bit and tried my jawline (small cut there, nothing more than I still sometimes get from my DE) and then moved to my chin. Here, I had a problem. The blade would NOT cut the whiskers--if got stuck at the beginning of the stroke. I was scared to use more force, so I gave up. This s right under my bottom lip. The hair there is MUCH coarser than the rest of my face, for some reason...I know this from my DE shaves.

I guess the blade is still a little dull; I'll try another round on the CrO2 before my next shave. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll give it a go when my Barber hone gets here.

This is fun!

Try a few shaves where you stop a lot more on the leather (50+ passes each way.) It worked for me where repeated honing didn't.

I found the same thing. The cheeks and some parts of the neck are easy for the blade to shave the stubble. The chin and mustache are where the rubber meets the road. It takes a truly shave ready razor to cut those whiskers.

It takes some time practicing to get to where you can hone a razor to shave ready. It is good to have at least one honed by a pro to give you a benchmark for what a shave ready razor will feel like.

It should go through those chin whiskers like a hot knife through butter. I got lucky in that I had a honemiester living nearby and he showed me a lot. That, a severe case of RAD and a lot of patience and persistence got me to where I can get them sharp. If you can find a forum member near you who is experienced in honing and will show you that is a real +. One way or the other keep at it and you will be having smooth shaves before too long.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I found the same thing. The cheeks and some parts of the neck are easy for the blade to shave the stubble. The chin and mustache are where the rubber meets the road. It takes a truly shave ready razor to cut those whiskers.

It takes some time practicing to get to where you can hone a razor to shave ready. It is good to have at least one honed by a pro to give you a benchmark for what a shave ready razor will feel like.

It should go through those chin whiskers like a hot knife through butter. I got lucky in that I had a honemiester living nearby and he showed me a lot. That, a severe case of RAD and a lot of patience and persistence got me to where I can get them sharp. If you can find a forum member near you who is experienced in honing and will show you that is a real +. One way or the other keep at it and you will be having smooth shaves before too long.

Thanks for the advice. I actually bought this one shave ready but through inept handling (sorry Mike!) I messed up the edge.

I'm planning to have one of my western straights and my Tosuke honed by a pro before too long, so I know what to shoot for. Although, to be honest...I think going through my whiskers like a hot knofe through butter sounds like a pretty good indicator...

I have to be perfectly honest, though...I am more interested in honing than in shaving with straights. I can't explain why, but I want to be able to bring something to that kind of edge with these hands...

Strange, I know.

Congrats, Jim. The importance of good pre-shave stropping on clean leather cannot be overstated nor over performed. Keep that up and the technique should just fall into place as you have the pleasure of learning with a well prepared blade. I assume you've got the beard prep down by now.

X

Originally Posted by xman

Congrats, Jim. The importance of good pre-shave stropping on clean leather cannot be overstated nor over performed. Keep that up and the technique should just fall into place as you have the pleasure of learning with a well prepared blade. I assume you've got the beard prep down by now.

X

Thanks X. I'm working on that technique. Slow and easy wins the race, indeed. I think my beard prep is ok--I've been DE shaving for a few months now, and I have an entirely too extensive collection of soaps, creams and brushes...

I tried the DA today. I gave it about 30 laps on the CrO2, and then 30 on the linen and 50 on the leather. It was popping hairs like crazy, and it had a distinctive sticky feeling on my thumb, so I tried the shave. It was a good deal smoother than the Kropp, though it's still not ready for my lower lip area. Looks like these boys have a date with a honemeister!

Originally Posted by JimR

Thanks X. I'm working on that technique. Slow and easy wins the race, indeed. I think my beard prep is ok--I've been DE shaving for a few months now, and I have an entirely too extensive collection of soaps, creams and brushes...

I tried the DA today. I gave it about 30 laps on the CrO2, and then 30 on the linen and 50 on the leather. It was popping hairs like crazy, and it had a distinctive sticky feeling on my thumb, so I tried the shave. It was a good deal smoother than the Kropp, though it's still not ready for my lower lip area. Looks like these boys have a date with a honemeister!

G'day Jim. I've never used a DA but my Kropp borders on perfection for my beard. Will be interested in your opinion once its shave ready.