Thread: Hello from Riverside, CA

Gentlemen, I've had the opportunity to read several of your posts here over the last month. Ever since I was in my twenties, I wanted to try straight razor shaving. 35 years late, I finally made the jump. It isn't as easy as the video tutorials make it look; definitely not for the timid. But, I managed to make through with just a couple of minor cuts. The most difficult part for me to shave is the hollow below my jaw. I have a hard time getting the razor into that hollow without cutting myself. I gotta find a way to figure that out.

I'm using a Theirs-Issar Spartacus with a rounded point, AOS pre-shave oil, AOS cream, and AOS after shave balm - all lavender. The shave turns out reasonably, and currently takes about half an hour, but I'm sure I will get better with practice. Stropping correctly is a bit of a challenge, too. I'm using one of those board strops from Lyn's Straight Razor Designs, that come with the four magnetic strips. I figured that would be more forgiving in terms of bowing the strop around the blade, and ruining the bevel.

So far so good. The goal of turning shaving into an experience rather than a chore has been accomplished.

Wish me luck.

BTW, any idea how I might contact Bob Allman about purchasing one of his beautiful pieces of razor art>

Thanks,

Kevin

Hi and welcome. Many pull the skin under the jaw up so it sits on the face or down so it on the neck giving you a flat area to shave. Try doing a search. You will be surprised how many threads and how much info is available. Good luck. Ed

K, first make sure you razor has a good edge.

It is not uncommon for novice stroppers to smudge the edge when learning to strop, it only takes one missed stroke lifting the spine while the razor is still moving.

Look at the edge with some magnification straight down on the edge. Any shinny spot are where the bevels are no longer meeting in a sharp edge.

Below the jaw and the chin are the most difficult because to the curves and the difficulty in maintaining the correct angle while making the turn.

It may be easier to begin with 2 with the grain WTG passes to reduce the beard height then an against the grain pass. As said skin stretching will help. When I want a close shave, I do 4 passes, 2 with the grain, one against and one clean up with just water.

A couple drops of Glycerin with AOS makes a great thick slippery lather. Use a snurdler as opposed to dipping your brush in the tub.

We recently had a So Cal Meet and we have talked of a Honing get togeather, possibly in a month or two once the weather gets better.

Originally Posted by kprice13

BTW, any idea how I might contact Bob Allman about purchasing one of his beautiful pieces of razor art>

You can easily contact Bob by PM under his SRP screen name Boballman