Thread: Noob From FNQ

Howdy all,
The names Barbi, I've been on the wet shave bandwagon for a couple of years now and can safely say I have not missed purchasing foam in a tin or the disposables at all. I will never forget my first "shave with a brush" and will ensure my son does not give in to the media storm and buy any of the new fandangled rubbish. My first shave was with a mach, but is was still a million times better that the spray. I quickly got hold of a twisty then upgraded to a merkur 1904 with an open comb, (I'm Italian), and this has been my staple. Joined the forum for two reasons. 1: chat on occasion with like minded people. 2: I need something(least im honest aye???) So, somehow I've managed to acquire a few straights. They've been sitting around for a while, and tonight I said, bugger it, I'm going to give it a crack. I have 2 gold dollars, a shavette, and an ornamental piece, (kreigar?). So anyways, I start off with the sharpest gold dollar, as the other one is now buggered after a sharpening attempt, (can post pictures for those who want a laugh - prize for whoever guesses how it got in that state). Anyways, the thing cuts hair. Not too greatly though. So I do a cheek with it then switch to the shavette as I'm a determined bugger and the gold dollar had lost its sharpness by then. All I can say is, HOLY HELL!! What a better shave!!! My lips feel funny from being so smooth!!!! Only 2 bad cuts too!!! Well not that bad, no stitches were required. The merkurs for sale by the way. Anyhow my dilemma: It seems I will now prefer a straight shave, however, I live in Far North Queensland, (Ingham), and I'm pretty sure there are no close by shaver honers up here. Before i purchase a decent straight, I'd like to know if there's any close honers up here near Townsville ish, or will Ii need to buy 3 razors so I have standies while I send one away, or should I do a honing course?

Poraso all the way!!!

Peace out!

Barbi

Personal opinion. Work on your shaving technique and let someone else hone. There are several of your countrymen here that will chime in soon. Buy three decent straights, two for sure, at least start there. Get your shaving figured out and then start rock shopping. Welcome and good luck!

Welcome to the forum!! You will soon realize that there is so much information on this site that you won't be sure where to begin. Having been around the forum for a year and a half now I'm still stumbling over new things all the time.

As for the honing.. I'm not the most experienced when it comes to the hones. But I do know that razors are addicting! I thought I'd have 2 or 3 and stop buying them… Then there were 20. It only gets better.

G'day Barbi. Welcome to the forum. Plenty of Aussies around here these days. I'm not really that close to FNQ (I'm in Melbourne) but if you want to send me the good Gold Dollar I'll hone it up for you for free. In my experience, most Gold Dollars need a little work with a Dremel to grind down the shoulders so they sit flat on a hone. The quality of the steel in them is OK but the grinding from the factory is poor.

G'Day Barbi and welcome to the fold.
John beat me by a few minutes as I was going to make the same offer.
See if you can PM Sunbird 'cause he is Townsville - I don't know how his honing is going, but hopefully, he'll chime in soon

Ciao Barbi & welcome to the 'Place'
2 razors is plenty for a rotation & develop your stropping skills first. The best honed razor can go south quickly with bad strapping.

Oh Wow!! check out all these response's!!. Good to see a forum that actually gets used, well done guys.
Great advice too. Yes i definitely want to concentrate on the shaving part, as honing is more of an "art" hehe. I'm keen to learn basic maintenance and stropping, but it looks like ill need a regular Honer till have have time to add that to my list ahaha. Definitely a wealth of info here - i gave the good one a strop as per the wiki here and its improved a hundred fold.
Two offers of honing already - this site is unbelievable!! hmm, Melbourne is like a two week drive away :P Redbank is a bit closer, who is the better honer hahahahah! We have a 60 od year old barber here, who still does great shaves, however he doesn't hone anymore.
A Townsvillian is on here!!! great news, Lets see if he jumps on. Off to strop thanks again guys!!

Hi and welcome. You may have to send them off but there are few honers in Oz. Maybe try pick up a good better quality razor for a second would be a good idea.

Oz Im pretty sure you could do it with bad strapping and still make it work.

Welcome Barbi
from Gladdy in CQ send them to Oz (Onimaru55) in Sydney would be the best bet
check out the clasifieds here there are a few sellers that ship to us for reasonable rates also can come shave ready while you wait

Originally Posted by eddy79

Oz Im pretty sure you could do it with bad strapping and still make it work.

Ah ! but how well it worked might be debatable ?