New Guy From Indiana

[ACSchank]

Hello Everybody

I have been shaving with DE razors for about a year now and now I have decided that I would like to try my hand at straights. For years I had used canned shave gels and various disposable and cartridge razors and could never find one that I was happy with. My biggest complaint (besides cost) was the fact that I would always end up with razor burn on my neck while attempting to get a close enough shave. Since all I had ever known about was modern razors I never really realized or thought about the other options available. When my grandfather became ill with cancer I was given the task of cleaning out his basement and garage, both completely filled with treasures and trash. Among the items saved from the mess were about half a dozen safety razors. I was intrigued by these old metal razors and kept 2 for myself (a fatboy adjustable and a superspeed). I went the whole nine and purchased blades, some soap, cream, a mug, and a brush and went to town. The shaves were and are definitely better than the shaves I used to get with all the mainstream crap I had used in the past; rarely even the slightest hint of RB on my preferred setting of 6 and just as close if not closer.

All that said I still want a closer shave and I am kind of drawn to old things and old methods so now I find myself slightly obsessed with straight razors even though I have never used one. I have picked up a few straights in the last couple months, mostly from Ebay and one from a local antique store. I did a lot of research here before buying anything so I don't think I bought any duds. All but one are fairly clean and the one that was rusty (a G. Wostenholm, it used to have a neat "etching" on the blade but that came of long before the pitting) is now almost done being hand sanded with the 240 grit and ready to move on up, but none are shave ready as of yet. I plan to keep reading and cleaning for the next month or so (and try to restrain myself from buying any more razors) then I will be in the position to get set up for honing and purchase some stones and a couple strops as well as a shave ready razor from one of the masters here so that I have a benchmark of what I am looking for in a properly honed razor. In the meantime I do have a couple of questions but I will post those in the appropriate areas.

[Deerhunter1995]

welcome to srp,please feel free to pm me if u have any questions about the site.

[Catrentshaving]

This is a fantastic place full of great people to help you along the way. Welcome to SRP!

[sublimeus]

Welcome to srp

[johnmorganjr]

Welcome to SRP. I think you will enjoy shaving with a straight.

[ACSchank]

Thanks for all the welcomes everybody.

[LAsoxfan]

Welcome aboard! Went to college in Indiana (Purdue)

[ACSchank]

Welcome aboard! Went to college in Indiana (Purdue)

I've got a buddy that went to Purdue! I had a lot of fun every time I went down there to visit him...even a little too much fun on one occasion and I had to stay a little longer than expected

[jhenry]

Welcome aboard AC...Pull up a chair and enjoy yourself.

Its always good to see another straight shaver from Indiana.

[roughkype]

Welcome to SRP! I think there were once some nice hones quarried in Indiana; you might run across some in antique stores there. Search the Hones forum for Indiana and see what pops up.

You might want to invest in one shave-ready blade as you sharpen up your others, so you'll know what they *should* feel like. I'd have saved a couple of years and a lot of hone wear if I'd done that. Whippeddog is a great place to get inexpensive shave-ready blades, and a good cheap starter strop too.

Best wishes.