Thread: Hello from South Africa

Hi there
I have become interested in straight razors after trying to sharpen knives. After reading the info available on this forum I bought a new Dovo #41 which was not shave ready, I managed to hone it myself and get it shaving, after my 3rd shave I got a very satisfying smooth shave! Thanks to all of you for what I have learnt so far, I'm amazed at how much info there is. So at the start of my journey I intend to collect and restore some razors and make connections to enjoy and share my new found hobby
Any other South African members out there?

Hey and welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are off to a good start too. There are a few SA embers IIRC.

Bob

Welcome, ddunc! As I'm sure you know already, you're in good company, with a group of kindreds full of knowledge and helpful advice. Enjoy the journey!

Hi, about time another SA persons joins, i was wondering if i was the only one here. Im based in Joburg, what about you?????

Ok, so its been a little over a month now i've been shaving with my Dovo straight. After my third shave a said i was impressed with the shave I got. I really underestimated how much there was to learn.
4 weeks later and aproximately 12 shaves later I have made a breakthrough by honing my razor again after watching Lynn's honing videos and reading all the info on this forum.
Now the thing actually cuts the hair off, gives me a "light sabre" awesome feeling - zzzshwing! So smooth, thats just off my Norton 8k.
What has me going now is I still get this feeling that theres room for improvement still!
Im still not comfortable with 3 passes but I feel like I've really learned a lot so far.

Don't worry I have been at this for a year and a half of daily shaving and I am still improving here and there. It just keeps getting better and you will enjoy that I am sure. Practice makes perfect and that goes for shaving technique, honing and lathering.

If you eventually want to try a finer finishing hone than the Norton 8k to refine the edge even more I would try a Zulu Gray http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...can-hones.html from SA. Just did a blade and went from an 8k Naniwa to a Zulu Grey omitting my 12k Naniwa and got a super smooth edge.

What are you not comfortable with doing a 3 pass shave?

Hope you keep enjoying the process.

Bob

Thanks Bob

I will look into the Zulu gray stone.
As far as enjoyment goes I think I am hooked. I have committed myself to never going back.
I have tried 3 passes a few times now, and have two nasty cuts under my chin. My cheeks and neck are ok, but coming up under my chin I cant seem to get that bit 100% smooth.
I have been doing 2 passes and am very satisfied overall, so far my achievement with 3 passes have been good but not worth the razor burn and the chin drama.
I will try again, I suspect some of the difficulty is due to the hairs under my chin not being cut short enough in the first 2 passes before trying to go against them. Also the razor burn is greatly improved as im getting better at controlling the pressure and angle, so when im comfortable i'll try again.

I see what you mean now about the 3 pass shave. No worries that to will come with time. Going up towards the chin on my neck I tilt my head back as far as I can and still be able to look down to see what I am doing in the mirror. That blade is damn near flat on my skin too. The blade has to be very sharp and smooth with little if any pressure applied as well as the lather being very good.

As you say your technique is improving as razor burn fades and will continue to improve. You will know when you are comfortably ready to try that 3rd pass again. I quite agree that it is no sense to push these things too much. I am still working on coming around the chin bulb going up to the lower lip ATG. Slow and easy does it.

Bob