Hello from Panama60 in Oklahoma

[Panama60]

Greetings to one and all!
I am Panama60, known in the real world as Roger Dewey, call me Rog or Panama. I'll save the backstory of my nickname for when I find the right thread.

A semi-retired (or as I like to say, "self-unemployed") renaissance man from Enid, OK. USMC (0121-PersClk) 1978-1982 then USMC(R) (0311-Inf) 1982-1984.
USA(R) (11BCH4X) 1984-1996. (11B is an Infantryman, 11C is a Mortarman, 11H is a TOW Gunner, 4 is a Sgt First Class and X is a Drill Sgt)
I've also worked 3 years as a maintenance mechanic for the Parrish Corporation and my go-to skilled trade is carpenter/tile setter.
Once, while working for Parrish, a supervisor ask me if there was anything I couldn't do, my reply was simple, "I don't know. I haven't tried that yet".

I used to collect and work on Ford Mustangs, but that got a bit pricey. Sold off my collection (5 Mustangs) and kept my 2004 turbo-charged GT. My latest
addiction are cutthroats and the tools that go with them. I had used twin blade disposables since I was 11 yrs old. About a year ago, I bought a Micro-Touch
DE safety razor and started to learn how to shave the right way. What a pleasure, not a chore and no more burn! 45 years of shaving bumps! A month ago, my
mother had a garage sale and I latched onto my step-father's father's shaving kit. It contained a Colgate dried out soap puck, a white porcelain shaving mug,
a worn out Century boar bristle brush and a stainless steel L & A Co. replaceable blade straight razor. Just enough crap to get me into trouble, lol. I'm hooked.
I go "antiqueing" at least 3 times a week and can't help but google the tools of my torment everyday. Currently, I'm still shaving with my DE, but am practicing
on my right cheek with a Dubl Duck Satin Wedge by Pearlbuck (that I got from a local antique shop for $14!!!). I've done what I can to give it a new edge with
my ordinary two-sided stone and a length of old canvas webbing (embeded with some white polishing compound) that I had out in the shop. Just got my new
strop (Illinois Razor Co. #827) in the mail today, but I won't use it until after I get my new set of Norton water stones. Also new to my collection is a Van Der
Hagen Badger Brush (Wally World), an over-sized ceramic coffee mug (K-Mart) and an old small marmalade crock for a soap cup (Park Ave Thrift Shop). I want
to make a shaving stand for my gear, but I keep thinking that whatever I build won't hold everything...I know how my addictions get.

The trouble makers...


Current kit


My steel, so far...

Thanks guys, for letting me join your great forum and catering to my new addiction.

Be good and be good to others,
Panama

[eddy79]

Hi and welcome aboard. I would suggest sending a razor for a pro honing so that you have a benchmark to aim for. Starting out you would be surprised how much sharper a pro honing can be vs your own results(many of us learnt the hard way). Avoid buffing compounds they tend to have larger grit than you realize and can degrade the edge of the stones. If possible try meet with locals for some one on one. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

[JTmke]

Hello and welcome. You'll find many here afflicted with "ADs" acquisition disorders/collections.

[Panama60]

Hi and welcome aboard. I would suggest sending a razor for a pro honing so that you have a benchmark to aim for. Starting out you would be surprised how much sharper a pro honing can be vs your own results(many of us learnt the hard way). Avoid buffing compounds they tend to have larger grit than you realize and can degrade the edge of the stones. If possible try meet with locals for some one on one. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

Thanks for the advice Ed. On another thread, you have cautioned me about "ordinary" green honing compound and I've been reading up on compounds.
I'll keep my strops clean until I have a chance to talk to an old friend of mine that builds knives as a sideline. I'll also check on the return policy for the
compound I have coming any day now. I'm sure it is NOT razor quality.

[dinnermint]

Welcome to the forum!

Since you're going to be perusing antique stores, here's a list that has came in handy for me a multitude of times.

Brands of Straight Razors to Avoid - Straight Razor Place Library

A general rule is to stick with blades made in the US, England, Germany or Japan; in no particular order.

Another addiction you could get into is trying out different DE blades. It is eye opening at how differently blades will perform that appear identical.

[celestino]

Welcome to the forum.

[hrfdez]

Welcome fellow veteran! Enjoy the site!

[Panama60]

OMG! While dinking around the net, I found my unicorn. I gotta have it!

Boellis Panama 1924 shaving soap, I gotta have the cup!

[Prahston]

Welcome to SRP! Great Intro and your energy is infectious... My AD's started peaking juat reading your Post!

Keep an eye out here:

Get Togethers and Meetings

... for Get Togethers and Meetings that may be loc for you. They are a ton of fun and you can learn a ton while having fun at the same time!

Shawn
-----

[Geezer]

Welcome aboard!!
~Richard