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Hi I'm new to straight razors and honing. I'm finding the art and science and zen of all this deeply satisfying...
So here's the question...
my brand name store cartridges last six months. Sure, I'm light bearded...
But how? They get no maintenance, sometimes jumble around in a gym bag, sometimes fall on the floor. No stropping, oiling, cleaning, loupe examinations ...
why don't we make straight razors out of that magic metal?
They're no fun, but how do they last even a few weeks?
I dont remember a cart ever lasting past 4 shaves for me. Maybe they make them different now. Its been 15vyears since i used one.
I used a cartridge before i started straight shaving.
I don't grow steel wool but i could get maybe 10 days from one, I didn't realize how bad they were getting until I put a fresh one in and OMG the expense.
Yes a straight needs to be stropped, honed and generally required more maintenance but that's part of the appeal.
You will never get a cartridge shave like a straight shave and the upkeep is so satisfying, how long will your cart last?
Use your straight and look after it, when you depart this mortal coil, your kids will use it, their kids will use it, ask about in here, compare the life of your razor to some of the several hundred year old straights that are in regular use by the guys here.
Do you do a lot, I mean a lot of pre shave prep?
The softer the beard, the more comfortable the shave.
Ya wanna see something scary. Take a look at cartridge blades with a loupe when their new, and after your first shave.
Scary...eh! And u gonna drag that thing across your face...how many times.!?
The maintenance is nothing, or as bad as it sounds. The more proficient you become with the straight, the less the maintenance becomes. Simple, proper stropping, will keep an edge going a long time. And having a few other razors on hand, extends that even further.
Ive never had to take a razor back to the hone. Unless I've found rust on an edge, or want to try a different finishing hone, all they get is stropped and used.
But, I also have nearly 40 years experience, and many straights to choose from, now.
Shaving with a straight, is no more than breathing air, to me. Just commit to it.
i shower lather and have at itQuote:
Originally Posted by rolodave
Ok. Great idea louping the store bought cartridges. If I can do a pic, I’ll post. Reminded me that I tried one of those internet frenzy cartridges (pretty design, attractive ads, monthly subscription)
FOUR OR FIVE STONNE dull blades exfoliating my face was a big problem.
For carts, I need to buy old retired blades from eBay tgst come in doubles (not three or four or five). only so I’m now a bit apprehensive about how perfect a straight razor is going to be. We’ll get there.
You don't have use a straight if your happy with what you use but I know what carts cost.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scatterjoy
Why not go to the buy sell area, get a straight that is shave ready if a guy selling here says it is, spend $20 or $30 bucks and if you really cant see a difference after a fair trial, I'm sure someone her will buy it for what you pay. Course you have to strop it but guys here will tell you how you can strop for free so you can give it a go.
I almost messed myself the firsts time i used a straight but the guys guided my like dads and now even on blood thinners that are strong enough that i can bleed for no reason, I still cant imagine shaving any other way unless I'm in a real rush to get out the door then its a safety razor but i don't know for the life of me whats safe about them, I'm safer with a straight.
Two shaves is all I got from cartridges. My skin is very sensitive and couldn’t take the cartridges. I get a lot os shaves out of a straight razor edge, but don’t count. Victor on the other hand does and sometimes gets 100 plus shaves from an edge.
I could not take multi-blades nor electrics. I wound up at clippers until I got to using straits.
Good quality straights and beginning with a proper bevel/edge will provide hundreds of shaves with the proper stropping regimen.
Proper edges stay sharp indefinitely as kept clean and stropped.
I will go as far to declare some get better and better.
But I do have quite an extensive rotation......
Not trying to offend you, but the logical answer to your question is that there is no magic metal and if your shaves with a straight are not yet better than shaves with a cartridge razors that you’ve used for six months and that has been knocked about in your gym back that only means that you still have some way to go.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scatterjoy
Remember, a single mistake in honing, stropping or shaving may ruin an otherwise perfect straight shave.
And yes, it does take a long time and a considerable amount of resilience and perseverance to achieve proficiency in straight shaving.
Just ask any straight shaver who’s been doing this for a few years…
Continue on your straight shaving journey, even if at times you might wonder whether this all is worth it. It’s the journey that matters, not the destination.
And if you should decide that you must give up straight shaving, try a quality safety razor.
B.