Thread: Thanks to everyone

Greetings,


First of all thanks to everybody here for posting 'how to' ….. videos.


I got into straight razor shaving by accident at 56 years old.
I ordered a strop for some expensive knives and two disposable razors arrived with it.
So I said to myself, Self! We have to try this!
Several cuts later, Self and me gave up, and threw the instruments of torture into the recycle bin.


Several months later, I used one of my knives on the strop,
and thought that if I can get a big piece of steel shaving sharp,
(hairless arm syndrome), then a proper straight razor should be no problem,
and bought a few old razors in a job lot via evilbay to practice on/with,
Joseph Rodgers, James Barlow (1828- 1856), W.B. Seaton.


I watched the 'restore a straight razor' video, and a couple of shaving videos,
and made new scales (from oak) for the Joseph Rodgers Ltd razor,
and sharpened it on a 1,000 grit, 4,000 & 8,000 grit Japanese composite 'water' stones.
Mirror finish on the edge, stropped it, and was dismayed that it wouldn't shave anything!
Looking at the edge after stropping - well, donkeys dangly bits were sharper!


Up to then I had always stropped on leather, flat on a table, never hanging or stretched horizontal,
so watched a couple of stropping videos, and re-honed the blade.
Stropped the blade on a tight strop, and found the edge still shiny, so lathered up,
and promptly hit the mixer tap with the blade, and saw a nick about ½ inch from the end.


So the next day...


Re-hone – 600 wet & dry paper on glass to take the nick out, 1,000, 4,000 & 8,000 grit Japanese 'water' stones,
re strop, lather up, move mixer tap out of the way,
and after making sure the styptic pencil was to hand,
shaved successfully with a razor that is older than my Great Granny!


A big thanks to the guys who put up videos, a picture being worth a thousand words, so a video must equal a million!
Thanks to the guys who shared their experiences with stones, strops, pastes and methods.


Up until now, I had always just shaved, reluctantly, as quickly as possible using a well known multiple blade brand.
Now it is almost a meditation – me time – when nothing except the razor on the strop, the lathering,
and then the concentration of the careful shave with a satisfied smile at the end – no cuts or nicks, and smooooth face & neck.
So it's not just the shave but also the time-out from what-ever-else,
and the silly self satisfaction from using a 'cut-throat' razor sucessfully, instead of a plastic handled multiblade razor.


Three months on, I'm still shaving with a straight razor, that may be 100 years, or more, old.
I have bought a couple of cheepies, as well, that work OK after honing & stropping,
but the old razor is my favourite at the moment,
and I still have the other two old razors to play with and make new scales for.


Thanks.

Hello, Stickwhistler:

Welcome to Straight Razor Place. Thanks for sharing your experience. We look forward to reading more from you.

Regards,

Obie

That was a very enjoyable post! I can well relate to much of your experience. Thanks.