Thread: Quick Intro

Good Day Gents

Kerry here from California. im 34. Been wet shaving for 8 years now 7 of which was with a DE. I graduated to a shavette and been using that style for about a year. I think im ready to move up to the real deal now. Im starting from nothing as i type this and i hope to read as much as i can from the experts here in the forums. Ordered my first ( wont be the last ) razor from amazon just to get my feet wet. I purchased the Dovo Bismarck 6/8 shoulderless with white faux pearl scales. I do have a goatee and lined up beard and i figured going shoulderless would benefit that aspect of my shave. I have a local honemeister who will handle my honing for the moment until i become more proficient. Looking to buy a gold dollar to practice honing. Anyway thanks guys!

rah!

Welcome from SE Washington State!

I hate to break your bubble but typically factory edges are Not Shave Ready. Your razor 'might' shave but not like it should.

Learning to hone before learning to be proficient at Stropping, Making Lather, let alone Shaving with a Straight Razor is really putting the cart before the horse.

The 'I've been sharpening knives all my life' comes up all the time. I'm a former meat cutter and I was Sure that since I'd sharpened so many knives that honing a razor wouldn't be an problem at all.

Guess What?!?!?!? BIG PROBLEM!!

If you are truly wanting to enter the older but better way of shaving and that is with a straight razor, send me a PM and we'll discuss getting you a Truly Shave Ready Razor to use!

Welcome.
It's a great bunch here with lot's of wisdom/advice and even more good ol' fashion neighborly kindness!
Cuda speaks the truth. I Suggest when you start honing...forget the GD. Just pick up one of the cheaper blades on the forums "buy/sell/trade" or put out a Wanted To Buy thread stating you're looking for a blade with no warps and good steel to practice honing on. Might as well get a "practice" SR that you'd be willing to keep in your rotation.

Look into the "library" in the top tool bar.

Most of all be patient in all aspects and enjoy!
Jer

Welcome to the forum, Kerry. About time you moved on to a straight razor. Hope you enjoy the learning experience. Plenty of information here, and if you can't find something you need to know, just post your questions. The guys here are a very helpful bunch. You might want to take up Roy / cudarunner on his kind offer, too. This will give you a great idea what a shave ready edge should feel like. Cheers!

do you really have a honemeister there? I hope so but there are plenty of guys saying that but few who are good luck Tc

Welcome.

As others have said get the shaving and stropping down first and leave the honing to your guy. I assume that since you have been wet shaving for a while all of the lathering and prep skills are already in place.

Check out the library and beginners sections.

The Dovo Bismark is a good looking razor I hope you enjoy it.