Thread: frustrated with every aspect

Michael,
I was in your shoes for years. Started almost 16 years ago and went back and forth with straights for ages. Finally one day everything clicked stropping, honing, and shaving. Step back relax and just let it happen if you force it, it will take you back a step. The key as others have pointed out is is to Stick with 1 razor, one strop, and the basics don't worry about what you have, what you want that can come later on after you have a grasp on the important points. Just concentrate on that one razor and your shave every morning. There are tons of gents in jersey, and they have meet-ups every so often get together with some guys so they can help you with tenique etc. Once you get past the hurdle the other side is positively delightful but some times it's like climbing a snow covered mountain you just need to make it to the summit.

One of the awesome things to see is how much great spirit there is here at SRP!

I'm betting that if you do get to meet up with one of the guys who have volunteered to help you, that you will be enlightened in every aspect of straight razor shaving, including stropping and honing.

Have fun.

I can't offer any advice that hasn't already been listed. It will come with time...be patient, and like Lynn says, probably the most important thing...HAVE FUN!

Originally Posted by Maxi

successful learning comes from manageable tasks, not insurmountable ones.

That's a truism for anything. I won't read wiser words all week.

Originally Posted by Maxi

Michael,

If I may, I'll be quite frank:

1. Put the hones away, don't touch them until your shaving is going well
2. Send the razors to a person who will be able to hone them properly. Take the sharpness variable out of your equation
3. Practice your stropping, with a butter knife if need be, or a dull razor. Keep the strop taught and the spine of the razor on the leather.
4. Build a good lather. I have nicked myself on occasion when my lather has dried out, because the razor trudges and bumps its way through. Good lather will help with a smooth shave.

When you're getting fairly decent shaves, and you'd like to learn how to touch up a razor, pull out your highest grit stone. It will do the least damage.

If you want to go from the bevel - up, pull out an almost dead razor and sharpen it.

It is a long learning process, as many will admit, however....successful learning comes from manageable tasks, not insurmountable ones. Learning to hone, strop, and shave in the same time frame would be considered quite difficult. Give yourself a break, and some time to relax and enjoy this. Hobbies are supposed to be just that, enjoyable. Learn one thing at a time.

9 thousand plus ones here!
I got so frustrated I sold everything, bought a feather and shaved solely with that for a bout 3 years. Now I am back to conventional straights and they are still a learning curved instrument! Simplify and use 1 razor all the time and the success will come!

Totally agree, have your razor's honed by a pro for now, once you get proficent at shaving then you can start to mess with sharpening... (I sent mine to Lynn to be honed, and then bought another one that was already honed by Lynn) This will give you a baseline so you know what sharp is before you start honing...

The only other thing I can suggest is...Slow down. I found that before it started to "Click" for me that I would shave too fast and make mistakes, once I forced myself to take an extra 10 min shaving, slow down and really be methodical that it got better. The speed comes in time

Special thanks to Alan for reaching out to me like this, and I will be contacting you. To answer your question, I was able to hear different noises while I was stropping, and feel different sensations. There was a slapping noise when I flipped the razor over, then higher pitched sounds as I brought the razor down the strop. Also my strokes were kind of all over the place. If I concentrate now, my stropping becomes more even sounding and looking plus better results.

I will definately be laying off the hones for a little bit. I am sending out one or two razors to Lynn for honing. So that will be pretty good. And I am going to be getting into the mindset of consistency and sticking with one thing at a time. One razor, one cream, one routine etc. I am also trying to break away from shaving my whole face with the straight every time. Do The easier parts then finish with my gold tech, which I find to be a very gentle and forgiving DE. Thanks so much to everyone for allyour replies and wisdom.

-----------Michael

+1 to all of the advise here. I only have one thing to add:

Put some classical music on the next time you strop and shave... relax... and enjoy yourself my friend.

In fact... put on this song!

Just got around to this thread (looking for advice on honing) and I want to say the advice it great. im new, and have started with reflectively cheap equipment (some seems alright and other bits will need work) such as a hone i baught that did not even list the grit... but i like the idea of sending off my blade to have it fixed/honed by someone experienced, getting used to how it feels, and eventually honing myself.

a short question is though, i bought a pseudo-cheap blade, (because i did plan to hone myself and did not want to ruin a 100$ razor) i did try to hone it myself, and had results similer to the original poster, will this have ruined the blade? I was a bit giddy, and did rush in a bit.

Your experience is shared by many! One of the best things I ever did to improve honing on a stone was to start using a Radio Shack Illuminated Microscope (about $12 with an internal light that shines down through the target hole). Check out both sides of the blade from heel to toe before you put it to stone and then check it after about 10 strokes on both sides. Wipe off the swarf so you can see what you've done to the bevel. This will SHOW you EXACTLY what you're doing to that bevel. You'll be able to clearly see things like the "dazzle" (excess edge metal caused by honing pressure), micro-chips not visible to the naked eye, color changes caused by dips or rises in the bevel, etc. I sharpen about 6 blades per week and each one is different under the microscope so its a constant checking. I also check the bevel after each stone in the progression (Shaptons). This does take more time but the bevel and edge end up being much more perfect than ad hoc, seat of the pants honing sans magnification.