Thread: Howdy from Hawaii

Aloha all,

Basically the straight-razor endeavor is something I've been trying to get around to for many years. Started shaving at age 12 in 1979 with a 1977 Atra that I still have and use. Some may have noticed that ebay is about the only place left to get Atra Plus blades anymore, as these ridiculous 4 and 5-blade astronomically-expensive "disposable blades" for the newer razors have gotten completely out of hand in terms of price and design. I've always liked the Atra Plus blades more than any other design since, due to the wider lubricating strip and the way the strip itself help keeps the blade at a better angle. Since I have about 3 years left of Active Duty Navy to go before I retire, I intend to stock up on Atra Plus blades for use underway and when I'm in a hurry, but as I have always valued the less-tangible benefits of old-world skills - not the least of which is reduced dependence on such corporate consumable products - I intend to develop my straight-razor shaving skill.

I read quite a bit here prior to joining and buying my first razor, which is a Dovo Ebony Stainless 5/8" Inox. I got it in a set from SRD with a 2" Black Latigo Leather/Matched Webbing Strop and Lynn Abram's informative "World of Straight Razor DVD".

So, TODAY was my first shave, too, and no, I didn't follow his advice about not doing a complete shave because I'm hard-headed that way. Hey, but I still have both of my ears, and in fact, did not cut myself at all. I got some bad abrasions in the hollows of my neck on each side, but that's probably less about the razor and more about how to contort myself to flatten those areas out. I'm using a thick Navy-issue white coffee cup (nearly unbreakable - I've seen these roll down the decks with a 20-degree angle on a submarine without breaking), and an old cake of shaving soap that I can't even remember the brand of that I bought 15 years ago at some drugstore.

Somehow, I got a burr on the blade in all this. Don't know if I wacked it on something or just caught the blade on the strop; I'm not real good at stropping just yet. I caught myself turning it over like a knife instead of rolling it on the spine.

Hence, my next purchase from SRD:
SRD Blade Protectant Oil
SRD Vetiver scent 100% Pure Essential Oils shaving soap
Taylor of Old Bond Street Jermyn Street Aftershave Cream
Taylor of Old Bond Street Pre-Shave Oil
Norton WaterStone 3 Piece Set:
-220/1000 combo
-4000/8000 combo
-flattening stone
Shapton Ceramic On Tempered Glass 16000 Grit

I figure I'll give all this a shot on the next try and see how much better it goes. I intend to follow Lynn Abram's pyramid sharpening method and start with maybe 3 passes on the 4000 to see how it knocks off the burr and how much of a chunk is gone out of the blade before I decide how much it's going to take to pass the thumbnail test.

Welcome aboard! I think that you seem to have the idea well in mind and a good direction charted to follow!
May the rest of your service time bring you to a safe harbor!
~Richard

Howdy back at ya, aloha and welcome to SRP. It seems like you are on the right track, good luck fixing your razor. There are a few members on Oahu with hones maybe they could hone up your razor for you until your hones arrive? I can't recall who they are right now though. I won't be back on island until next year I would like to have a meet up when I do get back.

Tescot is his name he posted this, "Let me know if you are interested in learning. I plan to give up my honing stuff, (not a bad thing, just a time thing, and if someone wants to learn I'm happy to help)." here, http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...-hey-guys.html

Well, it turns out that my second order from SRD came in today. Wife says, "how much are you spending on all this stuff?" I said I hadn't added it up yet. She knowingly says, "Mmm-hmm, well, I already know that you don't do anything half-ass." Yes, well, I don't like running off half-prepared, either. Good stones are good stones for a lot of things, so I don't figure I can go wrong there.

First time honing, and I think it went well. I think it also got me a good bit more acquainted with the feel of the razor and how the blade actually works. I got the nick out of the blade shown in the first two pics. I'll strop it up and see how it shaves tomorrow!

Cool very cool I know who I am going to try and hook up with when I get back on island. I like your magnifiers for glasses, where would one get those from.

Originally Posted by dustoff003

Cool very cool I know who I am going to try and hook up with when I get back on island. I like your magnifiers for glasses, where would one get those from.

Got mine from ebay. Cheap! Just search for "7.5X dual loupe" or "dual eyeglass loupe" My reading glasses happen to be 1.75x, so it all adds up. I used a Nikon Coolpix S550 in Macro mode and shot it through the three lenses.

OK, after this morning, I'm pretty sure I'm instantly better at honing than shaving, just yet... Both will get better with practice, I know. Had about four cuts this time, so HEY, it's sharp! Two of them would NOT stop bleeding. Styptic pencils always worked for me in the past, but these were something else, and I don't even know what I did! Maybe it's just "blade discipline"; there's just a lot more blade to be aware of compared to a cartridge.

Originally Posted by Furcifer

...I'm using a thick Navy-issue white coffee cup (nearly unbreakable - I've seen these roll down the decks with a 20-degree angle on a submarine without breaking), and an old cake of shaving soap that I can't even remember the brand of that I bought 15 years ago at some drugstore...

HEY! I figured out what brand that soap is. Somebody else posted about Willams Mug Shaving Soap, and now I remember that's what it is. Not exactly high-end, but tried&true and I like it well enough.