Hello from Thunder Bay, Ontario
Hello SRP, from a soon to be (if not already) SR addict.
Just started SR shaving a 2 weeks ago. Purchased a full set-up shaving kit from Larry @ Whipped dog. Came with an Osgood, Bray &Co. 5/8 extra hollow ground (yay for carbon steel sharpness) some tastey rosemary soap which I've been temped to take a bite out of (makes my bathroom smell like a mojito) and all that other fun stuff. So I've completed 2 shaves thus far, the first being a new release of Texas Chainsaw massacre and the second not so bad... but the first was all red...and painful...bad memories...moving on.
So at first i was upset because my first attempt was a bloodbath which i think left a few scars (should of just done the side burns but i got cockey and did the whole thing 3x pass). And the second shave was not so bad. Still not BBS - nowhere near as a matter'o'fact, but that's life. So i tried my hand at stropping and noticed an immediate difference in the finish on the edge and the way it caught my thumb which was nice. Checked the edge under a bright light for wiring and chips...seems okay but no expert. Tried the balsa strop w/o paste since it was already coloured - figured it was strop ready and didn't notice much of a difference (theres a bump in the middle of mine).
Just purchased a nortons 4/8 hone with the other hone to make it straight, gonna use geofatboys technique of drawing lines on it with pencil than scraping till gone to make sure it's nice and flat. Only reason i purchased a hone is because i read a lot of the blades folks get that are used and stated to be shave ready are not... so i wanted to make sure my blade's cutting like a light saber :jedi:
I have fairly sensitive skin (red bumps on cheecks and lots under neck, spreads all over and i hate it) so i purchased some anothony pre-shave oil, an osma alum block, and some dolerma almond emulsion for an ASB, a whole bunch of Kells Original Extra Aloe blend soap samplers and some witch hazel from shoppers to hopefully erase the sensitivity issue.
So far I've blown like 400$ in a month on this stuff ... yup i went balls deep. And am hoping to become a SR master by 2014 (cross your fingers for me). I feel dumb since i already get a BBS with my mach 3... but i wanted to get fancy since i truly love shaving and making sure it`s a good one at that plus i read SR shaving is better for sensitive skin and has a nice overall effect after a good bit of use on ones skin making my face silky smoothe or so i hope.
I`ve read like 400 threads, watched about 50+ videos...checked numerous websites and am now planning on planting myself in this forum to share my experiences and hopefully years from now help newbs like myself become SR jedi.
If you have any feedback on my set-up, my blade or anything else please share as I intend to become a master of this art.
Thanks and HAPPY SHAVING :beer1: