Thread: First Shave (kinda intimidating)

Dear Friends

Today I thought I'de be bolt and shave with the old puma razor I already have. I honed it on ceramic rods and stropped it on an old leather belt (which did a nice job).

At first it went pretty well but at some point i nicked my ear (twice) trying to shave the outer part of my cheek. I must say that it looked worse than it actually was but it's still pretty intimidating.

I was trembling like a little schoolgirl after that, pretty scary stuff putting a knive like that so close to your skin.

Anyway, I did the entire face but unfortunately it wasn't BBS so I had to finish the job with one of my disposable wilkenson blades.

How did you guys cope with the anxiety of putting a straight razor to your face for the very first time?

Gr. TheSkyer

P.S. Of course besides being pretty intimidating there was of course also a feeling of triumph and accomplishment, not all bad

I trembled like a kid who knows he's in for a spanking. (I remember that tremble).

After a couple days, the nervousness went away, and I got a little to big for my britches....and that's when I got my first serious knick. Lesson learned. Respect a piece of metal that is almost 4 inches long and dangerously sharp!

Good luck with the shakes.

Maxi

The anxiety will quickly go away after a few more shaves . Keep your skin stretched tight , your blade angle on the low side , and don't press the edge into your skin . Don't worry about the BBS until you have some more experience . You must be pretty good at honing to be able to get your razor shaving sharp , using ceramic rods , and stropping on a belt . That proves that it's not what you use , but how well you use what you have , is the key to success . However , you may want to consider getting a decent finishing hone , and a nice strop sometime in the future . I think you're off to a great start , and I wish you the best .

The ceremic rods (2 sets) I use are really ridiculously fine, maybe a 6.000 and 10.000 gird. I have my own knife webshop so basicly sharpening things has become second nature.

However good equipment goes a long way and i will purchase a good hone and strop in the future

A couple of drinks beforehand might calm your nerves

Mark

I have the experience that alcoholic beverages and sharp object don't mix :P

Hello lockpicking buddy!

I'm happy to hear about your shave. Lastnight I had my second shave and had 3 small knicks. I didn't even feel them until my cold water rinse. My FIRST shave however (2 nights ago) I felt alot of pain and discomfort afterwards, that lasted throughout the night.

I'm wondering how it's possible to keep a straight edge using a honing rod, rather than a block. I figure the idea of a block is to keep flat even pressure on the razor's edge, whereas a rod simply can't do that. I would imagine with skill you could get a razor sharp with a rod, but I'd be nervous to put it to my face

It's the same as with a stone. With a stone you keep the spine and the edge pressed up against it, with a rod you do the same. You just make sure both the spine and the edge are in contact with the rod as you draw it over

Maybe it's good to note that I had already sharpened the knife on a 8000grid Belgium stone before it touched the ceramic rod. I did that when i got it way back in the days

I've sharpened many cooking knives (even for restaurants) in my days and I've always done this with rods. It takes a bit of practice but works just as well as a stone and goes allot faster most of the time

No pain from my shave btw, a little razor burn but It can't be felt now and i shaved a couple of hours ago.

Originally Posted by TheSkyer

I have the experience that alcoholic beverages and sharp object don't mix :P

I agree, however, a good Scotch AFTER a shave to calm the nerves works well.

Makes perfect sense. God knows if I tried it with a rod I'd have one screwed up razor.

How come you've had the razor so long and only now decided to have your first straight shave?

Originally Posted by TheSkyer

It's the same as with a stone. With a stone you keep the spine and the edge pressed up against it, with a rod you do the same. You just make sure both the spine and the edge are in contact with the rod as you draw it over

Maybe it's good to note that I had already sharpened the knife on a 8000grid Belgium stone before it touched the ceramic rod. I did that when i got it way back in the days

I've sharpened many cooking knives (even for restaurants) in my days and I've always done this with rods. It takes a bit of practice but works just as well as a stone and goes allot faster most of the time

No pain from my shave btw, a little razor burn but It can't be felt now and i shaved a couple of hours ago.