Thread: My name's Andy and I might have a problem ...

Welcome to SRP. Enjoy the experience of learning what works for you and what does not. If you stick with this, you'll be amazed at how a chore you hate becomes something you look forward to each day. The complete "Me time" you'll experience is worth every bad shave with a straight rather than a 2 minute routine of slapping on some canned goo and scraping it off with a cartridge. If your current schedule and straights don't mix, look into a single/double edge razor for nearly the same results. Post any questions you have and enjoy.

Welcome to SRP and make your girlfriend happy

Andy, welcome to the forum!

FWIW --

a) I don't know whether Whipped Dog has re-started shipping straight razors again. Larry had a family emergency.

b) If I were in your shoes, ordering from Whipped Dog, I'd also get one of his double-edge razors and a blade sampler. For about $20, it'll give you an alternative to the straight razors on mornings when you're rushed.

I have a rule:

. . . Never, never rush a straight-razor shave.

. . Charles

I'm not sure if Whipped Dog can do honed razors at the moment ... the notice on the homepage is gone, at least. I've been reading the blog, and it looks like his daughter is doing much better, but she still has a long way to go. I think I'll keep watching the forum for a deal like the one I missed the other day (curses!) for now, and maybe play Whipped Dog by ear. I'm sure Larry has a ton on his plate right now disregarding his business. I was planning on getting a brush and maybe a strop from him anyway, so picking up a safety razor might not be a bad idea (although if I'm rushed, I usually just skip shaving anyway).

One of my goals is to give myself a reason to take it slow in the AM ... something to look forward to if I actually get up with my alarm. It seems like a good way to collect my thoughts or clear my head as necessary, and finish waking up with a good splash of cold water (that's if sliding ultra-sharp steel across my carotid doesn't to that anyway!).

Speaking of strops, I'm torn now on whether to go with a narrower strop (e.g. the poor man's) or getting a 3" per Scookum's recommendation to me. I feel like I ought to be able to handle an x-pattern, but I also feel like I could put the blade clean through the leather all the same (and probably ruin the hone at the same time). Any other thoughts?

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome ... not something one sees on the Internet very much!

You could do what I did: order the Rich Man Strop kit when they're out of rich man and get the Poor Man strop for free while they restock

Seriously though, I cannot say enough good things about Whipped Dog, and I truly wish for his daughter's recovery. The rich man strop is indeed a full three inches of quality strop, and I love having an actual handle to hold onto. Pulling the poor man strop taut always felt weird with nothing but the bottom of the strop itself to grab. @~@

Welcome to SRP, Andy.