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Thread: First SR attempt.

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    Default First SR attempt.

    Well, I worked up enough courage to try my Parker shavette with the Shark blade last night. It is going to take some practice. I only tried WTG, and only managed to nick myself once. I finished my normal three pass shave with my FatBoy.

    I plan to start each shave with the Parker shavette for a week or two to get the hang of things before switching to a "real" SR.

    Does this sound like a good plan? Practice with the shavette until comfortable, then switch to a real SR?

    Mitch

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    aka shooter74743 ScottGoodman's Avatar
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    NO. Please get yourself a properly honed straight razor.

    My experience with shavette's is that they are more grabby as I have a feeling they may be a bit sharper, but not "finished" properly. I mean that the edge more than likely has more micro-teeth than a properly honed straight (I have not observed the edge of a shavette under magnification) . I have yet to get a smooth shave from a Shavette, but my straight shaves are stellar.

    Your first few shaves should be with the grain (wtg), you are on the right track there. Keep at it and you will be more than pleased. If I can be of assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me.
    Scott
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    To be fair, many a newbie has taken this route and come out (more or less) unscathed . It's not the direction I went, but some guys have good luck with shavettes and others have cut themselves to pieces.

    Normally I wouldn't recommend a shavette to start, but since you already have the Parker try shaving a couple more times to see if you like it. Keep in mind that a disposable straight does not equal the same experience as the real deal. If it's something you enjoy by all means go ahead and order a real straight and strop.

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    Scott, you are exactly right, it felt like my beard was being pulled out instead of cut. I put that down to my lack of experience. Since I already have the Parker, I am going to give it a fair try so long as I don't start nicking myself too badly.

    I have bought a couple of straights to try, but they are not shave ready. I bought a Henry Sears and a Filarmonica Pou solely because I have been doing genealogical research on my family and found an ancestor Sears married a Pou. :>) No relation to the razor makers, I am sure.

    The Sears, which was really cheap, less than $15, met an untimely accident, I dropped it on the hardwood floor, broke one scale and shattered the blade into several pieces. It went into the trash. I need to find another. The Pou, I will send out to be honed and made shave ready. It is a #14, quite a large blade.

    Mitch
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    aka shooter74743 ScottGoodman's Avatar
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    Sounds like you are on the right track Mitch. Contact a few of the honers in the classified's via PM and go with the one you feel most comfortable with. Once you get your Filly back, you will understand what all the rave is about...just don't butter-finger this one

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    Well, had my second try with the Parker tonight. Went much better than the first, I'm getting an idea of the correct angle to hold the Parker. I again only made one pass WTG, and DIDN'T NICK MYSELF! Finished with the FatBoy.

    Its was interesting trying to shave the left side of my face, I'm right handed. But somehow I managed. I have to learn to get the right blade angle for each part of my face.

    I think a couple of weeks of practice with the Parker and I will be ready for a real straight!

    It's not often at my age (I'm on Sociable Security (sic) :>)) that I learn a new physical skill! I'm working on it and having fun!!!

    Mitch

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    Senior Member Wintchase's Avatar
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    I wonder if anyone has tried to pass a shavette over a coti to soften those rough edges? Or maybe a strop? I have been using a coti lately on my straights, amd man do they give a buttery edge to a razor.

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    ace
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    I soften a Shavette blade by passing it over my face. It works every time.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wintchase View Post
    I wonder if anyone has tried to pass a shavette over a coti to soften those rough edges? Or maybe a strop? I have been using a coti lately on my straights, amd man do they give a buttery edge to a razor.
    Strop a shavette blade? I had not thought about that. I bought a cheap strop to experiment with. Once I change the blade in the Parker, I will try stropping. Should be a good way to practice stropping without ruining a shave ready edge on a real SR!

    Mitch

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    Quote Originally Posted by ace View Post
    I soften a Shavette blade by passing it over my face. It works every time.
    Let's see, I have a horse butt strop, are you saying that your face is LIKE a strop or LOOKS like a strop?

    Mitch

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