What else do I need ?

Hello All,

Well I've got razors coming from Lynn and Bill, a 3" strop from Tony Miller, I have a Japanese "Sun Tiger" 6000 water stone and plenty of soap and cream and a Trumpers badger brush.
What else do I really need ?. Is there something essential I must have to really enjoy the straight shaving experience, any other tools I must have ?.

Sorry for the stupid questions but when I get in to something, I want to make sure I have what I need. I still have plenty of "wants" for later.

Thanks

Gary

You'll want something for final honing/finishing. Probably in the 10-12K area. A barber hone off Ebay might suffice or a 12K Jap waterhone. A paddle strop with 1 m paste might work too (and you can add .5m as well).

Other ideas will follow, there are lots of options for final finishing of the blade, which you won't need to do for a while with either of those razors.

A finishing stone is a "must-have", in my opinion. I'm one of the few guys that likes finishing on a very fine barber hone, but any sort of 12K or better hone would be fine. And yes, until you get very good with a finishing hone, I think a pasted strop would be a good idea for refreshing your blade once it's lost a bit of it's keenneess.

I'd also recommend an alum block to wet and rub over your face after your shave.

Yes you could gt a 12k stone but you are ready to go in my book. The 12k is a nice to have not a necessity. :eek:

Don't forget the pre-shave photo of your face so the plastic surgeons have something to go by <g>.


(told to me when I first started)



Tony

Quote:

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Originally Posted by garythepenman

Hello All,

What else do I really need ?. Is there something essential I must have to really enjoy the straight shaving experience, any other tools I must have ?.

Gary

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A big set of balls, and a steady hand. ;)

Nah, I'm kidding, tis really easy and fun, you'll enjoy it :D


Nenad

Don't forget the 96-bladed vibrating handle straight-razor, equipped with strobe-lights and a flux-capacitor :D

Actually it's fairly simple to get a good SR shave, but check out the axioms in the Shaving forum. All you need are a decent razor, a good hone and a strop. However I do have a couple of tips for you:
1) Do not rush the job!!!!!!!!!!! That and shaving with a bad pakistani razor left me with a couple of permanent scars (nothing major, but still). Be slow, gentle and deliberate. If the blade won't shave with only light pressure on your face, it needs to go back to the hone.
2) Do not use shaving gels. They leave nasty residue on your blade that impedes your shave. We have a shaving soap discussion going, you may want to check it out.
3) Getting a really clean shave of the chin and under the jaw-line will be difficult to learn, especially if you have an angular face. It will require you a bit of time, an extra lathering, a few nicks (during the learning process) and a very sharp blade.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Don't forget the 96-bladed vibrating handle straight-razor, equipped with strobe-lights and a flux-capacitor :D

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I tried to talk the wife into doing my shaves, you know, "the man is the king of his castle" and all. She responded with I should treat her like a queen and draw her a bath and shave her legs for her ;).

I don't think we'll need strobe lights and electrapulse razors for the luxury effect :p

Wow that sounds like an offer you can't pass up

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Don't forget the pre-shave photo of your face so the plastic surgeons have something to go by <g>.


(told to me when I first started)



Tony

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Can't believe you remember that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Don't forget the pre-shave photo of your face so the plastic surgeons have something to go by <g>.

(told to me when I first started)

Tony

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I still keep mine handy!

RT

Thanks All, I'll stick with what I've got then.

I spoke with my plastic surgeon and the reply was "no matter what you do to your face it will be an improvement". :p

Gary

Don't forget the autologus blood donation so you'll have some of your own available for the transfusion.

Are you guys trying to put me off ?.

Having read about shaving the chin area I might well grow a goatee.

Gary

Quote:

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Originally Posted by garythepenman

Are you guys trying to put me off ?.

Having read about shaving the chin area I might well grow a goatee.

Gary

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A funny group. The chin and neck can be tough till you get the hang of it. Then you will be ok

Quote:

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Originally Posted by garythepenman

Are you guys trying to put me off ?.

Having read about shaving the chin area I might well grow a goatee.

Gary

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Some of these guys are as Full of S*** as a constipated elephant. :D

You'll do fine.


Terry

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RichZ

A funny group. The chin and neck can be tough till you get the hang of it. Then you will be ok

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Hey, the chin and neck are the easiest part of the face, provided you don't have any whirlpool hair tufts growing in the area.

My routine is usually left burns/cheek right burns/cheek right neck from chinline down, left neck from chinline down, upper lip on left, curving down into left chin, upper lip on right curving down into chin. I use the heel of the blade for shaving against the lip pretty much all around and the tip of the blade for shaving under the schnauz.

I found the edge of the lips to be the trickiest to learn. But hey. once I sliced the corners completely off it became a moot point ;).

J/K. I didn't slice them off. you can barely see the reattachment scars any more ;).


Glen F

I have sliced the very tip of my lower lip twice. It took just a careless touch with the blade. Bleeds a lot, too...

Nenad

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FUD

I tried to talk the wife into doing my shaves, you know, "the man is the king of his castle" and all. She responded with I should treat her like a queen and draw her a bath and shave her legs for her ;).

I don't think we'll need strobe lights and electrapulse razors for the luxury effect :p

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Putting more on your plate, eh? At least it's not a dish you'd mind having there ;)

Thanks All..I think..

This site is great, I've been searching the archives, downloaded Lynn's video and have found plenty of useful information plus everyone is friendly and welcoming..thanks again.

btw I'm also getting a pre-pasted wide paddle strop from Tony. So that's the end of my shopping spree for a while.

Gary

I think all you really need (outside good cream, etc.) is a higher grit stone for finishing. Which is another debate.

X