When do you become an ex-newbie?

Yesterday I went to an antique shop and found a crown and sword straight.

Little pitted nicks along the blade from rust.

I brought it home and used 1500 grit sand paper for 40 passes, then 2000 grit sand paper for 40 passes after cleaning up the blade. All nicks gone, nice bevel. I then Nortoned it with aggressive pyramids.

Stropped it on my el-cheapo zeepk strop. HHT passed all along blade.

This AM, very nice shave, no nicks.

So, at what point does a newbie cease to be a newbie? So far I've honed 3 ebay razors to HHT, and must admit thrashed two others.

Haven't replaced scales or pins yet. Haven't ground a blade yet. Still feel incompetent with the strop.


Its not that I think I need to graduate, but when does one leave the newbie stage to a more intermediate stage?

I don't think I'll ever reach the honemeister or stropmeister stages. To much ADD. :rolleyes:

Well, you stop being a newbie when people stop thinking of you as a newbie. But once you've gotten a few antique shop or ebay razor sharp enough to shave with then the newbieness is definitely fading.

I'd guess that you're no longer a newbie when you stop having to clean up with another razor.

If you're shaving with a straight and only a straight on a regular basis, you're not a n00b any more. Ofcourse we do have some exceptions like RT -- who uses DEs extensively but he's also experienced with straights and could certainly not be seen as a n00b.
Another theory is that it's when you start offering more advice on a regular basis instead of just asking for it.

Kimo,

You ain't a noobie no more unless
you want to be.


Terry

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Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

If you're shaving with a straight and only a straight on a regular basis, you're not a n00b any more.

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This is an inappropriate indicator. The first thing I did when I was new was to commit to the straight razor only. Didn't change the fact that I was a total n00b.

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Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Another theory is that it's when you start offering more advice on a regular basis instead of just asking for it.

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This is a more reliable benchmark, just be careful how you're advising people. Often because we've learned something wew think we're starting to know everything and that's not the case. It can't be. No matter how experienced one is, there's still room to discover.

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Originally Posted by mparker762

I'd guess that you're no longer a newbie when you stop having to clean up with another razor.

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oooo harsh.

X

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Originally Posted by kimo

Stropped it on my el-cheapo zeepk strop. HHT passed all along blade.

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I think this alone qualifies you for stropmeister honors. :bow

Josh

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Originally Posted by xman

This is an inappropriate indicator. The first thing I did when I was new was to comit to the straight razor only. Didn't change the fact that I was a total n00b.

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You've made the commitment but haven't used a straight for a while. At that time you had lots of commitment but zero seniority. :D

Not until you have a few scars and/or a pierced ear (from a razor)!!! :eek:

Wow, it is really subjective. Maybe we need more detailed classifications.

1. Super newbie........ a) Bought a Zeepk razor and tried to shave immediately using Gillette foamy :nono: , b) thinks "stropping" is what his granny called him in reference to his growth and muscles, c) thinks more pressure leads to closer shave,

2. Newbie.... a) bought a Zeepk or Ebay special and tried to shave after a quick pass on the 1000 K hone or Arkansas soft stone or knife sharpening stone. b) Doesn't know what to buy and comes to SRP to get info, c) bought a brand new razor and thougt it was shave ready, :cry: d) thinks that "strop" is German for "no more, no more" after bleeding out his face from the 1000k hone trick, e) because of new straight razor has friends that have given him the monicker "Nick",

3. Newbie first class. a) has a meister honed razor or other shave ready, b) knows which razors to look at on Ebay and isn't phased by the word "vintage" :cool: , c) has a new strop (maybe from tony) but still tends to dull the razor occasionally when stropping, d) has a good brush and good soap for shaves, e) Reads SRP regularly :tu , f) purchased a Norton 4/8 and is testing their ability, g) uses the str8 for most of his shaves.... with help in trouble spots from the safety.


4. SRFC.. Straight razor first class, a) has a honed a razor from ebay to HHT sharp, b) has a great strop and can maintain the edge without having to hone for weeks or months at a time, c) Shaves regularly with Str8 and no blood is shed, d) can clean and recondition their strop, e) has begun to ponder the possibility of replacing scales or pins, f) realizes that there is a virus which one gets which causes you to purchase str8 razors and that women seldom get this virus , g) you know that coticule has nothing to do with your fingernails,


5. SRA... Straight razor afficionado. a) people send razors to you to hone because you are da man!:bow , b) you took your $5 ebay special and worked it over, even doing new scales, and sold it again for $800:y , c) you have your own str8 razor forum, business etc , d) you have a special razor for each day for the next 3 years so the blades can "rest" , e) you make your own pins, scales, blades, soap, brushes, styptic, cologne, towells, water, etc





These are just a start, what would you add or subtract or rearrange?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kimo

Wow, it is really subjective. Maybe we need more detailed classifications.

1. Super newbie........ a) Bought a Zeepk razor and tried to shave immediately using Gillette foamy :nono: , b) thinks "stropping" is what his granny called him in reference to his growth and muscles, c) thinks more pressure leads to closer shave,

2. Newbie.... a) bought a Zeepk or Ebay special and tried to shave after a quick pass on the 1000 K hone or Arkansas soft stone or knife sharpening stone. b) Doesn't know what to buy and comes to SRP to get info, c) bought a brand new razor and thougt it was shave ready, :cry: d) thinks that "strop" is German for "no more, no more" after bleeding out his face from the 1000k hone trick, e) because of new straight razor has friends that have given him the monicker "Nick",

3. Newbie first class. a) has a meister honed razor or other shave ready, b) knows which razors to look at on Ebay and isn't phased by the word "vintage" :cool: , c) has a new strop (maybe from tony) but still tends to dull the razor occasionally when stropping, d) has a good brush and good soap for shaves, e) Reads SRP regularly :tu , f) purchased a Norton 4/8 and is testing their ability, g) uses the str8 for most of his shaves.... with help in trouble spots from the safety.


4. SRFC.. Straight razor first class, a) has a honed a razor from ebay to HHT sharp, b) has a great strop and can maintain the edge without having to hone for weeks or months at a time, c) Shaves regularly with Str8 and no blood is shed, d) can clean and recondition their strop, e) has begun to ponder the possibility of replacing scales or pins, f) realizes that there is a virus which one gets which causes you to purchase str8 razors and that women seldom get this virus , g) you know that coticule has nothing to do with your fingernails,


5. SRA... Straight razor afficionado. a) people send razors to you to hone because you are da man!:bow , b) you took your $5 ebay special and worked it over, even doing new scales, and sold it again for $800:y , c) you have your own str8 razor forum, business etc , d) you have a special razor for each day for the next 3 years so the blades can "rest" , e) you make your own pins, scales, blades, soap, brushes, styptic, cologne, towells, water, etc





These are just a start, what would you add or subtract or rearrange?

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You forgot to include ear piercing!