Thread: Quitting after two weeks in.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Oh, dude, thats just like crazy. I have the most open door policy on the planet. I'm moving back out to my house in late October, so you should try to stop by sometime. Send me a PM if you'd like or just come out to the "Get Together" in Vienna, VA on Oct. 2nd.

I have no interest in pressuring anyone to shave with a straight razor, but I'd rather you walk away knowing how to do it, and making up your own mind. If nothing else I can teach you enough to be able to get closer shaves with a straight as a nice complement to a DE. That alone is a cool benefit.

And if your a wallflower and interested in dinner I'll make the hike up to Reston. Ya know that cool custom burger joint? I have no problem burning some gas in the name of "Mentorship", the stipend they give to Mentors more than covers it.

Man, this forum is something else. An offer from a local expert to demonstrate correct blade usage is something I cannot pass up ! Dinner is on me for any lesson.

As for the custom burger place, yes I have been. One of the condiment offerings was an egg sunny side up. Interesting, but I must admit I prefer Five Guys.....

Originally Posted by FlounderDTD

have you been remembering to let the blades sit for 24 hours between uses? the metal "grows" back to its sharpened state after stropping and if this growing process is interrupted then they will quickly dull.

The consensus on this is that it was a marketing ploy to get people to buy seven-day sets. It's a durable myth, but a myth.

The truth is that you need to rest the razors in a pyramid. It can be small and it can be made of anything, but it must be a pyramid and it must be oriented to the cardinal directions.

Oh man, you've got a mentor nearby and a meetup coming soon. That's too much good fortune at once. I bet all your other hobbies are avoiding eye contact with one another right now, wondering which will be the one to go.

Yes, it is time-consuming! However, with the knowledge I have attained, I COULD get by with a handful of my favorites, A quality HANGING strop, and a few cheap hones. I have learned the hard way that good, regular stropping, done right, is the key to edge maintainance. My beard is like wire and I used to blame that on my deteriorating edges. Lay low, raise the kids and hang on to your blades. You will be back, in spades! The Best of Luck and.....get it on....... Tom

That's a shame...Especially after just 2 weeks. That's like saying you don't like to work after 10 minutes on the job. As with everything else, if it's gotta be done right (and be enjoyed), you gotta put in the time.

I do however understand that it will eat into your time with other hobbies and you have to make a decision in that regard, but 90% of the fun with this sport is the honing, learning and overall slowing down of time to enjoy your "Me time".

If you're dulling your edges after a few uses, I guarantee that it's not the razor, it's the technique (both shaving and/or stropping). Used and maintained properly, str8s will last awhile before ever needing to visit any hone

I hope you don't quit and take the offer for some lessons...there are a lot of world-class maestros here that can help with anything straight razor related.

Wish you best of luck! I am a newbie as well and can see how it can be frustrating sometimes.

Some great offers. Let us know how things develop after your lesson.

While straight shaving is not for everyone, for me, it is so rewarding that I want everyone to experience the joys it has brought me. The highlight of my day is having the quiet, contemplative time shaving with a sharp razor. I enjoy the feel of the warm lather, the beauty of the razor, the sharpness of the blade, the connection to the past, the learning of the skill, the resulting clean cut shave, and the scent of the aftershave balm.

Even if you don't use a straight everyday, if you learn the skill, it can become a meaningful event for those times you need to slow down and smell the roses. If necessary, use a DE when you are pressed for time and a SR when you have more time available. Even now that I am becoming fairly successful with my straight, I often use a DE to do my final ATG touchup just because I like both SRs and DEs. Do what best suits your life style. There are no "Shaving Police" to stop you.


I wish you great success!

Happy Shaving!

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

interesting,more info pls.

5. The straight razor I bought a short time ago no longer shaves properly. Do I have to whet it, and how often is this necessary?
DOVO straight razors are whetted in the factory for use (whetting on leather by hand). If you own a suitable strop, you should nevertheless take into account that the razor must first "rest" after use. After the razor has been carefully rinsed and dried, it should not be used again for at least 24 - 48 hours because the fine "fin" on the cutting edge straightens up again extremely slowly. If the razor is stropped too soon (or stropped incorrectly by moving it backwards and forwards without turning it over), the "fin" which is necessary for a close shave breaks off. Between six and fifteen shaves are possible without stropping in between.
http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecent...instrazor.html

I've been straight shaving for about 13/14 months now, but back then I had an experience given up on straight 2 times, the 1st one '97 when I was still a univ. student, I got my 1st razor was an old Henckle from antique store, the seller said it was shave ready but it was really not, at the time I couldnt get any info about straight & honing & never thought of internet. I failed to sharpened it, end up nicking my face, I quit.. & back to de, se & Goo.

the 2nd one I'd given up was around 2003, I got this brand new gold dollar from flea market, but its dull, I honed it on 600grit high pressure for 2 weeks everyday till its sharp, it even pass the hht. I immidiatly shaved my face quite well but then burned & irritated my face badly for more than a week, I had to go see a doctor.
In 2010 my brother ordered a book from bookstore on the net & I saw this dvd world of straight razor by Abram Lynn. My bro bought it for me, the dvd was awesome,(I found the dvd before I found SRP) & for the 3rd time I give my self a chance to enter the world of straight razor, the SRP got me even deeper & deeper. I love it , I've been learning from these nice gentlemans, & my straight shaving becoming enjoyable everytime

Originally Posted by FlounderDTD

5. The straight razor I bought a short time ago no longer shaves properly. Do I have to whet it, and how often is this necessary?
DOVO straight razors are whetted in the factory for use (whetting on leather by hand). If you own a suitable strop, you should nevertheless take into account that the razor must first "rest" after use. After the razor has been carefully rinsed and dried, it should not be used again for at least 24 - 48 hours because the fine "fin" on the cutting edge straightens up again extremely slowly. If the razor is stropped too soon (or stropped incorrectly by moving it backwards and forwards without turning it over), the "fin" which is necessary for a close shave breaks off. Between six and fifteen shaves are possible without stropping in between.
http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecent...instrazor.html

As already mentioned, that is just a myth. A straight certainly don't need to rest after a shave.