Thread: I love preparing my own straight razors.

I decided to use a bit of my evening to prepare a straight razor for good shaving. The steel is by Wostenholm and is a 4/8. In any case, I took it to my recently acquired Heirloom Combination paddle strop from Tony Miller (pasted with 3.0, 1.0, and 0.50 micron). This razor was sharp enough on arrival to cut away hair on my arm, so taking it to the pasted paddle seemed logical enough.

I started with 20 laps on 0.50-micron paste, then 20 laps on the Latigo. I shave tested my arm again and found the edge to be much sharper. I then did 10 laps on the 1.0-micron paste and 10 laps on the Latigo, and finished with 10 laps on the 0.50 and 20 laps on the Latigo.

Took the razor to my arm once more and it just plowed through. Hairs were jumping off the edge and landing on the blade. I figured it was time to shave.

I went to the bathroom, prepped my face with a warm, wet towel and some Proraso pre/post cream. Then came the marvelous Truefitt & Hill Trafalgar shaving cream applied by my trusty Simpson Special brush. I put the razor to my face and began. The edge zipped through the stubble without much effort. I gave myself a nice, comfortable three-pass shave and am really happy with the results!

Sure, I think I could have gotten the edge a bit sharper, and I will strive to do so next time. But my next order of business is to pick up a Norton 4K/8K stone for the more challenging edges.

This is great!!!

That's cool Ben. There's nothing quite like the sense of satisfaction from sharpening and then shaving with a razor.

That's great Ben. I spend too much time on the 0.5µ chromium oxide. Never done the 1µ, but always figured it was a good idea. Enough laps on the 0.5µ and you can oversmooth the edge right quick. Things will change for me now that I've go a Belgian coticule bout added to my arsenal. Keep it up.

X

Originally Posted by xman

Things will change for me now that I've go a Belgian coticule bout added to my arsenal.

Whoa. Did that hurt? Can you still sit comfortably? Will you be able to get it out when you need it?

Originally Posted by Ben

Whoa. Did that hurt? Can you still sit comfortably? Will you be able to get it out when you need it?

LMAO. That was the first post I read today. Thanks, Ben.

X

Originally Posted by Ben

Whoa. Did that hurt? Can you still sit comfortably? Will you be able to get it out when you need it?

If he shaved naked he wouldn't have to get it out>>>

Originally Posted by RichZ

If he shaved naked he wouldn't have to get it out>>>

I'm going to have to drink that vision out of my head.

You're gonna be drinking a lot TMike; Rich's shaving attire (or lack thereof) is a favorite topic.

Lol, the sad thing is I had to actually think about that before I got the joke. I felt pretty silly after I got it.

And in honor of my birthday I shaved this morning in the appropriate "birthday" suit. It scared the bejeesus out of me and I don't think I'll repeat the experience, heh.

Rich is a better man than I am (or maybe has less to lose, )

-- Gary F.

Originally Posted by gfoster

Lol, the sad thing is I had to actually think about that before I got the joke. I felt pretty silly after I got it.

And in honor of my birthday I shaved this morning in the appropriate "birthday" suit. It scared the bejeesus out of me and I don't think I'll repeat the experience, heh.

Rich is a better man than I am (or maybe has less to lose, )

-- Gary F.

Ouch! ROFL