8 week mark

Dear friends,

I've been shaving with a straight for about 8 weeks now I can say that I am becoming very comfortable with most if not all aspects of st8 shaving.

I've honed my own razor on a BBW/Coticule and finished it using a padle strop covered in red and green paste.

I've stropped my own razors and stopt cutting my strop (which even with the small knicks is sure to last for many years).

I've shaved with a variety of razors, ranging from shavettes to 3/8 to 8/8.

I've used 6 or 7 different soapes to find my perfect lather.

I've had BBS results :)

All in all the last 8 weeks have been nothing short of awesome and I'm impressed with the joy I take in shaving now a days. Just a reasuring word to the new members, you will get there :)

Sounds like you already have more experience than I do. Keep up the good work! It's fun isn't it?

Isn't it great when you've finally got it? Keep on enjoying

Keep at it! You'll discover that they will continue to get better and better. :)

It's going to be really interesting to go back and read this when you hit the year mark. It's funny how the scale of knowledge slides around with more and more experience. I'm betting that you're going to see how much you still learned when you started feeling comfortable.

Sometimes I feel like I've only just started learning. It's kind of like my experience with martial arts... I really started learning when I got my black-belt six years into my training.

Anyway, keep it up and have fun!

wow!...so if you have sampled every blade razor..including different weights and feeling..what do you prefer?


pcdad

Good stuff my friend:)
looking forward to to hear about your further enhancement of skills and achievements!

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Originally Posted by pcdad

wow!...so if you have sampled every blade razor..including different weights and feeling..what do you prefer?


pcdad

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I'm rather fond of the larger razors, 6/8 7/8. I'm currently shaving with 2 7/8 and they are superb, I've tryed to 5/8 to but somehow they dont feel and shave a nice as the bigger once ;)

I started 3 months ago and in my typicall "all at once" style, bought razors, Norton 4/8, barber hones etc.

Promptly ruined 2 or 3 perfectly shave-ready razors trying to hone, rolling them on the strop, then carving up my face.

Decided to leave honing for later. Developed a very light touch on the barber hone only if needed, and started stropping as though I was just moving a feather on the leather.

Things are better now! I plan to get back to the heavy honing, but for now, I have decided just to learn to shave and do very basic razor maintenance.

Glad to see someone who is smart enough to do it all! One day I'll be there.

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Originally Posted by LawsonStone

I started 3 months ago and in my typicall "all at once" style, bought razors, Norton 4/8, barber hones etc.

Promptly ruined 2 or 3 perfectly shave-ready razors trying to hone, rolling them on the strop, then carving up my face.

Decided to leave honing for later. Developed a very light touch on the barber hone only if needed, and started stropping as though I was just moving a feather on the leather.

Things are better now! I plan to get back to the heavy honing, but for now, I have decided just to learn to shave and do very basic razor maintenance.

Glad to see someone who is smart enough to do it all! One day I'll be there.

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In all fairness I have been sharpening / honing all sorts of knives for years. Honing a razor is very different (requires better technique and a lighter touch) but the experience helped a great deal.

Tip: Buy a cheapy cheapy razor like a gold dollar or so and try honing those. If you ruin them it will have only cost you about 15 bucks :)

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Originally Posted by TheSkyer

Tip: Buy a cheapy cheapy razor like a gold dollar or so and try honing those. If you ruin them it will have only cost you about 15 bucks :)

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This is a good way to practice on something with a low value, but it could make it difficult to actually learn on. The problems with the grinds, uneven spines etc can be a real challenge/confidence killer.

For what it's worth, you may be best to get a good razor and a barbers hone and practice only when you need touch ups... then when you're comfortable, try a full honing (again on a good razor). Good razors hone easier, with the exception of a good razor hardened to a ridiculously high Rc hardness.

Seems like you have all the skills in place. Now, you only have to keep honing those skills. You're obviously doing great.

Gerald

I just started 8 days ago and seems like I've got so much to learn and so many things to figure out. What's the best size/grind razor? I only have one now a Boker 5/8 full hollow, but just ordered another Dovo 6/8 half hollow. Thanks for the encouragement and I look forward to the 8 week mark.

yep who'd of thought shaving could be such a pleasure

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Originally Posted by LouG

I just started 8 days ago and seems like I've got so much to learn and so many things to figure out. What's the best size/grind razor? I only have one now a Boker 5/8 full hollow, but just ordered another Dovo 6/8 half hollow. Thanks for the encouragement and I look forward to the 8 week mark.

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Size is a personal choice. I started with a 6/8 Dovo, got a second razor in 5/8 just to create a rotation and try a different size. Only to find I prefer the larger size. Both are full hollows. Grinds would also be personal choice. There really is no 'best'.


Mick