Introducing the latest NOOB

I'm Neal Gibby as my screen name would imply. I'm from Atlanta, GA and I am 33 years old. I began wet shaving with the purchase of an old gillette ball end tech from Whipped Dog razors approx. 1 year ago. I have subsequently branched out into straight razor shaving. Additionally I have acquired 2 silver tip brushes and 8 flavors of shave soap/cream. I believe these are the early warning signs of RAD.

I've been trolling this forum since I learned of wet shaving from The Art of Manliness, gathering a wealth of knowledge. The advice and experience you guys bring to this community is invaluable. I have until this point found that my inexperience left me with nothing to add to the discussion. I hope that I now have something to bring to the table and that I will be able to enhance the community and, hopefully, I can help others wean themselves off the Fusion/Mach 3 teet.

Welcome out of the shadows Neal :chapeau

We all have something to contribute and I will look forward to yours.
Sorry to see you did not Make the Asheville meet-up,
but you have some great forum members down your way for a local meet and greet if that is something that is up your alley.

Looking forward to seeing you around the boards.

Pat

Welcome, i think pat has made a good post soi will just leave it at that for now.

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Originally Posted by pfries

Welcome out of the shadows Neal :chapeau

We all have something to contribute and I will look forward to yours.
Sorry to see you did not Make the Asheville meet-up,
but you have some great forum members down your way for a local meet and greet if that is something that is up your alley.

Looking forward to seeing you around the boards.

Pat

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I was unaware of a meet in Asheville, but it is nice to know Atlanta has a presence in the wet shave community. I'd be interested in meeting some like minded people for sure. It's difficult to convince the uninitiated to make the switch and it's even harder to brag or boast about my successes in this endeavor with only cartridge users for friends. I have, however, converted one fortunate individual.

Welcome to SRP, Neal!

We will be doing another big meet probably next April.
Shoot me a pm if you would like me to drop a few names your way.

Hi and welcome. There is a spot in here for local groups and meet ups(unsure exactly where). Seems like your acquisitions are still on the low side but now we have direct access to you we can help with that and really get it cranking. Any questions always feel free to ask.

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Originally Posted by eddy79

Hi and welcome. There is a spot in here for local groups and meet ups(unsure exactly where). Seems like your acquisitions are still on the low side but now we have direct access to you we can help with that and really get it cranking. Any questions always feel free to ask.

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My acquisitions are definitely on the low side, which is an issue I am currently working to remedy. I have been drooling over the gillette toggles and hope to get one sooner rather than later. From the opposite side of the spectrum I am also looking at the merkur futur or vision. I understand that is a polarizing razor. I'm also in love with the look of the Dovo Bergischer Lowe. I only wish it were larger than 5/8".

Thanks to everyone for making me feel welcome

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Originally Posted by mnealgibby

My acquisitions are definitely on the low side, which is an issue I am currently working to remedy. I have been drooling over the gillette toggles and hope to get one sooner rather than later. From the opposite side of the spectrum I am also looking at the merkur futur or vision. I understand that is a polarizing razor. I'm also in love with the look of the Dovo Bergischer Lowe. I only wish it were larger than 5/8".

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Neal, you really don't NEED that much stuff, what you have is plenty, dont let Eddy and the boys peer pressure you :)
Seriously though i realise that we are all here for different things, i am definately not a collector, but i understand that some guys are, I dont have a large amount of stuff, but it is still probably double what i really need, and even then what i consider that i need and what I need need are probably fairly disparate.
Edit - i have sort of assumed that you own a straight or two from your first post, but now i am not sure, if you dont have one then you probably dont have all that you need :)

Welcome Neil! This is the place! Without further adieu, I must introduce Ed!

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Neal, you really don't NEED that much stuff, what you have is plenty, dont let Eddy and the boys peer pressure you :)
Seriously though i realise that we are all here for different things, i am definately not a collector, but i understand that some guys are, I dont have a large amount of stuff, but it is still probably double what i really need, and even then what i consider that i need and what I need need are probably fairly disparate.
Edit - i have sort of assumed that you own a straight or two from your first post, but now i am not sure, if you dont have one then you probably dont have all that you need :)

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He is ours, a good bloke! :D

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Welcome Neil! This is the place! Without further adieu, I must introduce Ed!

He is ours, a good bloke! :D

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Thank you, thats a nice thing to say :)

Thanks Ed for being the voice of reason. The desire for more razors is certainly just that, a desire. I've shaved with my straight and my vintage gillette for over a year and I'd like to switch it up. I could justify the purchase by saying I've saved more in cartridge cost, but the fact is, I can afford it and I want it. At this point I don't want a seven day set of straights (though a weekly strop would be SUPER convenient) or one of each vintage gillette, so I sort of feel like my desire is within reason. I don't foresee becoming a collector(famous last words?), but I am a sucker for shiny things.

Regarding my straight razor, I'd like more info on it, if anyone has any. I did see a post on another forum a couple years ago, but the guy who had what was ostensibly the same razor could only tell me he thought it was 1700's. Even that was conjecture and apparently based on third hand information. The razor came from Whipped Dog(I may have already said that) and I'm fairly certain the coffin box is not from the same manufacturer. Regardless the razor gives me good shaves and I suppose that's all that matters. I should probably start a new thread about the identity of this razor as opposed to tacking this on to my intro.

Attachment 165726
Attachment 165728

Whoa there! I said Ed was ours! Never said he was the voice of reason! :D That razzer is plenty old. Not beginner stuff, I feel. Perhaps something a bit more modern and in better shape would get you going along better!

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Whoa there! I said Ed was ours! Never said he was the voice of reason! :D

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Lol. The voice of conservatism? Quiet desperation?

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

That razzer is plenty old. Not beginner stuff, I feel. Perhaps something a bit more modern and in better shape would get you going along better!

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My face agreed with you completely about this straight not being beginner stuff. That razor taught me many a painful lesson. I really like the Dovo Bergischer Lowe. Is the $300.00 price tag justified? Are there any comparably attractive razors (preferably larger than 5/8ths) that you would recommend over this one?

Well, in that regard, it is painful to behold, Neil. A good, cheap vintage razor should be the ticket. Look for something made in U.S., England, or Germany. PM me or any mentor for advise on it. Have you checked the beginners tips and the intros to the beginners forum? Some mighty fine stuff to read there as well. Going quality does not necessarily mean going expensive.
Just good stuff in good shape. Use that search box at the top right of the home page. Type in anything and read up.
The storage capacity of this forum contains some advice from many knowledgeable and experienced members.
Use it, take notes. Get the lowdown. Then, as you look for razors and ask advice, the outcome will be successful!

Revisor make some nice razors, i have no first hand experience with them, but they seem very well regarded, and not stupidly expensive.

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Well, in that regard, it is painful to behold, Neil. A good, cheap vintage razor should be the ticket. Look for something made in U.S., England, or Germany. PM me or any mentor for advise on it. Have you checked the beginners tips and the intros to the beginners forum? Some mighty fine stuff to read there as well. Going quality does not necessarily mean going expensive.
Just good stuff in good shape. Use that search box at the top right of the home page. Type in anything and read up.
The storage capacity of this forum contains some advice from many knowledgeable and experienced members.
Use it, take notes. Get the lowdown. Then, as you look for razors and ask advice, the outcome will be successful!

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I've spent the last year plus reading the forums learning to use the straight. I've probably watched 100 videos of other guys shaving (which feels very awkward at first, but gets easier with every view!) I'm getting really good shaves with the straight I have now. I hardly ever cut myself. Only when I'm being careless and even then mostly around my chin. I get better at it and more comfortable with it every time i shave. I think I may have rounded the blade while trying to strop fast.

I'd like to send the blade off to get honed. The reason I want another straight is so I will have one to use while the other is getting honed. Also, I want one that is visually striking since the one I have now is solely utilitarian. I asked if anyone had personal experience with the Bergischer Lowe, because I've read in the forums from some members that it looks nicer than it shaves. I really like the buffalo horn scales and the gold wash, but if the razor doesn't shave, it is worthless to me.

Thank you for the advice, for your time and consideration.

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Revisor make some nice razors, i have no first hand experience with them, but they seem very well regarded, and not stupidly expensive.

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Off to research Revisor blades. Thanks for the tip.