Thread: Finaly

My wife and me own a beaty shop, and she was talking about doing something extra for the male costumers. How about a stright razor shave? The more she talked about it, the more I`ve got enthousiastic. So for our anniversary (12,5 yrs) a bought her a complete set, badger brush, leather strop, a Dovo 5/8 Blackstar Pakkawood and a Dovo 3/4 Red Bismarck. We`ve seen al the movies on Utube, and we`re goin on a course, me to learn how to shave myself, and my wif for a course how to shave another person. Ofcourse having the stuff at home, made the both of us very curieus...it was like Christmas. Unwrapping the presents and start playing. So my wife gave me my first straight razor shave. So here`s our question:

1) Is it normal to not get a perfect smooth skin the first time?
2) How can I check if the knifes are ready to go?
3) When to strop or honing?
4) Shaving with or against the hairs?

So much for this first timer.
Probably most of these questions are for the majority of this forum users old skool, yet for us its our first day on primary school.

Thanks in advance from the 2 of us in Holland.

BTW if I can help anybody with info regarding the best powerbike in the world ...the VMax, just let me know.

Guido & Trudy Vlek
President VMax Club Holland

1) Is it normal to not get a perfect smooth skin the first time?
Yes. It takes practice to get a close shave without irritation.

2) How can I check if the knifes are ready to go?
It should shave off arm hairs very easily. If you can cut the hairs even at a distance from the skin that is preferable. Look for info on the thumbpad test (TPT), I expect you have access to some disposable razor blades so that gives you something to compare to.
If you bought the razor from a typical supplier it will probably not be as sharp as you want it to be. As they come from the factory, razors tend to have a mediocre edge at best.
Your best bet is to send the razor to be sharpened by someone who specialises in sharpening razors, if that is not where you bought it in the first place.

3) When to strop or honing?
Strop before every shave. Hone when stropping fails to make the razor work at its best. Or when the edge gets damaged.

4) Shaving with or against the hairs?
With the grain to start with. Once you are happy with your technique and the ability of the blade you can try against the grain.

5) Yes, the V-Max is awesome!

You may find that laws force you to use disposable-bladed razors on your customers. It's a shame, as they don't make the same impression as a "real" straight razor, but at least you don't have to worry about sharpening them.

the V Max is a great bike! it's been around for a long time and is still fun to ride!
what do you think of the new one?

PS i think Rajagra covered all the other questions, but the mention of the V Max grabbed my attention.

Hallo Guido and Trudy,

Welcome to SRP!!

Did you get your Dovos "shaveready?" if not take a look at the classifieds and get your straights honed! Bart isnt that far away and he sure knows how to hone razors.

Where are you at in the Netherlands.. if you are in the neighbourhood and you know how to shave I will volunteer....


I dont have a Yamaha anymore... I used to have a Fazer.. and

Maarten

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Your best bet is to send the razor to be sharpened by someone who specialises in sharpening razors

Yes. Like Bart in Belgium.

You should also read this pdf: The Straight Razor Shave

G`day to ya all. Thnx for answering our questions.

Here my comments:

Rajagra:
"You may find that laws force you to use disposable-bladed razors on your customers. It's a shame, as they don't make the same impression as a "real" straight razor, but at least you don't have to worry about sharpening them"
Not in the Netherlands, a barber and a hairdresser my still use these, as long as there are cleaned and
sterilized.

Chee 16:
the V Max is a great bike! it's been around for a long time and is still fun to ride!
what do you think of the new one?
I think Yamaha again raised the bar, as they did 24 yeras ago when the VMax was first introduced. For the looks...well thats another question, I thnik the front party is realy beautiful, aggressive but not over teh top. The back however is a different story. The exhaust is horrible, the backfender is way up high (how the f.ck can anybody sit up there), and in general, why anly in black...I mean why not more daring with colors, cherry red/black, yellow/black...just my thoughts.
Further I think that to control 220 Bhp must be like a ride on the rollercoaster...but to pay here in the Netherlands 23000 Euro`s (thats 30000 US Dollars or 20700 BPS) is way to much. So I keep my own modificated VMax, and be a happy man.

Mlangstr:
Did you get your Dovos "shaveready?" if not take a look at the classifieds and get your straights honed! Bart isnt that far away and he sure knows how to hone razors.
Where are you at in the Netherlands.. if you are in the neighbourhood and you know how to shave I will volunteer....
Yes, I`ve got theme shave ready. But thnx for the tip about Bart.
I live in Rossum (where the Appache helicopter crashed) It`s near the town of `s-Hertogenbosch
And if we work this straight shaving out, I`ll give you a ring or send an email, if we need male models

Cornelius:
Also thnx man for the tip about the PDF file.

Grtz from Holland
Guido & Trudy Vlek
President VMax Club Holland

Hi Radjagra

"You may find that laws force you to use disposable-bladed razors on your customers. It's a shame, as they don't make the same impression as a "real" straight razor, but at least you don't have to worry about sharpening them"
Not in the Netherlands, a barber and a hairdresser my still use these, as long as there are cleaned and
sterilized.

Thnx from Vleksmax

Originally Posted by vleksmax

Not in the Netherlands, a barber and a hairdresser my still use these, as long as there are cleaned and
sterilized.

What is the legal definition of "cleaned and sterilized," in the Netherlands. In Italy, "sterilized" means sterilized in an autoclave at a temperature of 120 °C for 20 minutes. If you are going to sterilize a straight razor in an autoclave, it will have to be a razor with removable scales or steel scales.

it is rare to get a bbs shave on the first try it takes some practice and requires 2-3 passes wtg,xtg and atg time practice and patientce will get you there and for the record vmax -the best bike ever made