Thread: Beginners Tips: March 2012

If you weren't such an oddball, David, we wouldn't be nearly such good friends!

I am possibly one of the newbies that inspired this thread... In a short period I have gone from advice on first couple shaves to restorations to honing questions. And though it may seem like I am rushing and in a sense I am, when it comes to a shave I take my time. I wait until I have at least an hour free and spend that time learning my angles and progressing my technique. With all of that being said, I am a person that excells when I know every aspect of what goes into what I'm trying to accomplish. I recently restored a razor that I knew didn't have edge damage or anything that would cause serious issues. I want to learn how to hone it because I have my whipped dog razor that I have something to compare the sharpness.

I am a beginner that appears to be in a rush and I spend way more time reading this forum than any one person should. But I know personally knowing every aspect of my shave will better let me slow down and do the best job possible. That being said I've always lived by the saying "slow down; you're in a rush". I may be trying to learn many things at once. But my focus and concentration remains at a slow pace. But that's just me and I know that the way I learn won't work for most beginners out there.

All I want to say is that I thank my lucky stars everyday that I discovered SRP before I began my slow, methodical journey on the road of straight razor shaving. I think I would have been lost without it.

I've also met a number people along the way who I would like to consider friends, even though I've never met them face-to-face. And I've lost some friends here at SRP as well, such as Nightbreed and Bluegill. Jeez, I sure do miss them.

All in all, though, It's been a worthwhile journey with people who offer an abundance of support--and not just about shaving related matters.

Cheers to all.

Originally Posted by Cavere

I am possibly one of the newbies that inspired this thread... In a short period I have gone from advice on first couple shaves to restorations to honing questions. And though it may seem like I am rushing and in a sense I am, when it comes to a shave I take my time. I wait until I have at least an hour free and spend that time learning my angles and progressing my technique. With all of that being said, I am a person that excells when I know every aspect of what goes into what I'm trying to accomplish. I recently restored a razor that I knew didn't have edge damage or anything that would cause serious issues. I want to learn how to hone it because I have my whipped dog razor that I have something to compare the sharpness.

I am a beginner that appears to be in a rush and I spend way more time reading this forum than any one person should. But I know personally knowing every aspect of my shave will better let me slow down and do the best job possible. That being said I've always lived by the saying "slow down; you're in a rush". I may be trying to learn many things at once. But my focus and concentration remains at a slow pace. But that's just me and I know that the way I learn won't work for most beginners out there.

You say you want to start honing because you have a razor to compare to but what if that razor hasnt been stropped properly and you match the unproperly stropped razor then all of sudden you have nothing to compare to because your comparable and your
honed razor dont shave anymore!!

Originally Posted by Martin103

You say you want to start honing because you have a razor to compare to but what if that razor hasnt been stropped properly and you match the unproperly stropped razor then all of sudden you have nothing to compare to because your comparable and your
honed razor dont shave anymore!!

With that philosophy how could any beginner learn without an arsenal of professional honed razors? I personally have some experience sharpening knives and while very different from razors is does give some basis of experience. I can personally say that I know what my razor felt like on the first shave with my blade honed by larry before any stropping was done. And I watched hours of video not only on shaving but also on stropping looking for not only the blade angle and tension. But also I paid attention to the sound that hollow ground razors made on the strop and took my stropping slow until I could emulate that sound. I did this for my first several stropping sessions until I felt comfortable.

If I sound offended by your statement I apologize that is not the case and certainly is a valid point. But without a little faith in what I feel competant with in my own abilities there is no way for me to progress. We all have nothing better to go by than ones personal experience.

Originally Posted by Cavere

With that philosophy how could any beginner learn without an arsenal of professional honed razors? I personally have some experience sharpening knives and while very different from razors is does give some basis of experience. I can personally say that I know what my razor felt like on the first shave with my blade honed by larry before any stropping was done. And I watched hours of video not only on shaving but also on stropping looking for not only the blade angle and tension. But also I paid attention to the sound that hollow ground razors made on the strop and took my stropping slow until I could emulate that sound. I did this for my first several stropping sessions until I felt comfortable.

If I sound offended by your statement I apologize that is not the case and certainly is a valid point. But without a little faith in what I feel competant with in my own abilities there is no way for me to progress. We all have nothing better to go by than ones personal experience.

I was just trying to make a point that the more steps you take on at once, when you dont get good results you just dont know where the problem is, is it my shaving technique? my stropping? my honing? my lather?etc etc its a never ending learning hobby
for sure and for myself thats what makes it enjoyable!
If you feel you have good shaving technique and stropping then hone away!!

This thread is starting to get really interesting. There's so much to say...

There's a guy named "earcutter" on a place where a whole bunch of guys spend (as was said) way too much time talking about, ummmm, "shaving" (and taking PICTURES of it for goodness sakes), and the earcutter guy's avatar is van Gough (without the ear) and we're talking about OCD (which clearly we ALL have) and it's all actually making SENSE!

When one sits here and actually critically analyses this discussion as if one is looking 'from the outside' it starts to sound really, really bizarre...

I mean all that in a good way :-)

I rushed the process, I had a great rush of what can only be described as euphoria, I went reasonably quickly into the honing, etc......
...And I lived to tell the tale.

I think what I see is important for me, is to consider that possibly when people ARE quite knowledgeable, concentrated and very interested in a certain topic, they may tend to give very detailed advice for the BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME, not an acceptable outcome.

It's possible my razors are dull, I have only a dim memory of their former selves, my stropping is abysmal, my lather is weak and watery, my honing is butchery and my comments are madness, but I love my shaves and I'm having fun.

I know it's oft said, but really, having fun IS the goal (for me) not the 'perfect' shave or process...

This is all something to help me take my mind off what can be at times a boring mundane crappy life...

What he said!

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

This thread is starting to get really interesting. There's so much to say...

There's a guy named "earcutter" on a place where a whole bunch of guys spend (as was said) way too much time talking about, ummmm, "shaving" (and taking PICTURES of it for goodness sakes), and the earcutter guy's avatar is van Gough (without the ear) and we're talking about OCD (which clearly we ALL have) and it's all actually making SENSE!

When one sits here and actually critically analyses this discussion as if one is looking 'from the outside' it starts to sound really, really bizarre...

I mean all that in a good way :-)

I rushed the process, I had a great rush of what can only be described as euphoria, I went reasonably quickly into the honing, etc......
...And I lived to tell the tale.

I think what I see is important for me, is to consider that possibly when people ARE quite knowledgeable, concentrated and very interested in a certain topic, they may tend to give very detailed advice for the BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME, not an acceptable outcome.

It's possible my razors are dull, I have only a dim memory of their former selves, my stropping is abysmal, my lather is weak and watery, my honing is butchery and my comments are madness, but I love my shaves and I'm having fun.

I know it's oft said, but really, having fun IS the goal (for me) not the 'perfect' shave or process...

This is all something to help me take my mind off what can be at times a boring mundane crappy life...

I think I might like you lol!! That or you're reading my mail and trying to get on my good side lol!!

Yup - there is a reason why I called myself what I did - and oddly enough, if you follow the blue... you'll see that via your progression, you in essence have me pegged as well lol!!

I love straight shaving if for no other reason than in this crazy world that tries to beat me down, every time I shave I remind myself of the man I am!! And that in turn as you state, negates a bit of the "boring mundaneness of this sometimes crappy life lol!!"

Originally Posted by earcutter

I think I might like you lol!! That or you're reading my mail and trying to get on my good side lol!!

Yup - there is a reason why I called myself what I did - and oddly enough, if you follow the blue... you'll see that via your progression, you in essence have me pegged as well lol!!

I love straight shaving if for no other reason than in this crazy world that tries to beat me down, every time I shave I remind myself of the man I am!! And that in turn as you state, negates a bit of the "boring mundaneness of this sometimes crappy life lol!!"

I'm glad you like my post! Yeah, this simple act can lift one, at times... :-)