Thread: Good Day Gentlemen

Everyone is a Newb once ... but Ive been around the block. A time or two.
I'm new to this forum, and still in my first year of wet shaving. Thanks to the interwebs I've had an informative introduction to straight razors, brushes, soaps, and aftershaves. I try to purchase local supplies, and that has had me visiting Ladies Beauty supply stores, Barber store suppliers, every pharmacy I have time for, and antique shops. It's been interesting. The best part is my face feels better the farther I get away from canned goo and throw away plastic handled Bic blades.
I live in the boot heel corner of Louisiana. Not for the faint of heart heat and humidity country. South of I-10, where I can fish either fresh or salt water in a ten minute drive.
By profession, I sculpt in sheetrock and shingle, pine and concrete. I'm not afraid of geometry or algebra. I've been a carpenter, but that was when I got started. I prefer to do restoration work. Antiques intrigue me. That something built years, decades, even centuries ago can still function well gives me hope. And keeps me in groceries.

Welcome DeObfusgate. Any one that uses such a delightful word as Obfuscate must have an interesting bunch of stories to tell. Would be good if you showed a few pictures of your gear so we can get an idea of what you might need info on in the future. Standard welcome is to read the Wikis in the Library and watch the videos. Any questions will be happily answered by many members eager to impart their level of knowledge. Many different sections within the forum so be sure to investigate them all. Check the Local Help (leftside of Welcome Page) and see if there are any embers near you. How far are you away from Houston? Great Mentor there with an extensive collection that has small meets several times a year. Great benefit from these one on one meetings.

Enjoy and shave well.

Hello, DeObsfuscate. Welcome to Straight Razor Place!

Razorfeld,
Thanks for the welcome. I'm hours from Houston, 30 miles from Texas. I'll keep my eyes open for news of a meet. So far information has been secondhand, from sites like SRP, or first hand at my own hand.
My jump into wet shaving started with a Razor Shaped Object. Purchased a fixed blade knife for my son's birthday from a popular cable home shopping network. It was bundled with a straight razor. Not shave ready, not even a razor. A razor shaped pocket knife. But I was already interested. Down the rabbit hole? Sure!
After much lurking on another site, I purchased a Whipped Dog starter kit. That guy Larry is a breeze to deal with. I may upgrade my brush through him, too.
Since then I've shopped locally. My preference is to see, feel, smell a product before I buy. Antique stores have given up wonderful surprises. Several vintage straights, a barber's hone, even got me a Fatboy for not much more than it's original price.
Like many newbies, I've tried ( and like ) VDH products, but through samples available online, find tallow soaps are great. Just tried Creamo, wonderful stuff.
Aftershaves... my theme, as with most of my purchases, is; available locally. If I have spent less on AS's than razors, that's only because I shop for bargains.
My skills at photography match my camera, low grade. I do appreciate Razor Porn.
Here's my last two Shaves of the day.

I'm with you on photo skills. You would think as a painter and fabric artist I'd understand photography instinctively. Glad to read that you like the VDH products. I'm several years into straights and still prefer and enjoy the reasonably priced soaps/creams.

Are you going down that slippery path and honing your own or have you realized that it's not knife sharpening and an expertx touch is what you need until you can sit at a table with a masterful honer and learn first hand?

Would love to see a few photos of your work in The Finer Things of Life section. I'm sure a goodly number of members would be interested also.

Welcome to SRP DeObfuscate. You seem to have some education on this but there's plenty more on here as you may have seen. I think so far you have done a fantastic job & just moving forward with each new day. Great to have you here & if you have any questions just ask. About the pics, we use what we have so no problem there! What you have so far looks good.
Good luck my friend.

Hi and welcome. Sounds like you are well done the rabbit hone. The shaves ate whete its at and you are obviously getting goo ones so what works for you is all good. Feel free to ask whatever there's always someone willing to help