Thread: Beginners Tips: March 2012

Originally Posted by jlands3

Shut up and stick to the facts. The humor OF N Idaho is not funny. NO one wants to be scolded about enthusiasm. Who died and made you King KNOW It ALL?

Wow! Nice knowin' ya.

Thats a wonderful post for sure and actually we could all benefit to slow down in every aspect of our lifes!!

Originally Posted by jlands3

Shut up and stick to the facts. The humor OF N Idaho is not funny. NO one wants to be scolded about enthusiasm. Who died and made you King KNOW It ALL?

Perhaps you should SLOW DOWN a little before posting this unnecessary remarks, really not called for at all!

Originally Posted by jlands3

Shut up and stick to the facts. The humor OF N Idaho is not funny. NO one wants to be scolded about enthusiasm. Who died and made you King KNOW It ALL?

I guess that some newbies should also learn to have respect for those who have been there and are offering heartfelt(and good) advice.

Hello all. I am knew to the straight shaving world and do enjoy it. I think I am doing this to achieve some level of patience with the world around me. But like all virtues it takes time to learn. If I believed in reincarnation I think I would be coming back as a stone. I do have two possible scars. I was not in a rush. I was just half asleep. It was the morning time and just overestimated the sharpness of that blade. Oh boy was it sharp. I just got it back from being honed and immediately learned the difference from a 'factory shave ready edge' and a professionally honed edge. I mean I was not using a lot of pressure either. Anyway, now I shave at night way before I go to sleep. As far as the wounds, I am treating them with plenty of aloe and tea tree oil. I will keep my fingers crossed. Also, I find myself enjoying stropping just as much as shaving. Though it does get frustrating at times. It is like my muscle memory forgot what I was doing the day before. At times, I feel that I am almost there with understanding how to do it consistently. I can say I have not injured my strop in the past two weeks. That first week I thought I would not have any leather left on it. But I do try to enjoy it. The sound of the suction of the blade as it passes over some hide is rhythmic as well as quieting. But my monkey brain keeps getting in the way of my ecstatic state. Stupid, stupid monkey that I am. But I am a curious one. So hopefully I will not stick my hand on the oven burner too many more times.

For my 2 cents, I am as guilty as any when it came to enthusiasm when starting out.

I have been wet shaving with str8's now for just shy of 1 year. I still do not feel I have a complete mastery of the shave, and some days are better than others. It took me a few months, and a couple of rolled edges to master stropping correctly. It took even longer before I ever even contemplated honing my own razor. After putting a crap edge to your face, you learn an appreciation of a good edge by a qualified honer.

Now I am at the point that I can hone with some measure of satisfaction, but the learning curve is long.

If I may, I'm going to break down the 'stages'....

1. Major rush to become totally involved in all things.
2. realization that it requires some learning and practice at each level.
3. realize that shaving now requires time and patience to not injure yourself.
4. learn to strop properly and maintain one edge satisfactorily.
5. begin RAD and want to own as many razors as possible.
6. Begin to have the 'restoration' bug and want to restore as many razors as you can afford.
7. Spend a fortune having all you have collected honed by someone competent.
8. realize that your spending a fortune having razors honed and decide to buy your own hones.
9. realize that honing is not easy and it also takes a ton of practice to master.
10. realize that all this practicing takes a ton of time, so pick one at a time and try and master it.
11. Achieve a level of satisfaction a year later that you are just now beginning to master ANY of it.
12. Start to chime in on the beginners forums with your experiences.

That has been my '12 steps' to starting to really enjoy the shaving experience, using straights that I restored, maintain and honed myself.

It is a long journey that will take many years, as I still consider myself a 'newb' even though I've been at it for a year now.

I hope this sheds some light on the last year of my experiences learning this most enjoyable hobby.

Take it for what it is, a different way of doing the same old boring task, but with major benefits, those of learning patience and gaining some skills you never had before.

Thanks for letting me talk,

Mike

I like your humour, Glen FWIW.
I wrote a thread some time back about why beginners shouldn't hone and it was reinforced again on Saturday when I took out the W&B 4/8 smiling wedge that I had honed myself (my first) and (thought) had a good edge.
My technique has (again) evolved to the point where I got a shave that was 'barely passable', however, I had to use far too much pressure for an ATG pass on my top lip.
Back to the hones we go so that my edge matches my technique - both of which are constantly evolving.
I like the photo in your OP as well - can I have it....hehehe?
I hope that no-one thinks that I am deriding their choices as regards this passtime 'cause I have been down the same path - although maybe not as quickly as some.

Originally Posted by jlands3

Shut up and stick to the facts. The humor OF N Idaho is not funny. NO one wants to be scolded about enthusiasm. Who died and made you King KNOW It ALL?

O.K.

Originally Posted by jlands3

Shut up and stick to the facts. The humor OF N Idaho is not funny. NO one wants to be scolded about enthusiasm. Who died and made you King KNOW It ALL?

Wow how dare you raise your hand against the Master? Seriously though one the best things about this forum (aside from the great advice/information) is that members treat each other with respect.
All opinions are welcome but just be polite and appreciative of members help and or advice.

By the way Glen great post could not agree more with take your time philosophy when it comes to straight shaving

Glen, don't shut up and don't stick to the facts...

I was one who shaved my whole face first shave, less than a year ago. I was lucky, I survived. I spent several weeks without a hone and asked questions via PM of a guy from the forum who I swapped my second razor with. I'd never have got anywhere if I hadn't found this site, and while I have learnt a huge amount from this site, I'm also one to test theories by learning from my own experience.

I also must say some comments here lack not only respect that is due to one who 'knows his shit', but also lacks the respect one should simply show to another person. I can only hope they were meant in a wry, witty, very well veiled humorous way.... :-)