Thread: The Noob Chronicle - My Straight Razor Experience

I've gotta keep it real. I want to head to the Scarborough Tandy location tomorrow to get D rings and Chicago screws. I need to assemble a few strops for more testing.

I'm going early....wanna go and check out some Roo?

Love those shaving den pictures, awesome.
Had my third shave last night which went ok, i know a lot of my problems are down to technique and using my left hand.
The cheeks and neck area were great with two passes lather was excellent again but my bloody chin (bloody being the opertaive word).
No matter what i do it just seems to attract nicks i am beginning to wonder how much is technique and how much is the shavette being unforgiving. There was no razor burn at all which is a massive improvment but my chin looks like its had a fight with a chicken.

How good is the alum block? would you guys consider it an essential bit of kit? I bled for quite awhile last night and i notice how you always seem to use it so am thinking of getting one after pay day.

On another note my first SR is being assembled as we speak, after a lot of internet trawling i came across Carl who restores SR of all types. After speaking to him he has found a good starter razor for me (Halma shear & razor works Germany) at a very reasonable price. He offers full guarantees of satisfaction and is in the UK which will keep postage down. Hopefully i will have them early next month and can then compare them with the shavette. Of course this means that i will have to buy a strop aswell but all being well ebay will be able to sort that out.
No new news on my inheritance but thats not a suprise as my Dad could have hidden them anywhere.

Regards

Ritchie

The Straight Road - Part 61: JaNorton Returns
After a break to test out my kamisori and two new restores, it was time to return to the JaNorton experiment. Sunday is usually a slow day around our household, though today we had a birthday brunch with my dad, so we were getting ready to head out rather more early than usual. Nonetheless, I set aside the time to thoroughly test out my latest JaNorton edge. This will be my combination for the entire week, hopefully at least four or five shaves, which should help me dial in the edge, my lathering technique and my shaving technique.

The Anticipation
I was quite eager for this shave, especially because I had ample time to pamper myself. SWMBO was doing her thing, getting ready and SWMBO Jr. was dressing her American Girl doll, so I was free of obligations for the next hour or so. The JaNorton shaves have been a bit of a struggle for me, so I was hoping this one would turn out better.

The Prep
First up, I ran the tap water as hot as it would go, splashed some onto the MWF puck and then filled the scuttle. Then I dunked the SOC into the reservoir, set everything up on the counter and jumped into a long hot shower, topped off with Real Shaving Exfoliating Scrub. The razor had already been stropped, but I gave it another 50 passes on the episaacs 'roo, just to be sure. That out of the way, I turned to my brush and scuttle.

The Lather
Once again, the MWF lather gave me some trouble. I have been testing the technique of using a very wet brush to start out, but it doesn't seem to be working as well for me as I've seen it work for others. Today's attempt certainly was better than last time, but the lather still felt a bit thin, like I may have used too much water. Still, I have heard that MWF never gets quite so slick and creamy as other soaps, so this might just be the nature of the soap. For my next shave, I plan on starting with drier brush and then adding water as I go, which will hopefully get me back to my MWF happy place. There was enough lather for three passes and it certainly got the job done, though it just didn't feel quite like I am used to having. It's a bit of a strange one, but in the end, I suppose I should be happy that the shave worked out.

The Shave
This was the high point, which is sort of the point. The edge still isn't 100% where I'd like it to be, but it was a nice smooth shave. In fact, if I didn't know this razor could shave better off the Norton 8k, I'd probably be satisfied. But I do know it can get smoother than this, so I'll take it back to the 8k for a few more finishing strokes. The first pass started out tentatively, as I was getting the feel for the edge and the razor, but my confidence grew quickly as it was smooth enough to get the job done. I relathered for pass two, which is my XTG pass outward from the centre of the face, and things were still sailing along smoothly, so I was quite content up until the moustache area, where a momentary lapse in concentration allowed the spike point of the razor to ding me. Luckily it was the lightest of touches, so the cut quickly succumbed to the ministrations of the styptic pencil, allowing me to continue on my way. The final pass was where I noticed that the edge was probably not quite where I'd like it to be, as on the south to north under the chin there was some roughness. Still, I ended up with a DFS and only a touch of burn under the chin, so I was satisfied, if not 100% pleased all around.

The Post
My post routine has become fairly formulaic, with cold water, alum, cold water, witch hazel, then whichever splash I'm using that day being the norm. I ended it off with my Trumper's Unscented balm and twenty-five passes on the 'roo strop. Then it was off to brunch.

The Verdict
Much better for this edge, though still not quite there. I am happy with the progress I've made, as it is helping me get a feel for the hones, as well as a feel for what a good edge feels like versus an edge that isn't quite there. Onward and upward!

Happy Sunday and have a great week on The Straight Road!

This week should be fun, with my new experiment of sticking with a set kit for one week intervals, I figure to become much more intimately acquainted with my blades, brushes and products. I'm hoping my new hone will turn up this week, which will make for even more fun experimentation. I also have some restores to get to sanding, which I suppose isn't a bad way to while away a cold winter evening.

Thanks for reading!

Cheers,

Jack

Wow, It wouldnt let me edit the old post.

DaFaour & Bros Full hollow:


IMAG0369 by LameBMX, on Flickr

Barbers Special Shell Horse Hide Strop:


IMAG0372 by LameBMX, on Flickr

Nice-looking setup!

Yea, I need to find some strop paddles for it. then find a way to set the stuff up along with the M1 Garande shell casing from my grandpa's funeral. Picturesque reminders of a man I barely knew as a person (Last time he was in good health I was about 11) but was a serious guiding force in who I grew up to be. Who knew a proper handshake, crappy christmas gift, A "game" of pick-up sticks and raking gravel would be so influential.

I wish I could have had my grandfather's kit, but it was apparently tossed out after his health went. He had to shave with an electric after his second stroke, so I guess my grandmother got rid of his gear. I was lucky enough to be able to spend a lot of quality time with mine and I still miss him.

The Straight Road - Part 62: JaNorton Woes
After last night's shave, I figured I'd take the TI back to the Norton 8k for a few strokes, to see if I could get a little bit more smoothness and keenness out of the edge. It had done alright on the shave, but it wasn't as comfortable as I know it can be, so before tonight's shave, it went for 10 laps on the 8k with water, then another 10 slow laps on a damp 8k. How would that affect the shave? Let's find out...

The Anticipation
I actually wasn't sure I was going to shave today. It has been a while since I've shaved two days in a row and I usually need a day in between for skin recovery and whisker regrowth after a three-pass shave. There was some stubble, but I have also been having some trouble with ingrowns and irritated hair follicles, so it probably wasn't advisable to go for a shave today, but I did anyway. I am sticking with the same kit week, in order to eliminate some of the variables from the shave and focus on the edge.

The Prep
A quick hot shower and some thorough stropping of the razor were my prep today. It's possible that I did not take enough time to soften the short whiskers of one day's growth, but overall the prep went well. The razor was given 50 laps on the SRD webbing and 100 on episaac's 'roo strop, then it was time to pull the brush out of the reservoir and pick up the MWF.

The Lather
After a few tries at a different lathering technique, I went back to my regular method, starting out with a drier brush on the puck, loading it up really well, then adding drops of water while whipping it in the scuttle. This got me a nice, slick, cushiony lather of MWF, with more than enough for a full Santa Claus beard, even on the third pass! A much better lather than I have been getting and I think I will stick to what I know with this soap.

The Shave
Tonight's shave was a bit rough. I think the combination of rather light prep, a rather less than optimal edge and the fact that it's been a while since I shaved on consecutive nights could all be contributing factors. Suffice it to say, I would not want a repeat performance of this shave any time in the near future. I know the hard steel on these blades make them a more challenging honing job, but this is not what I was expecting after a touch-up. I wonder if I made the edge any better, of if I made it worse. I got through three passes, but they weren't as smooth as I'd like, nor as comfortable. There was definitely some pulling and I managed to give myself a nice bit of irritation under the chin. Definitely back to the drawing board with this one.

The Post
Luckily, cold water, alum and witch hazel were able to soothe my face, though the Trumper's Spanish Leather still managed to put out quite a sting. After that, I soothed my face with some Trumper's Fragrance Free balm, though not enough to completely quell the burn.

The Verdict
As I sit here, over an hour later, I still feel some burn on my neck and under my chin, with slightly less on the cheeks. This razor is not where it needs to be and I am tempted to take it all the way back to the bevel-setting on the 4k with slurry and just work it from there. Before I do that, I will try some strokes on the 4k with water, then move it up to the 8k, giving it quite a few strokes to account for the hard C135 steel. I'm not sure what else to do with this razor, other than take it over to Maxi. But he'd just make me hone it while he gave me pointers, anyway.

It's time to persevere and stay the course on The Straight Road!

Well, there is some good coming out of sticking with the same gear, which is an improvement in the lather. Now if I can just get an improvement in the razor, then we'll be getting somewhere. I've received a few pointers in tonight's noob chat, so that will get me on my way. More honing will be on the agenda soon!

Until next time, thanks for reading!

Cheers,

Jack

Originally Posted by jdto

The Straight Road - Part 61: JaNorton Returns
....snip...
The Lather
Once again, the MWF lather gave me some trouble.

Grand journal.... keep at it.

I would note that if the lather is not to your liking
rinse the mug and brush and start over.

MWF softens slow on the surface of the puck. This can
make it easy to pick up too little soap.

I always try to start with too little water and a generous
bit of shave soap because it is easy to add water and
hard to add soap once you start a lather. Not impossible
but harder.

Once the puck is well glued to the container I like to
transfer soap to the brush with the puck container upside
down so the soap gets deep into the brush where it can
best make a dense lather.

When adding water sometimes I let it dribble on the foam sometimes
I let it dribble down the handle so it gets inside the brush. I find
that I often have a band of naked bristles that lets me add it into the
brush. Since lather does dry on the face face lathering can
dry and thicken a lather.

Of all the things we can practice "lathering" is the safest.
It does not roll the edge, it does not give you a nick, it does
break in and soften boar bristle brushes where many beginners
start. And inexpensive shave soaps like VDH and Williams
do not break the pocketbook.

For the beginners reading this, an inexpensive three min sand egg timer
is helpful. Take a full three min building a lather at first adjust the
time to match your preference after a month or so.

Great advice, niftyshaving! Thanks.