Thread: Hello Everyone

I find skipping, if its not your shaky hands, comes from the blade being too flat on your face. A suction happens with the soap and blade face so it sticks. IF this is the issue and not your shaking hands then raise the spine a little.The styptics sting because its trying to clot the cut and stop the blood. Normal.

Angle, pressure, and skin stretching are all very important. Also you need to hold the razors firmly, but don’t wield it with a death grip. I found the tighter I held my razor the more pressure I used, and the less control I had. The spine on the razor should be around two times the thickness of the spine from your skin. You can also high grade the process and shave the easy spot like your cheeks until you get more used to the razor, finishing up with what other razor you have on hand.

Hang in there man. it'll get better I promise you. What you may want to do is let a day or two go by and let your face heal. Either use your other razor or just go shaggy for a couple of days. I remember when I was learning to hone I tore my face UP because I was either too stubborn, too proud or too determined to get it right to let my face heal. Those were some painful days. I don't mean to offend anyone here but that double the spine thickness blah blah blah is too hard for me to visualize. I think it's kind of like one car length for every 10 mph. How in the hell are you supposed to judge that at 60 mph? I think an easier way to do it is to concentrate on your cheek near the jawbone where the skin is flat and there is a wide area. go slowly in the stroke and start off with an angle that seems like the spine is too far away from your face and as you go through the stroke angle it down or further out adjusting as you go until it feels comfortable. As time goes by it will come to you and it will click. there's a big learning curve and there's more to it than it seems like there is but That's part of the joy of doing it.

That's a nice looking setup you got there. I love that inlay in the wood. Ebony huh? Nice! I would suggest trying some Mitchell's Wool Fat Shaving Soap. I know some other guys are probably laughing at this because I'm so in love with that stuff I'm ready to marry it. I could be their spokesmodel except that I'm too old and fat. I don't know anything about what you're using but it's probably a perfectly good product. The lanolin in the Mitchell's is so smooth on your face and It's really silky when you're shaving.

It's funny, Mike was talking about stropping with an old belt. My dad always used an old belt. He never had a real manufactured strop. I remember seeing him take his belt off and use it to strop with and then put it back on. For some reason he always shaved with his pants on and his button up boxers sticking out of the top. I'm telling you, he was ahead of his time.

Hi PaulFLUS,

Your right, I should leave the straight shaving for a day or two but the problem is I have new soap coming today and I need to try it out LOL.

I think I have figured out the problem. I have been using Cognac & Cuban Cigar soap when I should have been using the Sandalwood that's coming today, it is bound to make me shave better.

Next order will probably the Mitchell's Wool Fat Shaving Soap if you say it's really good. What does it smell like because I think I can use the razor better with the right smell.

I'm glad you like my razor, what are you using?

I doubt I will use a belt to strop with but when I have the hang of stopping on my board I will definitely progress to a hanging type strop.

Incidentally I am from England originally and wasn't taught to keep a car length for every 10mph, far too much thinking. I was taught the 2 second rule - if the car in front passes a tree or something and you can say "Only a fool breaks the 2 second rule" before you pass the same tree etc. then you're good.

Originally Posted by STF

Hi PaulFLUS,

Your right, I should leave the straight shaving for a day or two but the problem is I have new soap coming today and I need to try it out LOL.

I think I have figured out the problem. I have been using Cognac & Cuban Cigar soap when I should have been using the Sandalwood that's coming today, it is bound to make me shave better.

Next order will probably the Mitchell's Wool Fat Shaving Soap if you say it's really good. What does it smell like because I think I can use the razor better with the right smell.

I'm glad you like my razor, what are you using?

I doubt I will use a belt to strop with but when I have the hang of stopping on my board I will definitely progress to a hanging type strop.

Incidentally I am from England originally and wasn't taught to keep a car length for every 10mph, far too much thinking. I was taught the 2 second rule - if the car in front passes a tree or something and you can say "Only a fool breaks the 2 second rule" before you pass the same tree etc. then you're good.

I've heard the two second rule for a long time also. I've heard instructors say the reason why they changed it is because these days the cars are more different in length than they used to be. It couldn't happen to be because nobody has a measuring stick coming out of the front of their vehicle could it?...
The Mitchells doesn't have a whole lot of fragrance that I can distinguish. I lost my sense of smell a few years ago with that zicam thing. It's coming back now some but I very often smell things and recognize it but can't place it. It's as if my memory for smell went along with it.
As for what I use, today I used an Imperial Extra Hollow Ground 6/8".I'm in the process of making a 7-day set. I have 10 of those now. I have over 100 straight razors all together. Be forewarned old boy! It could happen to you. The problem is there are just so many out there. I feel like the crazy cat lady who can't stop taking in strays. I'll dig out some pictures of some of my favorites to post. My best shaver is a Westby made in Leicester In about 1840. Also I have several Wade and Butcher Specials which I love.
As for the hanging strop I would suggest looking at some of Tony Miller's products. He makes a fabulous line of strops. He is a member here also and quite the gentleman. His website is https://heirloomrazorstrop.com. excellent products at a very fair price. There are other vendors here also. You can look in the buy sell trade section and I think also the vendor's section.
I see you have a good sense of humor about it which will go a long way in making you successful. I think it's interesting that these days our lives are too easy so we look for hobbies That take a lot of maintenance to complicate them like straight razors, vinyl records, typewriters, extreme camping and the one that makes me scratch my head the most: Victorian living. All of these things are making a comeback recently. If you like trying new gadgets and products then boy you're in for it with this hobby. There is more stuff to spend your money on in this hobby than you could imagine.
Good luck with it and enjoy your journey.

As promised, here are some pictures of some i use.

A Westby I restored dressed in black buffalo horn. Fabulous shaver.


A Wade and Butcher Special. Also fabulous.


The Imperial Extra Hollow Ground 7 day set I am working on. My plan is to acid etch the days of the week on the spines once I get the process down.


"The Everlasting" Barber box with some of my regular rotation.



...and my most prized. Heirloom razor handed down from my father. J.A. Henckels Twinwerks 401


Just a few of the usual suspects

This one is fun to. Mainly to look at but this serves as mainly a warning.

Ergonomically it is a challenge to hone and strop and that point is so stinking sharp it can be dangerous. As careful as I try to be and as long as I have been straight shaving I still got myself the other day with it.

It's hard to see in that picture but it's right next to the carotid artery. You could potentially cut yourself and bleed out. This is why I suggest sticking with a round point at firstor if you do get a square point make sure the point is muted. Even my heirloom that I listed above has a fairly sharp point even though it's a square point not a Spanish like that other crazy looking thing. I wish I had a nickel for every time I've gotten myself with that one.

Wow!, you have some good looking razors, I don't recognize quality yet but they look good.

I am sure it sounds terrible and I don't mean to be nasty but it makes my feel a bit better that even experienced shavers get bitten sometimes.

I just had my 4th shave this morning. It wasn't a great shave and I only did one pass. I also stayed away from the scabs that haven't healed yet from last time.

BUT, No new cuts, I had a whole shave and didn't leak at all

My neck has got red blotches though, I don't suppose they will last too long and the alum stung so I guess I must be doing alright for only 5 shaves.

Basically, I had no blood so thats all I care about for today.

Steve

Progress is incremental but it adds up over time. Before you know it this will all pass and it will be like clockwork.

Welcome aboard. Always just a matter of time before you nick yourself again.