First Shave - no prob

first post too!

I just received my first straight razor in the mail - a vintage Genko purchased from yfra8821 off Ebay for $13 which he honed for me for another $10 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...view=all&tid=0

He's probably a member here, but I've no idea what his username is - super helpful guy, and as far as I can tell, this razor is truly shave ready.

Anyhow - I had two days worth of stubble, and dove into my bathroom, razor in hand. No stropping, just whipped up a quick lather with some of my wife's fancy bar soap. (i've got some clay and proper shaving soap making supplies coming in the mail any day now)

I started with great apprehension after reading much instruction here and from other sources, but my fears were in vain.

I have no idea which beard types are easier than others to shave, but I have a very coarse beard - think "wire" - makes an excellent scratching "post".

I did a first pass with the grain - no problems - not a single nick - my chin and mustache were a bit weird/awkward, but I figured it out.

I got ****y and did a second pass against the grain - also no problems and not a single nick. The mustache and chin areas felt very "sketchy" and I really thought I was going to cut myself, but I didn't.

The shave is not quite baby-bottom smooth just under my chin, but everywhere else it's very smooth. My face does feel a bit "raw" but I think that's because my strokes were short so I went over the same area more than normal. With more confident longer strokes, I think this "rawness" will vanish.

Anyhow I just wanted to thank you guys for being here, and providing all this information. I read the wiki first shave article which really helped illustrate proper blade angle.

I also wanted to post this here to show nubs like myself that this can be started pretty easily, without cuts, and minimal expense.

Start up costs:
$13 for a vintage razor
$10 to hone it
$5 for a piece of balsa for a strop (I'm vegan - so no leather for me) which I glued to a piece of bamboo flooring I had laying around - shaved some of a green mibro chromium oxide buffing paste I got at lowes ages ago - mixed it with some alcohol and painted it on (got this tip from here I think)
$10 for 2 pounds of soap base
$10 for 2 pounds of benotine (sp?) clay to make my own shaving soap
$8 for a high quality synthetic knot off ebay which I glued into a wooden knob I made
$1 for a tiny flower pot I'm using as a shaving bowl

so $57 total, but I'm also hooked up for at least a year's worth of shaving soap

I plan on getting a 4k/8k norton hone in about 3 or 4 months which are quite pricey, but who cares? - no more shaving cream or disposable razors.

So nubs dive in - it's nothing to be anxious about.

Congrats on the shave! You had a much easier time starting off than I did, it sounds like. How is the balsa working out for a strop so far? I'd love to see pictures of how it turned out. That's an interesting idea to help maintain your vegan lifestyle!

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Originally Posted by bratta

Congrats on the shave! You had a much easier time starting off than I did, it sounds like. How is the balsa working out for a strop so far? I'd love to see pictures of how it turned out. That's an interesting idea to help maintain your vegan lifestyle!

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Well I bought one 3" piece of balsa 36" long, cut it into three 12" pieces then glued them to separate pieces of the flooring I had left over from redoing our floors last year (this bamboo flooring is milled perfectly flat). Lapped them with 220 sandpaper that I laid on a glass table using the pencil line technique i've seen either here or b & b.

From what I've read, chromium oxide on balsa can extend the time between honing by a month or more - can't really confirm that for about 4 more months i think lol.

I'd like to see pics of some of your stuff

Congratulations on the first shave! Hope you have many more good ones.

Yeah, I hear that seller is a really great guy and he helps little old ladies cross the street. Seriously, thank you for the kind words and I am very excited for your success the first time out! You are well on your way! Now you can start obcessing on better strops, shave soaps, aftershaves, and of coarse and endless supply of straight razors!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AnarchoPhil

I'd like to see pics of some of your stuff

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okie

cheapskate shaving kit:

• bamboo flooring strop with balsa and chromium oxide (tongue intact :p )
  shaving brush made from a knob off an old flag pole I had lying around, a brass piece from a garden hose thingie (also found laying around), and a synthetic knot purchased off ebay
  $23 vintage genco head barber
  99 cent flower pot shaving "bowl" (I'm a cheap bastard! :p )

http://home.comcast.net/~rmackie40/1044crp.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kfralin

Yeah, I hear that seller is a really great guy and he helps little old ladies cross the street. Seriously, thank you for the kind words and I am very excited for your success the first time out! You are well on your way! Now you can start obcessing on better strops, shave soaps, aftershaves, and of coarse and endless supply of straight razors!

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I attribute my nublet success to your fine hone!

Thanks again!

Thats a darn nice looking brush for "do it yourself"! Not a bad looking razor either! You can actually save a lot of money used straights if you don't fall victim to razor acquisition dissorder (RAD for short). I know I have it very bad and suspect many members here do as well. Just a warning, I started out with one fairly inexpensive straight, a brush/bowl/soap kit from Walgreens, and a leather belt...and a steely nerve. Now I have 13 razors in my "rotation" and truly believe there must be something out there that will get to next weeks whiskers...just be careful!! Again, many thanks and I am super pleased your first shave was a joy!!

totally anticipated and accounted for...

i've been prepping my wife by telling her how most of the blades i had on "watch" at ebay went for a hundred dollars or more so she won't have a cow when she sees the littler ebay purchases roll in

i think she might be too smart though - last time i said that she said "but you already have a razor"

ha ha ha

I guess i'll just have to take my spankings like a man! (isn't that an oxymoron??) lol

Congrats on your first.
Multiple short strokes are an acceptable technique & should not cause irritation.
Angle,pressure, poor lather etc are more likely culprits

thanks!

yeah my lather was garbage - it was just soap - my clay should be arriving tomorrow, and I'll try to brew something up better than my wife's pink soap! :)

and my shoddy technique will surely smooth out in time

Good for you . I think soapmaking is probably one of tougher aspects to get right.
One day I might try :)

4 shaves later and they just keep getting better

I sorted out my shave soap recipe, and for anyone else thinking of such things - clay is essential imo - clay, castor oil, and glycerin create a thickness or density to the lather - almost feels like a slight slime against the skin - perfect blade lube!

bought a few cheap selective razors to play with as well - came "shave ready" from an enthusiast, but the one shave I did with one was pretty horrible - I've got a hone coming, and that's the main reason I bought them - to practice honing - out of the 5 i bought though, 3 have uneven grinds! glad i started with a vintage from an enthusiast instead