Thread: Discouraged and disappointed

I was going to add a link to the post about my first attempts in straight razor shaving (photos and all), but decided it probably would only scare you.

What I would like to say is that many of us have been right where you are at now, and that it has been well worth the initial trials of learning the skill.

Hang in there and don't feel too bad about the experience.

Originally Posted by Kentriv

I was going to add a link to the post about my first attempts in straight razor shaving (photos and all), but decided it probably would only scare you.

What I would like to say is that many of us have been right where you are at now, and that it has been well worth the initial trials of learning the skill.

Hang in there and don't feel too bad about the experience.

I have seen these pictures and if anyone knows I would say Kentriv knows.\
I have been at this for more than 15 years and I can tell you that it takes time. It doesn't happen over night. Be patient, learn all that you can, and take it one step at a time. Without SRP it took me about two years before I got consistent results but unlike me, you have a considerable amount of experience and information at your fingertips. you'll be right as rain in no time if you practice and read whats here at SRP.

First of all, welcome to SRP. I'm sorry to hear about your first experiences, but these problems can all be sorted and you'll be on your way in no time..!

I'll try to address your points in the order that you raised them.

If the blade is catching on the scales, it may be necessary to have the razor rescaled to sort it. Or the other option is to return the razor to the seller and ask for a replacement where the scales arent warped.

In terms of the strop, you can clean the leather side off with some saddle soap (or just a mild soap/warm water mix) and get all the stuff off it. Just work the leather gently with your hands and clean it off. You could use a sponge as well, but take care not to saturate the leather with water or soap.

Lay the strop flat afterwards and let it dry naturally. Once its dry, give the leather a good rub with your hands; The oil from your skin goes a long way to conditioning the leather. To break the leather in, lay the strop on a flat surface and rub/roll the side of a wine bottle over it. Some leathers are stiffer than others, so this can take a little time. This should hopefully flatten the strop right out and solve that problem!

If the leather is still dry after this, then you may need to use something like Fromm strop dressing. If you want a cheats way of doing it, use the oil from your hands and when thats gone rub your hands over your arms and face to get more, and just rub that in..! It sounds a bit gross, but these natural oils make a really great strop conditioner! I have two strops, and this works great on both of them.

Dont worry about honing for the time being. As others have said, Onimaru55 is in Sydney so send him a PM and ask about his honing services. Cassie (MistressNomad) sent a razor to him, and I know she is pleased with the result.

In all likelihood, the razor probably wasnt shave ready to start with. Most of the factory razors arent, and many sellers dont know how to hone, so most of the time they need to go to someone who knows what they're doing.

Dont give up though! Its hitting these problems and solving them that makes this hobby enjoyable.

Good luck and I hope you stay with us and stick with it!

Originally Posted by PaulM

This is shit.

Shaving with a cutthroat is not easy. It's not complicated, but it requires a degree of manual dexterity and careful thought. If you assume you'll having perfect shaves from the start you will be disapointed. For the average person it takes many months to get a smooth shave every time.
The people posting here will give you all the help you need, but you can't go at it like a bull at a gate.
Good luck.

Originally Posted by Stubear

Lay the strop flat afterwards and let it dry naturally. Once its dry, give the leather a good rub with your hands; The oil from your skin goes a long way to conditioning the leather. To break the leather in, lay the strop on a flat surface and rub/roll the side of a wine bottle over it. Some leathers are stiffer than others, so this can take a little time. This should hopefully flatten the strop right out and solve that problem!

If the leather is still dry after this, then you may need to use something like Fromm strop dressing. If you want a cheats way of doing it, use the oil from your hands and when thats gone rub your hands over your arms and face to get more, and just rub that in..! It sounds a bit gross, but these natural oils make a really great strop conditioner! I have two strops, and this works great on both of them.

+1 on the above - another thing I've used that worked well to condition a strop was a very light coating of baby oil, rubbed in well. Use the skin oil thing first, and then if you're still stuck, try the baby-oil or a leather dressing (try a store that sells bridles, saddles and other such horse-related leather products - they may have leather conditioners for sale there).

Also +1 on the advice recieved from welshwizard - TAKE IT SLOW!!! From my personal experience, and that of other newbs on here, I can tell you that going too far too fast will cause nicks, burns, and a generally poor shave. Only shave WTG on the sideburns and cheeks at first. If you don't get a close shave there, don't worry - keep at it. Once you can regularly do a pass over the sideburns without nicks or burning, add in an XTG pass, then once you've got that down add an ATG pass, then begin to add in various other areas of the face.
The point of working your way up to it is to develop engrams (patterns of movement) - once you're used to holding and moving the razor in a certain way, the shave will be easier and closer. It's a learning experience, and one that varies person to person and can't be rushed. It took me about 10 shaves before I was able to do a full 3-pass shave, and another 20 or so before I'd worked out how to shave for maximum closeness and comfort. Others will have taken way longer, others may have been shorter (I'm pretty sure my experience is on the shorter side though).

I think you should try to think a little more positively. Hardly anyone begins this hobby without a few hiccups here and there, and if you're constantly expecting perfection, you're going to drive yourself nuts.

I don't know quite what to say about your razor. I have a few straights that need to be closed carefully too, otherwise the toe will catch on the scales. If you uploaded a picture for everyone to have a look at, maybe someone could be of some help that way.

Was the strop shipped to you by mail? If so, it's probably a little warped from the way it was packaged. I ordered a strop online myself once, and it when i arrived it was curled up like a garden hose. There was no way it was going to strop immediately, but I calmly straightened it out and kept it in that position, and, sure enough, the leather relaxed itself into its natural shape. I wouldn't be too quick to blame the strop for a hurting the edge, either. Don't be offended or anything, but stropping is one of the most common pitfalls new shavers face. It's very easy to do it incorrectly.

$200 for a hone? Nah. I mean, yeah, you can spend all kinds of money on all kinds of hones, but I'm sure you've read somewhere by now that the Norton 4000/8000 is more or less the standard piece of sharpening equipment for straight razor shavers, and it'll run you around 60 - 80 bucks and probably last you a lifetime. It's the only hone I use on my razors, and it's more than sufficient.

Hop back on the bandwagon, friend. Most of what you described doesn't seem like that big of a deal. Keep at it.

Hello, Paul:

Welcome to Straight Razor Place. I am sorry to hear of your ordeal.

I follow this philosophy: Things are never as bad as they seem, unless, of course, one's lying on one's deathbed, and by then it's too late, anyway.

Many of us have had rough starts using a straight razor. I know I did. On top of that, I have a banged up left hand. Yet I kept on, because this is what I really wanted to do.

The advice offered in these posts by the SRP ladies and gentlemen is sound. As you know by now, SRP's Wiki has mounds of information for you, too.

I don't know where you purchased your razor. Nor do I know the vendor's return policy. Also, in all likelihood the razor was not honed when you received it. With one or two exceptions, I have yet to receive a good shave from a factory edge. The bad fitting could have been caused at the factory or during shipping. That I don't know either.

At this stage, however, I would avoid honing the razor myself. You have plenty of time to hone razors yourself — in the future. Send the razor out for a professional honing and concentrate on honing your skill.

As for the strop, the buckling probably is caused by humidity, though I am only guessing, since I don't know much about your particular strop either.

Take a step back and analyze your situation. Then proceed to find solutions. These pages offer mounds of good advice. Of extreme importance are these: Be patient. Don't rush. Develop your skill. Try to enjoy the learning process.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by PaulM

So anyway. $200AUD and a Dovo razor, two-sided strop, and tube of white "polishing" goop for the canvas size of the strop.

I don't know where to begin. The razor has to be closed carefully, because the plastic case thing has a bit of a bend in it - you have to push the razor sideways a little when you close it or the blade will catch on the plastic. Precision engineering from Germany! Taiwan, more like.

I'm awaiting a properly honed vintage razor back from Onimaru. It was promised as shave ready when I bought it (from a different forum), but it wasn't; I found out the hard way. Shit happens.

Who says you need a hone? That's definitely an even harder skill to learn when starting. Farm it out. Oni charges $20AUS to hone a new razor, and can probably fix the scales for a few $ as well. He's in NSW so the postage is peanuts. Better than laying out $200 on a stone and trashing your new blade with it.

I can only suggest that if you're new to straight shaving, as I'll be, a bit of research saves a wad of money. Given the maintenance and outlay on straight and strops, plus the learning process shaving with them and not knowing whether you'll like it or have the patience for it, it's best to start with cheap stuff, and if you trash it, it's not that much drama.

Originally Posted by Drubbing

I'm awaiting a properly honed vintage razor back from Onimaru. It was promised as shave ready when I bought it (from a different forum), but it wasn't; I found out the hard way. Shit happens.

Who says you need a hone? That's definitely an even harder skill to learn when starting. Farm it out. Oni charges $20AUS to hone a new razor, and can probably fix the scales for a few $ as well. He's in NSW so the postage is peanuts. Better than laying out $200 on a stone and trashing your new blade with it.

I can only suggest that if you're new to straight shaving, as I'll be, a bit of research saves a wad of money. Given the maintenance and outlay on straight and strops, plus the learning process shaving with them and not knowing whether you'll like it or have the patience for it, it's best to start with cheap stuff, and if you trash it, it's not that much drama.

With all due respect, could you elaborate a little with what experience you evaluated onimaru's honing? Your other posts hint of previous experience in wetshaving, but your account is quite fresh.

With all the problems beginners have with technique and prep, I'm sure you understand my concern of a senior member being blamed...

ursus - If I'm reading correctly, I believe he meant that he received the razor from elsewhere, was told it was shave ready, and did not believe this to be the case. So he sent it to Onimaru for honing.