Thread: My face looks like Edward Scissorhands!!!!

Good evening gentlemen. 1st post....here we go!

39 years old and against all of the good advice on this spectacular forum I found myself on the "bay" looking at straights.... I've been a DE user for the last 7 years and decided to step it up a notch and go for broke. I found an old John Pritzlaff "Everkeen" for around $20 and took the plunge. The razor came and to be honest I almost felt like a kid at Christmas. Now, it's been a little while since I was a kid...but I'm NOT to old to remember.

I open it up, find myself quite pleased with my purchase, and start cleaning it up! Buff the blade with a little jewelers rouge, buff the scales a little...but I chose to NOT polish everything to a bright shine...I really like a little of the "age" that's present on it. I hone....to the best of my ability....which isn't good enough. Strop on an old belt...the proceed to butcher my face. lol. Now, weeks later, I've gained wisdom through alot of cuts, razor rash, and another round of honing. I DID read for hours and hours not only here but at other sites as well. Although I thought I was prepared, It became PAINFULLY apparent that I was not. Alas, either through persistance or ignorance I still scrape the hair off my face with my ebay straight and each and every time I become better...if only a little at a time. I've purchased a hone that I truly believe to be to soft but it does slowly make a difference and have been using sand paper on plate glass to fill the gaps between the few stones I own. My system works...just not well and if not for the jewelers rouge that I have liberally applied to my old belt I'm sure my face would be chewed to pieces.

Now that all of that is said and in the open.... I DO love this. I've purchased an additional razor but I care nothing about using it at this point. I feel like I should finish getting myself together with the Pritzlaff before making any changes. Next week I'll treat myself to a proper strop and go from there.

Thanks for listening to me blather on and on... My wife now believes I'm crazy but I know each and every one of you understand completely.

Yep. Understand all too well
Pretty aint somethin i worry bout anyway.
A little blood makes it more meaningful when you learn not to carve yerself up
Keep tryin buddy
Mike

Congrats on the move to a straight!

I've got a Pritzlaff also, I love it! Had it restored and honed by Glen (gssixgun). I have to say its one of my favorite in the rotation.

Just my .02, while your saving up for the strop maybe send the razor off to be professionally honed. At least that way you'll have an accurate baseline of what shave ready feels like. I know that helped me tremendously.

Good luck! Don't spend a fortune on your first strop, very strong chance it'll get nicked up anyway.

~ ZeroCool

Jeeze! PM me if I can provide advise. Hang in there. You will be fine! You seem to have some skills there! We all understand!!

Tom

Thanks for the replies guys. It's gotten a little easier and Ive had one really good shave out of...idk....25? lol. I've toyed with the idea of sending it off for a proper honing but wasn't sure who to use. Any suggestions? I would very much like to know what a proper honing feels like on my face. Know what the "standard" should be and give me something to aspire to. I'm thinking of grabbing a strop from starshaving (I think that's where I seen them)....they seem reasonably priced.

My dining table is full of bits of spent sandpaper, used rags, small pieces of wood half forged into what looks like straight razor scales, pencils, sponges, varnish, wd-40, straight razor blades without scales. By the sink in my kitchen i have a full blown sharpening station set up with all my hones, DMT for lapping, rags, a little microscope and a beer.

In the mail today I recieved 8 old razors, my weekly order of stuff I don't need from the ever so helpful onlinestore and a woodworking catalogue from Lee Valley with more "stuff" I need.

Welcome to the club 1razor. Resistance is futile so don't even try.

Try here. Lots of good ppl around that could help you out with a properly honed razor. Not sure where you live, but there's ppl from all over listed there. And if in doubt, you can always ask about a certain person if you need to.

Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Originally Posted by 1razor

Thanks for the replies guys. It's gotten a little easier and Ive had one really good shave out of...idk....25? lol. I've toyed with the idea of sending it off for a proper honing but wasn't sure who to use. Any suggestions? I would very much like to know what a proper honing feels like on my face. Know what the "standard" should be and give me something to aspire to. I'm thinking of grabbing a strop from starshaving (I think that's where I seen them)....they seem reasonably priced.

I'll give you a lot of points for "determination", not so many for "common sense". We're all a bit crazy here, so no judgments about that.

You're on the right path with the Star Shaving strop.

Learning to shave, and to hone, at the same time, is usually trouble.

Learning to hone with inadequate gear, with a blade you know isn't sharp, is real trouble. I know, because that's how I started off.

It was only after I got a Dovo from Straight Razor Designs that I realized how bad my own honing was! It gave me a good target to aim for.

. . Charles

Gongrats whit the move from DE to a straight.
Remember the shaves,honesessions and prep are going to be better. Whit result better shaves. Have fun and enyoy your razor. (a pic of your razor is welcome).

I really think you need to experience a razor that you know to be judged as shave ready. I'd try and get one if I were you so you can judge your own edge against it. We all understand your new life. Keep at it, you'll be very good at it within 12 months...