Just a note of thanks!

Hey Gentlemen (and Ladies),

I just wanted to drop you all a note of thanks to start things off here! There are so many excellent resources in and linked to this forum that make a newbie like myself feel very comfortable with the idea of straight razor shaving.


I'd like to introduce myself, seeing as I'll probably be spending quite a bit of time here troubleshooting my future shaving!

My name is Mark, I'm 24 years old, and I'm from San Diego. I'll be graduating from SDSU here in a couple weeks with my Bachelor's degree in History. I will be applying for Master's programs this fall to continue my education in History.


Well great. That's what I'm doing, but who am I and why am I here?

I'm here because I have a great appreciation for craftsmanship, quality tools, and expanding one's skill set.

I have a confession. I have TAD. I'm sure many of you have it as well, but a different strain (a subset really) of the disorder. I love tools. Quality tools. In fact, a good portion of my (ridiculously small) discretionary income ends up fueling this disorder.

There's something great about having the right tool for the job, and there's something even better about using a quality tool to do that job. Simple pleasure?

So there's a learning curve to straight shaving. And? Doesn't anything satisfying have a somewhat steep learning curve?


So.....

My plan? The classifieds! After some initial searching, I thought that I was going to have to save at least $150 to get something worth shaving with. You know, a quality tool! Thanks to razorfiends like you, I'm probably going to be able to get something of good quality and shave ready for less than $50!

Of course, the proper acoutrements will end up being a bit more, but I'm patient. Saving my pennies one by one, until I'm ready to POUNCE on unsuspecting classified ads!:w



Thanks for being a part of a place where someone with the desire can come and get a great deal of information!

Watch out other classified lurkers, I'll be watching! (And leaping from hiding to attack as soon as I make some money!)

Thanks for reading,

Mark

welcome to srp matt.

sounds like you've got a plan, kep us posted.

Welcome! Good plan. :tu

Welcome to SRP!

Welcome to SRP. I am a TADer too..... along with a bunch of other ADs. Sounds like you're in the right place. :tu

good to see someone with a plan. I just jumped in before finding this site and made some initial bad buys. could have gotten started really good if i had found this site first.
Classifides have very good deals.:rock:

Matt,
Welcome to SRP! The folks on this forum are the best.
Happy Shaving,

It has begun.

I have purchased a NOS, SFK stamped Wapi from TstebinsB! $35. Is it just me, or is that a pretty good deal? I've now seen the same razor listed for ~$50, and assorted wapis for around that. Looks like an SRP'er passing the deals on.

It's supposed to ship tomorrow!

Excitement overflows!:y

Then it's off to a honemeister for some abrasive magic, then finally back to me for a first shave!

I'll be sure to let you guys know how it goes. I'm also sure I'll need some help with the questions that develop from that experience.

Considering there are guys offering free honing to newbies, it's a pretty good deal yes.

Have you already got everything else?

Good luck! I hope it arrives quickly.

Next paycheck, I'll be ordering a beginner's strop from Tony Miller (with a practice strop !).

While the process of getting her honed is going on, I'll be looking locally for a place to procure some soap (Tabac or MWF), a brush, and a styptic pencil.

I plan to order a soap sampler from one of the vendors here soon after.

I'm looking to learn to shave first, and find me some fancy soaps/oils/aftershaves etc. later on.

I don't have much disposable income, so it may take me a bit. That's ok though, I know how to be patient (but it's still so hard:cry:).

I'll be graduating from SDSU this Friday(so excited!) without any debt aside from some student loans (tuition). Credit cards in undisciplined (or impatient) hands can be dangerous, but I've stayed away from use except in dire circumstances.

So, patience? I can do patience. It just helps build anticipation right?


..................................right?

Why am I on here? I need to get back to writing a paper!

'Til my next update,

-Mark

Sure, I know exactly where you're coming from, the only really big single purchase I've made was my hone. There are some good cheap soaps and creams, I don't feel any real desire to buy the posh stuff at the moment.

Good luck.

Wait until RAD & HAD kick in. The learning curve is rapid yet challenging. And being that your effected by TAD, and you used the words "Skill set", big fun ahead for you.
The biggest problem to follow will be trying to find someone outside of this forum to share the joy of your new found toys.
As for RAD, HAD & TAD... Its terminal.

Well, Ron (Utopian) has agreed to hone my wapi! It was shipped this morning from New York! NY to SD, then I'll send it from SD to Iowa!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by slipangle

Well, Ron (Utopian) has agreed to hone my wapi! It was shipped this morning from New York! NY to SD, then I'll send it from SD to Iowa!

---

Great! When I finish it, I'll send if from Iowa to Juneau to San Diego!:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by slipangle

I'm looking to learn to shave first, and find me some fancy soaps/oils/aftershaves etc. later on.
I don't have much disposable income, so it may take me a bit.

---

shouldnt take too long with the generosity that flows around here
;)

Well, bit of bad news. The seller made a little mistake.

He explained that because I paid with an echeck(which wouldn't clear until banks open), he had thought someone hadn't paid him and mistakenly sold it out from under me.

Stuff like this happens. I really don't harbor any bad feelings.

Back to the classifieds!

-Mark

still no luck?

Patience, young octopus......;)


Who am I kidding, I'm 24....with a budget of about $35, waiting for the opportune moment is key. I've got a line on one, will update soon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The0ctopus

shouldnt take too long with the generosity that flows around here
;)

---

Speaking of generosity......What showed up at my door but 5 minutes ago?

A Mama Bear 4 oz Ginger Lime shave soap courtesy of who?

One of those sneaky generous octopi......


Thanks Octopus! I even like the smell!

I hope it's good to start out with the good stuff.

So, the wait is over. Or at least the first wait. My first straights arrived yesterday. I purchased them from Pyment here through the classifieds.

My first selection was this one. "Our Senior" from the Empire Barber Supply in Philadelphia. Tang stamped with "Made in Germany" as well.

Attachment 25752
Attachment 25751
Bone scales, very hollow ground. Looks as if it was dropped directly on the spacer at some point, crack extends beyond the pin. Crack seems stable.

So, there were some small delays in the shipping of this razor. After a shave test, he wasn't happy with the condition and wanted to put it on the hones for me again.

I was very understanding(what noob wouldn't want a freshly honed razor?), but for some reason Pyment insisted on sending me a complimentary second razor! Huh? He said it was the best shaver of the bunch he was selling. So, this one showed up in the same package!
Attachment 25753

This one is a Ladwig and Schranck & Co. stamped with that on one side of the tang, with "Cream City","Made In Germany", "50", and the Henckels brothers(I think?)
Attachment 25754
Attachment 25755

To top it all off....He included a generous package of "Guatemala East Eden" coffee! Roasted the day the package shipped" Coming from a "coffee pimp" like Pyment, I'm looking forward to trying some. Before opening the overall package, I wondered why such a big box for just a razor? Oh wait. Try two razors and a bag of coffee. What a seller. Thanks Dave. Next post will cover my first shave (late last night).

So, the first wait is over. Now, I get to wait for the hair to grow back so I can try again.....

Are these razors all carbon steel or are they stainless steel or some of each? They all look pretty darn great shavers each. Let me tell you that your tools acquisition disorder is quite common among us men. We all love working with tools and get a great sense of accomplishment from a job well done. And where is the satisfaction in holding a plastic thingy thats is a disposable razor? The cartridge razor is no betterthis this metal and rubber odd ball, does little to address the need for tools. Now the straight on the other hand, now that's a tool.

Well jbcohen, fortunately/unfortunately, I come from a line of men who benefit/suffer from TAD. We use our tools, and derive pride and enjoyment from our work.

I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of the straight as a tool. It's a beautiful and elegant tool at that.


So, my girlfriend has known that I have been looking into straight shaving. She was interested to see them in person once I'd gotten one. So, on their arrival, I brought one over. We'd been talking about it a while back, and I'd showed her the strop I was going to be buying, the TM basic one. When I brought the razor over, she presented me with a TM latigo strop. What a girl. "You better get some practice with that, so you can do me next" she says. I like the sound of that.



FIRST SHAVE: I had to wait till midnight to give it a go.

So, I showered, rubbed some conditioner in the beard and on the face, and washed the face good.

I tried making my first lather, which didn't go well. I think I was making it too dry. It foamed up a bit, but not the cool whip-esque mounds of lather I've seen here in pictures. It still worked well.

After the initial trepidation of running a bare blade across the face, things went well. Small strokes, lots of angle checks, lots of trying different grips. WTG all over the top, with pretty good results. Smooth-ish

I got down to the neck, where my hair grows in weird directions. Hit it WTG, then some XTG.

I went back up to the cheeks, and hit them ATG. Good results. Smooth.

I'd been touching up with a dab of lather from the brush and rubbing it around with watery fingers. Worked well for me.


Only had one semi-nick. You know those muscles in your neck that run vertically just past the back end of your jaw? Well, mine stick out when I stretch to shave. After a pass, I saw a little blot of blood. I wiped it off and it didn't keep bleeding. Weird. I had the styptic at the ready though.



So overall, I very much enjoyed this 30 minute process. I felt great afterward, with very smooth skin in some areas and pretty smooth skin on the rest. Razor burn was minimal. I can't wait for it to grow back.

cool.
with time youll cut the time in half and have a better product
:)

Second shave:

Tried the second razor. I don't like the way it handles quite as much. Still a great shave on the cheek areas, but having trouble with the neck.

My neck hair grows away from the center of my throat, directly pointing at the bottom of my ears. I can get it relatively smooth WTG, but XTG and ATG are really hard (read: I can't) to do.

The repeated tries caused a bit of burn just to the right and left of my Adam's apple.

Aside from that, shave time was down to 25 minutes with no hurrying. Comfort with feedback from the blade is growing and confidence (not recklessness, but familiarity) is coming smoothly.

For the first time in my life, I can't wait for hair to grow.... Maybe I'll have to shave my legs.....

Thanks guys for the good welcome and observations