Thread: Hello

Right - after just having had a shave, I thought I might as well introduce myself...

Name's Ade Baumann, I live in Biel/Bienne (Switzerland) and work as a webserver admin in the Swiss civil service. I'm married to the best wife in the world and have two wonderful sons (3.5y and 4 months). In the past, I usually had a full beard, except when visiting my wife's home (Ireland), where I often went to a barber for a nice shave with a straight razor. They stopped doing these some years ago though... So when a local knife shop started their closing down sale, I went in and asked the fateful question... "Do you have any straight razors?"...
Turns out the only thing they had was a crappy Pakistani - good thing I didn't like the looks of the scales. Ended up buying a shavette, which I quite enjoyed using... since then, I've become proud owner of an Utica Red Point from WhippedDog and a red-scale Bismarck and there's an unused Dorko from a collector in the post... eh... is there any precaution I can take against catching RAD in this forum?

Anyway, I'll probably be lurking mostly... but do expect me to stick my head up every now and then

Cheers,
Ade

Welcome Ade,

Well from someone who has only been shaving with a straight razor for 5 months (and utterly loving it) it seams that it is very hard to stop at just one razor. I have a Dovo 5/8 Best Quality razor as was highly recommended as a good beginner. I jumped right in and have been happily shaving, stropping, and honing away these last few months learning tons along the way and really enjoying it more and more with each shave. It wasn't long after I began that I started getting the itch to buy another. But being on a tight budget (chemistry graduate student) I instead have invested in a hone (naniwa super stone 12000) which held me over for a little bit while I learned better technique. but once I was consistently getting good edges and my stropping was producing very comfortable shaves the itch to but another blade returned. I try to control the need for more razors by looking at all the gorgeous ones members share with us but in truth I think it makes it worse. So I began buying a few soaps and exploring that facet of the hobby, but after I found a few I really loved (Moma bear's Drakar) I didn't feel the need fill my small bathroom with shaving soap. I then learned how to make new scales for my razor (Redwood) which fooled me into believing I had a new razor . But now that its been a while since I have been a while I can't shake the desire to pick up another. I look at my little set up and think this is all I will ever need to shave the rest of my life, but of course that voice continues to drone on about adding just one more. thank fully my grandfather has learned about my obsession and has passed on his razor to me, now all I have to do is go pick it up. I couldn't be more excited. any way moral of the story is not only is is easy to catch RAD even some one who typically is a very firm minimalist and on a tight budget can seam to stop thinking about the next blade. Good luck!

Welcome to SRP. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for RAD. Sure you may buy a razor thinking, "Okay, this is the last one I need" and that might hold you over for a few months, but rest assured, you will find another razor that will look at you with sad puppy dog eyes asking you to give it a home....and you will. Nothing to be ashamed of, why I myself have taken in many strays. Good luck and have fun.

I once had this problem....32 razors ago mind you that's in 4 months!

Don't get me started on the soaps and aftershave...that's a sensitive subject here with the SWMBO. Took over 2 shelves.

Hi, Ade, and welcome to SRP! This place is full of honourable gentlemen who will help in any way possible. that being said, what ReardenSteel posted about RAD is dead-on accurate. Be advised, however, that some members here do seem to have some sort of natural immunity to the affliction. I look forward to seeing you in the trenches!

Originally Posted by ZeroCool

Don't get me started on the soaps and aftershave...that's a sensitive subject here with the SWMBO. Took over 2 shelves.

How many closets did you have to cede to her?

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

How many closets did you have to cede to her?

She's only got 1 shelf in the bathroom closet (I have the two). But then I installed a single shelf to give homes to my most used soaps and brushes.

Needless to say she's a bit disgruntled I have more bathroom space.

Originally Posted by ZeroCool

Needless to say she's a bit disgruntled I have more bathroom space.

WHOA!! That's a pretty serious claim! We need documentation via photographic evidence that you are indeed living every man's dream.

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

WHOA!! That's a pretty serious claim! We need documentation via photographic evidence that you are indeed living every man's dream.

New shelf


Consolidated to the highest shelf in the closet now lol

I am impressed!