Introduction: Hello SRP, glad to be here.

Hello forum members,

My name is Simon. I have been straight razor shaving for about 6 months now. I came to it via vintage DE shaving. I got RAD and have quite a collection of vintage Gillettes.........slims, fat boys, toggles etc. However, my 'go to' daily DE was a Muhle R89 with Gillette 7 O'Clock yellows........outstandingly good.
I still use it daily as very often dashing out the door with screaming kids biting at my ankles and the clock ticking.

I have been to specialist barbers and had a straight shave so knew how good it could be.

It was birthday time and I requested a straight razor........asked for a Dovo Astrale.

Having received it 'Shave Ready' I just went for it.........ouch.

Wondered why it wasn't working out so well..........and got involved in serious research.

Though now a commercial pilot I am, by trade, a traditional wooden boatbuilder and cabinet maker, so am used to honing cutting edges to a high degree of sharpness with finess.

I now posses Norton 220/1000.....4000/8000 and Shapton 12000.....plus ChromOx strops and beautiful soft horse strops etc....

I gave that Dovo some stick.........but still wasn't happy.......and am still not happy. It actually, now, shaves pretty well. But not as good as later additions.

I purchased some vintage razors in good condition but in need of edge setting and honing.

First was an Ed Wusthof 'Barber King'..................what an absolute beauty. Worked it through the 1000 (it had no edge) and upwards progression inc chromox.........examining edges under a 120x microscope as I progressed. That thing is so sharp it'll cut you if you look funny at it.
It shaved beautifully.
It was now that I understood why straight razors.

Then I acquired a 5/8" Dorko..........it became another good shaver with honing.

Then I acquired a 5/8" Jonathan Crookes and a 6/8" Jonathan Crookes. Both of which also required edge setting and honing. They are both outstandingly good shaves and I enjoy using them immensely.

The Dovo Astrale and the 6/8" Crookes both had a 'wobble' in them when placed on flat polished granite. So, I honed with a rock in my strokes....and sensitivity..

All the razors whistle through my tough beard (except the Dovo) and are such a joy to use.
The Dovo will cut arm hair at a few mm off the skin and will cut hanging hair along its length (as do the others).........but will not shave me closely without irritation.
I'm sure its just down to something, presently, intangible with that razor............but, I would happily not use it again.

Discovering straight shaving has been a real joy for me. I love the ritual, the taking time for myself, the results from learning and working to improve.......and the great shaves.

I particularly enjoy honing.........it's utterly meditative and absorbing.

I can see myself owning far too many razors before long though!

I tend to straight razor on the weekends when I have more time and maybe one or two days in the week.
Regular razors are the Wusthof 6/8" and the Crookes 6/8".

In other kit I have a couple of Rooney brushes, Use Proraso Shaving cream or Fitjar cream (Plus others), Proraso pre-shave, alum block, finish with Clarins Baume Super Hydratant, Kiehl's Facial Fuel or, Aésop's Neroli post shave lotion.
A few variations but, that's basically it.

I look forward to learning and discovering from the forums and to getting to know everyone.

Best regards,

Simon

Hello Simon and welcome to SRP!
Thanks for the great introduction. It sounds like your well on your way straight razor shaving and have taken to this hobby with a passion that so many of us here have. It's wonderful to see someone new here with such a keen interest right from the start.
Enjoy your time here on the forum and have fun!

Pete <:-}

Thanks for the welcome Pete, good to meet you.

Welcome to the forum.

Hi and welcome aboard. Send the dovo to one of the pros and find out if it's you or your razor. Could get feedback on how close it is and how to fix it. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

Welcome to SRP.

Welcome to the forum. :)

Welcome to SRP, Simon. Great first post. You definitely have the itch to shave with straight razors like many of us here, and I'm also happy to see you jump right into honing without waiting the requisite several months that a few here suggest. Sometimes it's fun to run before we can walk, and I too embraced this hobby full force. No one was hurt in the process, but my wallet sure took a decent hit. ;)

I also agree with your sentiments regarding honing. Sharpening razors is nearly as much fun as shaving with them.

Enjoy!

Welcome to SRP!!!

Great first post, nice to meet you. There's a lot of great folks here and a TON of info. The library is a place where you can get lost reading and learning

Enjoy and have fun!!

Welcome aboard, mate.

markbignosekelly works at Heathrow.

He can give you a hand.

Hi Simon,
It sounds like you don't need to learn very much from us at this point, but stick around anyway!

Thanks for such a warm welcome everyone.
Really glad to be here.
Busy rooting through the library whenever time allows. It's a great, and fascinating, resource. I have so many questions 😃

Well ask away!!
There's always someone to point you in the direction you need to go.