Idea for broke n00bs.

[MistressNomad]

So, I'm very broke. And a n00b who would like to get into the world of straight shaving. LilithParker was kind enough to offer me a straight, for which I am eternally grateful.

However, the last thing I want to do is wreck this perfectly nice straight by being a dumbass. And since I didn't even have the money to get one, I obviously don't have the money to buy one solely for the purpose of destroying.

So, I had an idea.

What if I made a fake razor? Something that I could just practice the motions with, so I'm less likely to screw it up when I'm using the real thing?

So that's what I did. I made a straight razor out of cardboard from a pizza box, and a piece of piercing jewelry (since I have lots of them laying around, ha ha).

Obviously it doesn't feel like a straight in your hand. But maybe it would be a good practice tool for broke n00bs like myself, for stuff like stroping technique, shaving angles, and figuring out the "tricky spots" before you've planted the blade in your artery.

What you will need:
1. Some cardboard, or other semi-stiff material.
2. Scissors.
3. A screw driver or a hole punch.
4. Something to bind the 2 pieces together with so that they rotate (you can use an earing, a 3-ring-binder pin, etc).

Instructions here, pictures below.

First, trace your pieces. I just sort of guess-timated. I know the razor ss 9/16 and about 2.5 inches long. I didn't measure. Just a rough drawing. Also, I made the tang wider than it normally would be so that the cardboard wouldn't bend as much at the hinge.

Cut out your pieces, trying not to bend the cardboard (a razor is ideal for this - I didn't have one, ironically enough). Then, get out your screw driver and poke the holes that will be your hinging point. A bit of the "tang" should be hanging over so you can practice proper gripping technique.

Use your axis to attach the 2 pieces. I used a piercing jewelry. A regular stud post earring would work fine too.

And voila! You have a nifty little practice razor! You can also stiffen it up by putting a layer of tape or some such over it.

Thing this is useful for:
Practicing stropping
Practicing grip
Practicing pressure while shaving
Finding tricky spots

Things this is NOT useful for:
Honing
Actual shaving.

But I hope you would be able to figure that out.

And now, the pictures!