Thread: Another newbie

Originally Posted by Jeepinoldman

Thanks guys. I'll definitely work on the hone this winter. That would be a nice snowy day project.

Wildtim I always see WIlliams at walmart and almost every other store. Maybe they just don't sell it in your neck of the woods?

WVBias, where from in WV? Huntington here.

I can get Williams at the pharmacy and one of the grocery stores in town. The nearest grocery store to me used (like back in june) to have both the Williams and Burma Shave right next to each other on the shelf, but now it has neigther, just lementing that fact. I'll keep my eyes open for you in case they bring it back.

Thats really incredible. I've noticed no need to strop before a shave too. Thats something I'll have to try repeatedly. I've always assumed I was simply wrong on that.

So you rotate razors or you let it rest for a day or two?

Honing every few months will make a lot of guys happy around here, and laying the strop flat would probably be a good idea. I've been thinking lately that a slight sag was helpful, maybe not.

I may have to disagree on lapping your stone. If your using an x pattern and been getting perfect results for 5 years I might just leave things alone. If you do lap it remember that it'll suddenly start cutting way faster than before.

How many strokes do you use when you do hone it? How do you test that its done?

You just made my day! Learning these little tidbits of intellectual history are very fascinating. And don't take anything for granted around here, we have fights around here about everything from the x pattern to the 2nd Amendment. Sometimes its waaaaaaaaay too much like an old barbershop!

And happiness of the season to you.

It's great to see you here. I've been lamenting recently the lack of barbershop experience on this board. It will be great to have your input.

X

One thing I forgot to mention that my father in law (barber in law?) told me was to not use hot water to rinse the blade when shaving. It's ok to use very hot water for lather but rinsing a blade in hot water, because the edge is so thin, will cause it to "grow" and make it expand and with no place to go it gets wavy for just a few seconds or so but maybe long enough to not shave good before it flattens back out.
Makes sense to me. I have noticed that warm water rinsing or just wiping the blade on a towel gets me a more comfortable and better shave. Try it and see what you guys think.

James

That's funny. I remember bringing up the issue of water temperature for the blade and although we agreed that hot water could make the edge grow a little, we generally thought that would be a good thing.

X

AFDavis sorry to reply so late. I don't really know how many strokes I use on the hone. I just kinda do it for a while, I would guess maybe 50 each side. And I only have the one razor right now so I have to tend to it a lot. Been looking though.

And yeah maybe you have a point about the hone. If it works I might very well just leave it alone for now.

James

Thanx! Thats great stuff. I'm still trying to get past shaving without stropping first! I don't even see that happening yet. Its great to get all these data points together in one place though. Our understanding of all this gets opened up a bit with each new viewpoint.

I've never used really hot water. It also dries out the lather faster. I do sometimes rinse the blade after I'm done in hot water though for better drying.

Thats odd, I don't remember that. The edge growing being a good thing? I can imagine there must be hundreds of little advanced tidbits an experience barber might know/think.

Originally Posted by xman

That's funny. I remember bringing up the issue of water temperature for the blade and although we agreed that hot water could make the edge grow a little, we generally thought that would be a good thing.

X

50! Yeeee Haaaaa!

Yea, I think lapping would drop that number down some, but then again I hone every couple of weeks. I do like 6!

Originally Posted by Jeepinoldman

AFDavis sorry to reply so late. I don't really know how many strokes I use on the hone. I just kinda do it for a while, I would guess maybe 50 each side. And I only have the one razor right now so I have to tend to it a lot. Been looking though.

And yeah maybe you have a point about the hone. If it works I might very well just leave it alone for now.

James