Thread: Hello from a newbie!

Hi everybody,
I am new to the world of straight razor's and will most probably have tons of questions for you shaving guru's.
Let me start with a simple one.
Do you think it would be a good deal to buy 1 king cutter and a 1 carbo magnetic for 50$ the pair? They would serve me to learn honing skills.
Thanks
Looking forward to your replys.

Hey Fresh,

welcome to SRP!

Learn to shave and strop properly first. Learn to hone second. Remember that true learning comes from mastering incremental difficulties, NOT insurmountable difficulties.

+1 for all above me!!

fresh, buying those razors for practice honing is a great idea. But!!! if you are new to str8's, I assume you have a sharp razor already. If you don't, use that money to get one. You have to have a baseline like anything else does, to get an idea what a true sharp razor is really like before you can ever hope to hone one to shave readiness.

Mastering the small incrementals of actually using a str8 takes months and months to do. Sadly, you can only practice those skills once a day, which is why it takes so dang long to get good at it.

Maxi said it very well, learn the art of shaving, then learn the art of honing.

I have the entire arsenal of hones now, and I have attempted to actually put a real bevel on a dull razor 7 times. I have succeeded three times now. Just a tad over 33% ratio. Not too good. I have been working on the same razors over and over. I have about 30 razors now that ARE shave ready, that a myriad of masters have honed for me over the last year. I have a lot of sharp razors to compare too, and I realize that it will be quite a while before I can actually say I have some honing skill. Right now I have a little luck occasionally. I think you have to see it and actually be taught how to do it properly. I've been floundering on my own, so I'm being patient until another opportunity to be taught arrives. That might not be until next July, but oh well. Until then I'll play with my duds until I learn something on my own.

I ramble, sorry.. I tend to do that.

Good luck mate!!! Experimentation is the spice of life!!!

Mike

Thanks for the input guys but...Today I became the proud owner of a Dovo Bismarck shave ready blade, it's quite beautiful it's almost like a jewel but with an edge. I will be performing my first ever straight razor shave with it in the morning, I have a 10 day beard and I will most likely bleed.

Welcome to SRP, fresh and, I hope you didn't bleed too much during your first shave.
I made the concious decision not to cut myself when I first started on this journey and I can state, without fear of contradiction, that I have failed miserably in that endevour, however, I have also learned sooooo much from the experience.
Don't forget that we are all interested in your successes and would like to help where we can.
I wish you many smooth and blood free shaves.
Hang on and enjoy the ride.

Originally Posted by fresh

Thanks for the input guys but...Today I became the proud owner of a Dovo Bismarck shave ready blade, it's quite beautiful it's almost like a jewel but with an edge. I will be performing my first ever straight razor shave with it in the morning, I have a 10 day beard and I will most likely bleed.

I have a Dovo Bismarck, nice razor and it's my first spike point. Just be aware of that spike point toe.

there well worth your time for some practice , welcome to srp and happy holidays

Well I did! I didn't even cut myself too much, only twice. I never thought shaving could be such a rush! I am now hooked and will adopt this method for the rest of my life.
I usually have to trim my beard with electric clippers before finalizing with a mach 3... Well the mach 3 is in the garbage and the clipper is going to finish it's career as a head shaver.
Later guys!

Very good post, by the way.

Good choice. I think I'm envious.