Hello everyone! I've been mostly lurking here for a month or two, though I did start a thread in the honing forum to describe my setup for sharpening razors. I originally found the forum because the scales on my favorite razor (a Pearl King "First Class" that I've had for at least 30 years or so, maybe more...) finally gave up the ghost, and I wanted to find out about either buying or making replacements. I've enjoyed a lot of the threads, particularly the shop threads, and hope to try my hand at making a razor one day. (I do some woodworking, carving and a little bit of blacksmithing - mostly to make carving tools). I did wind up making some scales a week or so ago, using some cocobolo that I had lying around. They came out pretty nice. At least they put the razor back into service.
I have no idea if my razors are considered "good" or not - I do know that I keep them very sharp, and I've been shaving with a straight razor ever since my teens (back in the 1960s), when my grandfather taught me how to do it.
I will say that I don't take as much care about the whole process as is described in a lot of the posts I've read here. I learned to shave from my grandfather, who was born in 1890. He shaved every day with a pretty worn out brush and a bar of Ivory Soap, and was clean shaven every day of his life. One of the razors I still use was his - I think it's lost at least a quarter of an inch from sharpening over the years. (It's a Robert Klaas "213". with the separated cranes, if that means anything to anyone). I don't think it's worth much money, but it gives a nice smooth shave.
I've used straight razors on and off since my teens, never thought much about it. I always thought that the twin-blade disposables gave a closer shave until I learned to sharpen my razors a number of years ago. Though none of them is particularly valuable, they all shave very well. I truly enjoy the process, and love to feel that I'm helping to keep a lost art alive.
I appreciate the discussions and all the information here, and hope to join in from time to time.