Thread: My first partial st8 shave! :)

Originally Posted by dorknight

So, I was planning on waiting for Saturday night to shave, but I said heck with it! Bring it on scary razor! The razor I got was from the classifieds. Was shave ready too. Probably could have used a little more stroping I'm sure, but rodb said it was good to go! Thanks again for the razor Rod!

Originally Posted by samda

No pressure. Just keep the blade against the skin and let the weight of the razor determine the amount of pressure to use. If the razor is pulling it may not be sharp enough. Was you razor shave ready when you bought it? I'm not asking if the razor was sold as "shave ready", rather was it honed by a professional. It does make a difference.

Originally Posted by dorknight

No I don't think so... I guess I should send it in to Lynn in SRD? Unless there's a place locally in the northern Virginia area. What exactly would I search for, for a place like that?

Thanks

So, one shave in and your can determine whether or not the edge is good and in need of a professional honing. I've met rodb at a razor meet and we discussed our shaving history. He can hone his own to shaving satisfaction, and with natural stones to boot. Actually, I've seen him discuss a variety of stones (I'm not into naturals or old fashioned barber's hones but he apparently is) and he has met up with and explored honing with an established honing mentor in our area. I don't think he needs the help of a honing mentor, given his experience, I'm just saying he hangs out with and explores advanced honing topics with one.

We have plenty of posts from beginners who suspect their razors edges aren't good enough. One of the problems is poor stropping technique. If this guy (rodb) said the razor was pre-stropped and good to go I'd believe it. It's probably a lather problem, an angle or pressure problem or perhaps the edge was improperly stropped ("rolled over"), which wouldn't be the case here if you hadn't stropped it. If you have a tougher beard I could see how a mild edge wouldn't be as effective as a super-sharp one, perhaps you could inquire what the edge was finished with. I don't think beginner's are better off with super, scary sharp edges, something middle-of-the-road would probably be best (unless they have previous experience with the shavettes/disposable straight-razor-like shavers). Technique goes a long way to eliminating the pulling. I wouldn't send it to a professional if it was honed and finished by rodb.

Dork, are you transitioning from a cartridge directly to a straight? Have you used non-swivelling disposables or a DE yet? At least now you know to maintain awareness and control over your open razor even when you're not intending to cut the hairs of your face. Hopefully this will be not only the first, but also the last time you inadvertantly slice your flesh open.

Your shaves will get better with time. Don't worry too much about your lather, like adding glycerin, or whatever. For now, just focus on your technique. You will develop the skill and muscle memory, and before you know it, your shaves will be seemingly effortless. There really is a learning curve, and it is different for everybody. You will learn, from experience rather from reading, the importance of angles and no pressure, among other things.

Be persistent and patient. Soon enough your shave time will shorten, significantly. I wish you the best. Keep posting. I'd like to hear how you progress.

Haha, love the title of your comment Axel!

Thanks for the insight... makes sense. Yes, I went straight from cartridge to straight. I do not want to bother using DE or anything else... Even though it might be easier with a sharper edge, I want to take your advice and use a middle-of-the-road sharpness. I inspected the blade and it's definitely not rolled over. Nice and straight

I did also mention in my post, that I think I used too much water at first for my lather. Second time I made it, was much creamier and thicker. Maybe I'll try it once without using a pre-shave oil? I don't know... maybe that will help. But my gut says that with my tough beard, the pre-shave oil really helps. I also did order some of Stephan's Stay Smooth Shave Cream, which I have read a lot, is an excellent pre-shave cream. Cheap too!

Thanks again for the tips

Just got around to reading your original post (lack of time to read it earlier). Much of your problems are to do with lack of experience and poor technique. We've all been there. Just as we've all been (or will go) to the place where you have just a little knowledge, but in your mind are an expert ( I reckon I've made that area my permanant abode ). With time, practice and patience you will improve. Just be prepared for the learning curve and the mistakes that will inevitably occur.

You're an artist? What sort? Do you sketch? I started a Sketch thread a while back that's gone a bit quiet. Feel free to hunt that up and post some photo's of your art.


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

Just got around to reading your original post (lack of time to read it earlier). Much of your problems are to do with lack of experience and poor technique. We've all been there. Just as we've all been (or will go) to the place where you have just a little knowledge, but in your mind are an expert ( I reckon I've made that area my permanant abode ). With time, practice and patience you will improve. Just be prepared for the learning curve and the mistakes that will inevitably occur.

You're an artist? What sort? Do you sketch? I started a Sketch thread a while back that's gone a bit quiet. Feel free to hunt that up and post some photo's of your art.


Mick

Thanks for the encouraging words Currently I'm doing web design. I went to school for animation. I have a link on my profile to my website actually. There's also a www button under my comments. Its been a while since I've sketched like that. It makes me sad sometimes. But my other hobbies are important too. I only have so much time each day. Now I have this one too

I know what you're saying about hobbies. I have many. I said to my wife the other day,"I'm bored!". She told me to go do one of my hobbies, I asked if I couldn't just get a new one. She just about had a pink fit while she was listing off all the current hobbies before stating that I had no bloody right to be bored for the rest of my days even if I was a bloody immortal...She went on for quite some minutes about it. It was getting rather embarrassing, as the neighbours were coming out to see who's husband was being brow beaten back into place this time. I noticed most of them were saying things like. "Oh it's Mick and his missus again. Won't he ever learn?!" Dogs were barking, kids were crying, sirens were squalling, birds were flying away kicking up a hell of a raucous...What were we talking about again?!


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

I know what you're saying about hobbies. I have many. I said to my wife the other day,"I'm bored!". She told me to go do one of my hobbies, I asked if I couldn't just get a new one. She just about had a pink fit while raucous...What were we talking about again?!
Mick

For the uneducated, what qualifies as a "Pink Fit?

Well, being 'Struck Roan' would qualify, 'Chucking a Wobbly' would as well, as too, would 'Stoning the Crows' or 'Doing your Lolly'. Does that help to answer your question?


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

I know what you're saying about hobbies. I have many. I said to my wife the other day,"I'm bored!". She told me to go do one of my hobbies, I asked if I couldn't just get a new one. She just about had a pink fit while she was listing off all the current hobbies before stating that I had no bloody right to be bored for the rest of my days even if I was a bloody immortal...She went on for quite some minutes about it. It was getting rather embarrassing, as the neighbours were coming out to see who's husband was being brow beaten back into place this time. I noticed most of them were saying things like. "Oh it's Mick and his missus again. Won't he ever learn?!" Dogs were barking, kids were crying, sirens were squalling, birds were flying away kicking up a hell of a raucous...What were we talking about again?!


Mick

Omg, I just read this to my wife when we woke up, and we were ROFL!

Your first shave experience sounds about normal, remember that a SR blade is probably a minimum of twice as wide as a cart so there is a lot more surface area it is covering per stroke.

I tested that blade WTG and ATG and it passed my face test, if it still has issues after a few shaves feel free to send it back and I'll give the edge another go at the stones.