Thread: My story

Hi everyone!

I've been lurking here for some time now and thought it was time to step out of the shadows. I've thought of writing this up for some time but never got around to it.

I'd been very tempted to get a straight for a few years and one slightly intoxicated night I went through with it. I bought my first straight of off ebay right before I found this place. It was a pakistani razor which I've never tried to shave with, when I took it to the hones it just seemed like I would need to remove to much metal for it to be a well made razor (It makes a fine letter opener though).
So I bought two C.V. Heljestrand razors from ebay. I then read some more here and decided I'd need a strop and a hone before I could get underway. Said and done I bought a Norton 4k/8K and a Filly. After putting both of the razors to the Norton and then stropping them I got very nice shaves if not exactly BBS (I had a beard at the time so I was only shaving my neck, I still can't quite get BBS there now either). I continued buying straights from ebay and honed them myself with mostly good results, but there is still that one shoulderless razor that won't cooperate with me.
The last two months I've been shaving more, I now only have sideburns if quite prominent ones. I shave just about every day or let's say five days a week
Even if I'd gotten very good results with my ebay-razors I felt I sooner or later had to get a professionally honed razor if only for comparison. I had decided to order at least a straight/strop set from SRD when my father said he wanted to give me some inheritance money from my great -great-grandmother. I got two DOVOs a modular paddle and a Premium IV Bridle strop.
Receiving that package from the mail was pure bliss, I was as giddy as a child on Christmas Eve. I proceeded to shave with one of the DOVOs and was somewhat disappointed and pleasantly surprised that the DOVO wasn't all that much better than the razors that I'd honed myself. It was nice to know that my honing is quite good and that I've been able to pick razors in good condition on ebay (apparently they've all had good bevels, I don't have a good bevelsetter) and somewhat disappointing mostly because I expected those DOVOs to be a lot better than what I'd been able to achieve, not that I know what I expected beyond a close irritation free shave.

So here I am playing with the diamond sprays to see if I can get even more out of the edges I have. This is almost to much fun!

The next thing I think I'll try my hand at is rescaling, one of those two Heljestrands I was talking about is in a desperate need of a rescaling and I might as well do both giving them even more sentimental value. Don't worry I'll practice on the pakistani before I try on a useable razor.

On an ending note I'd like to thank everyone here, my journey would have been much more difficult without all the information available here.

PS. Sorry about the long incoherent post, it's in many ways a collection of thoughts from about half a year, scribbled down in a slightly intoxicated state of mind. DS

PPS. The next thing I'll be ordering is some Tabac and some MWF, after that I think I'll be experimenting with aftershaves and perhaps some pre-shave oil. DSS

/Magnus W.

The journey has begun!!

Have fun,

Lynn

Welcome to SRP and the wonderful world of shaving with straight razors. You'll be amazed as you continue at how much your shaves will improve as you develop you skills in shaving and in honing. At least that is the way it has worked for me.

Hello, Peko:

Welcome to Straight Razor Place with that fine story. You will receive plenty of help and encouragement here. So shave on.

Regards,
Obie

good story. I also have no experience with a properly honed razor, but I guess mine is good enough with the shaves I'm getting.
I'm looking forward to touching mine up since I'm a knife lover and love to sharpen. It will be different but it's always cool to get something scary sharp.

Welcome Peko: Glad to hear your having so much success right off the bat.
Just wondering though, twice i noticed you mentioned an intoxicated state, Hope that's never the case while razor is in hand!