First Traditional straight shave done...

[MikekiM]

Well, that went without a hitch...

I have some experience with the Feather system and a few shavettes, but tonight was the first traditional straight shave..


Not nearly as sharp as I expected, or hoped.


Hot shower (after the gym)
Cold Water Shave
CO Bigelow and Rooney Heritage 2XL, just to make lathering a non-issue
Henry Sears & Sons 7/8


Found myself using the toe more than the rest of the blade, possibly because I am coming from a Feather AC non-folding.. or, who knows.

Two passes... WTG & XTG.
Stalled a few times, maybe because I am getting used to manipulating the scales around.

Cold water rinse and finished with Menthol spike Proraso ASB.

Best indicator of shave results is about 60 - 90 minutes post shave as my face settles in. Right now, it feels like I need another pass or two.

Call it a DFS+

No irritation, no runs, no weepers or other nasties.

Call it a success.

[SirStropalot]

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the forum, glad to have you!!

Out of curiosity, what razor do you have? You know, "inquiring minds want to know" or something like that. Wondering if it is new and with a factory edge, or other?

There's a transition period between shavette's and regular straights and from what I understand a lot of it is the angle of incline used on the blade. I've never used the shavette razor, so there's some regurgitation of others experience here.

However, with the regular straight, try using the lowest angle that you can and still shave, somewhere around 2 spine widths off the face. Reduces cuts, allows better slicing of the whisker as opposed to scraping at them with a high angle.

Sounds like you'll adjust pretty quick!!

Enjoy the forum, and below are a couple of links that contain lots of good info, tips and enjoyable reading!!

Again, Welcome!!

Regards,

Howard

[MikekiM]

Good morning Howard, and thanks for the welcome!

I've had a few hours (of sleep) post shave but did wake a few times to faceterbate and was pleased. This morning my stubble is worthy of a daily shave so I'll have at it before work. It's pretty even, so I didn't miss any spots. Not irritation or residual burn.

I picked up a restored 7/8's Henry Sears & Sons #20 off of ebay. My strop isn't here yet, so I am going at it with giving the blade and truth told I can only say that it 'feels' sharp and presented as shave ready. Truth told, if the edge can be improved upon once the strop is in, it will be all bonus since the first shave went fine in my book.

As far as angle.. thank you. I tried to go by feel and would say 'around 2 spines' is where I ended up most of the time and oddly, it's pretty much the same angle I use for the Feather AC.

I think I read every spec of info in those links over the past week or so.. some twice. Now I need to figure out how to rearrange my storage cabinet to accommodate straights, although the cabinet has a door, it is in the bathroom and that might not be the best place to store my gear.

I have no idea as to the quality of the razor, but it met nearly all of the points on my 'favorite design' list. It makes me smile so I bought it....

[kratos86]

wowwww a very beatiful blade.......remember that the ways to cut of straight razors is different then shavette.
Straight razors seem to rip, and be shallow but very friendly

[SirStropalot]

Hey Mike,

Good Morning to you!!

That is a nice looking razor!! Henry Sears & Son are good razors. Here's a search from the search function at the top right of the page. It might have some interesting info if your interested. http://straightrazorpalace.com/googl...060j1920048j11

You've probably heard this already, or read it, but on the strop...light touch and as level as possible. Go slow at first, speed adds nothing to the edge, it just saves time and you'll pick that up pretty quick. You may have already seen the video below, but if not it has some useful info, done by Lynn Abrams.

Glad you've been reading, it'll pay off for you!!

Keep having fun!!!

Howard

[pfries]

Nice looking blade, and a good quality one as well.

[MikekiM]

wowwww a very beatiful blade.......remember that the ways to cut of straight razors is different then shavette.
Straight razors seem to rip, and be shallow but very friendly

I thought it was a nice-enough find for my first razor. Not sure if it would be considered a Faux Frameback or a Full Hollow...but it sure does sing!

Click the image below for more pics...


If you would please.. what do you mean by 'rip' ??

This morning was less than ideal.. snagged the skin on my chin once and have a little bit of razor burn. Short-shaves (less than a full 24 hours) can be a bit testy but I have done it often with DE's.

The first WTG pass working the new growth is tugging.. not a horrible amount but enough that it leaves the condition of the edge suspect and makes a really light pass difficult. Remember, I am coming from the Feather's surgical sharpness and no stropping (it's in transit from SRD as of yesterday). Feels like I have to push through or it will stall. Not a good idea or good feeling.

I have a few preliminary stropping questions that I'll post elsewhere, but it's my hope the edge just needs a little TLC since last night was progressively better.

[MikekiM]

Hey Mike,

Good Morning to you!!

That is a nice looking razor!! Henry Sears & Son are good razors. Here's a search from the search function at the top right of the page. It might have some interesting info if your interested. http://straightrazorpalace.com/googl...060j1920048j11

You've probably heard this already, or read it, but on the strop...light touch and as level as possible. Go slow at first, speed adds nothing to the edge, it just saves time and you'll pick that up pretty quick. You may have already seen the video below, but if not it has some useful info, done by Lynn Abrams.

Glad you've been reading, it'll pay off for you!!

Keep having fun!!!

Howard

Thanks Howard... I've watched that video a few times though, it's a bit nebulous for me as my strop is still in transit from SRD. The links on the razor are appreciated. I did a search before buying it but got less than I expected... I'll dig in.

As I mentioned in my last post, if I use what I think is the proper amount of pressure [read: next-to-none] I am likely to stall. I know there is a delicate balance between keeping momentum and driving hard with too much pressure and as yet, it's eluding me. I'll go further to say, it's probably a moving target when we factor in edge condition, so... I'll just keep at it.

[gssixgun]

Use a folded Newspaper sheet until your strop arrives..

Just fold a sheet of Newspaper into a long strop, place it on the edge of a table top or counter and strop,,

[MikekiM]

Use a folded Newspaper sheet until your strop arrives..

That's precisely what I was going to do. I've read of the abrasive properties of the printers ink..