Wild eyed beginner in the whole straight razor world. Got my feet wet with a beginner razor and strop and looking forward to learning how to effectively shave with it.
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Wild eyed beginner in the whole straight razor world. Got my feet wet with a beginner razor and strop and looking forward to learning how to effectively shave with it.
Hello Slim, welcome to SRP.
Welcome to SRP.
Hello and welcome to SRP.
Enjoy your time here on the forum.
Pete <:-}
Welcome to the manly art of straight razor shaving. Ii is a morning ritual I look forward to every day. Where in Indiana?
Welcome to the party!
Welcome to the forum.
Welcome aboard, Slim. What razor n strop did you get.?
Make sure that's its been honed beyond the factory edge. The worst thing you can do in starting this venture, is trying to shave with a razor that's not up to the job. Another is not proper pre shave prep, and a poor lather.
A must, is learning to strop properly. If done incorrectly, you'll destroy the delicate shaving edge.
I highly recommend you look thru the beginners section of the forum to get more acquainted with things.
Glad to have ya with us.
Welcome to the forum.
Stropping skills are under rated as far as importance.
Skin stretching and holding is another one that is not mentioned near enough.
Hi Slim, welcome aboard !
Welcome to the forum
Bob
Welcome... I'm also interested in your setup!
Terre Haute
I received a Gold Dollar 1996 from a member of another forum with a wicked sharp edge, also got a beginner strop from another member of the same forum. I know the reputation of GD, but I've been learning to shave with it and have been having fun....blood and all. My lack of experience and technique caused me to prematurely dull the edge, so I buckled down and bought some lapping film and a glass substrate to lap on. I've been able to shave off my refreshed edge without pain or blood but I know I've lots of practice ahead of me. I'm waiting on a restored vintage razor to arrive so that I can shave with it and save the GD for honing practise.
Welcome, Slim.
Welcome to SRP. Lots of beginner info available - check it out and ask questions. Folks here will be happy to help.
Sounds like you have a pretty good start. Gold Dollars seem to be a starting point for many new SR shavers. If the vintage razor you are getting has been properly honed, you’ll see a big difference both in the quality of the edge and how long it lasts.
Welcome. Take your time. Start with a professionally honed razor. Practice stroping with a butter knife. On your first shave do your cheeks only. Work your way up to a full face a little at a time. It takes time to learn and a lot of patience. Baby steps.
I'm about a dozen shaves into the rabbit hole. I'm getting about 90-95% of my shave with the straight, the other with my DE (upper lip, just under my chin, and the apex of my Adam's apple)
Welcome Sllim!
I told ya we have some good folks. You will find a lot more people who want to help you here. Go slow and enjoy your time with us. This is the best straight razor forum on the web. Your in good hands Driver!
Jerry...
Hi and welcome aboard
No brand name on the strop. About 2.5"x18" at a guess. And, yes, I'm pretty sure my "stropping" dulled the edge.
Bright side, after a progression on my lapping films, it is tree treetopping like crazy.
(Not arm hair, though. Right arm is shaved clean from "testing" edge, left arm doesn't grow much hair since healing from second degree burns.)
What type of Soaps are you using Slim? Coming from DE I'm guessing you have a couple soaps and brushes. What type of brush do you enjoy or have you had enough time to try different brushes?
Brushes are another Rabbit hole you can fall in if you're not careful! :aargh:
Attachment 315980
Soaps/cremes: usually ToBS in soap or creme (sandalwood and coconut), tried Sir Hare, Lather and Wood, G.F.Trumpers. Enjoying Trumpers Sandalwood creme currently.
Brushes? Whatever the el cheapo badger hair was on Amazon a few years ago. Looks like a plain maple wood handle, no distinguishing characteristics. I went bare bones when I went wet shaving. One DE razor, one brush, one soap or creme at a time until it runs out. Same with blades.
We will be happy to fix that. Next thing you know you will have 30 razors, 10 brushes and hiding all the pucks of soap from the wife. :rofl2:
Welcome to SRP. :)
A lot of us now recommend that new guys wear snowshoes to prevent falling into one of the many rabbit holes here. :)
I'll post a pic later of the gear I currently have. Won't even need special photography skills or a wide angle lens. (Don't have much, is what I'm sayin')
That will get the job done. Someday you might be like @Sharptonn /Tom and need a second home and walk-in safe for your shaving gear.
If you have more than one bathroom, I suggest you put a “Shave Den” sign on the door of one of them to reserve it for future purchases.
I tried that, but SWMBO quickly vetoed that idea. Should have made it part of the pre-nuptual agreement :deal:
Picture this:
1500sqf ranch 3br, 2ba, 1&1/2 car garage
My wife and me
Our 25yr old daughter
My 80yr old mother in law
NO room for a shave den.
Build a room off the back of the garage. It can always be done. :tu
Hey, Slim. Don't feel bad. For close to thirty years, I had only one razor, no brush, (used canned goo) one hone, and a old leather belt that I'd grown out of, for a strop.
I came to this forum, looking for help on restoration. And got sucked down the hole, too. I'm now at nearly 200 shave ready, restored razors.
Attachment 316022
Almost 30 brushes.
Attachment 316023
8 strops
Attachment 316024
And a pile of rocks.
Attachment 316025
And I've yet to find the bottom of the hole. :rofl2:
Holy cow. I don't foresee that level of aquistition disorder in my future.
You ever want to "thin the herd", let me know please. I'm in the market for a backup razor, a real strop, and apparently some hones because the lapping films I bought off Amazon were subpar quality (abrasive level didn't last). I'll most likely try more films first due to space considerations in the truck and because I have to take my stuff back out of the truck when I go home every week (someone else drives it on my days off).
Slim
It will be amazing how many ways you will find to justify a new acquisition!
Trust me on this.
Sorry, not at this time.
But if you have some antique stores or flea markets around you, their great places to look. Check at ol school barber shops, too.
A good barbers hone, is small, and will keep ya going in a pinch. A three line Swatty, is mine, and others, go to hone, for barbers hones.
Attachment 316044
I paid a dollar for this one, at a flea market. :rofl2:
I've contacted 2 antique stores, one of which showed a case of straight razors on their website. They've got nothing. I'll keep checking...
Gasman, I was just told that the vintage razor you sent has arrived at my house. Can't wait to try it out.
Good to hear. I wish you could have taken it with you but work happens. Even when we dont want it too. It will still be keen when you get home.