Thread: First post, First straight razor, First question!

Originally Posted by Scareface

I did not get a stellar shave the first time! It eat my face up so bad that I put the razor away for a few months. Razor burn like I have never had, lasted for a few days. Then purchased a two new razors that I knew would come real shave ready.
So, I really consider I had to starting dates, a false start, then the real day!

When I started in 2013 I to got that famous razor burn. I found mine not only was a duel razor but my angle was way off I was scraping not shaving. Lynn Abrams shows the proper angle when shaving in his videos and there several others in videos that show the angle. When you get it right it seems that the razor will just glide over the face. Other than having some one there with you to guide you the videos are the next best thing. I remember when I started my face looked like a strawberry patch. It took a long time for me to get it right.

Welcome. I am a huge fan of TI razors, and have 3 in my collection...an excellent choice! Nothing earth shattering here that others have not stated already...definitely take the time to have that razor professionally honed. It takes what I think is the most subjective part of early straight shaving out of the equation (hanging hair tests, tree toppers, etc are all HIGHLY subjective). Once you get a few months of shaving under your belt, you will start to have an idea what shave-ready means to you. I too have sensitive skin and I run a very fine line between "too sharp" and "not sharp enough." Somewhere in the middle there is a happy place for me, and 6 months in I am JUST getting to the point where I can feel a blade and have a pretty good idea where it stands (and I am still wrong from time to time).
Once you have that professionally sharpened blade in-hand....DON"T STROP IT FOR THE FIRST SHAVE! You will want a baseline so you know whether your stropping is helping or hurting the blade. One last recommendation...if you send the razor out to hone, you will have a week (at least) to practice stropping technique. Grab a regular knife out of your silverware drawer and practice laps daily...get that muscle memory going...so when you do get the blade back you have a good chance of maintaining it rather than dulling it.

Welcome to the community. There are some wonderful resources here to be had and the members are a wealth of information. Good luck and happy shaving!

Check SRD Lynn will help you pick a second razor Aaaand they have customer service

I spent a bit of time stropping because I had to shave today. It was less bad, but definitely needs honing. I haven't found anything around here, so I might ship it off to Lynn to get that pro sharpening done I did, in the meantime, order myself a Boker King Cutter 5/8" from SRD so I'll know I'm getting a properly sharpened razor while my other one is away! It was between the Boker and the Dovo Best Quality 6/8". Both at the same price point I figured I'd go with the 5/8" since my current one is already a 6/8".

Welcome to the forum. Your TI Spartacus is a lovely razor. It reminds me of a Boker 1056 which I'm currently searching for. I have 3 Bokers, one of which is a King Cutter. My 4th Boker is on the way to me from Canada, and I already have my beady eye on what may be my 5th.

The RAD will get you! Good luck!

GREAT decision on getting a second razor! Now when it gets here use it to compare the shave qualities to the one you shipped to SRD for honing.

This will help you to know when the Boker is ready for its honing.

So, stay with the Boker until you get that tug on the beard. Shave with the freshly honed TI. Notice the difference. If it's a night and day diff then send the Boker in for that free hone from SRD.

I'm very stoked to get the Boker and see how it goes. I won't be sending in the TI until the Boker is in hand so I can do some comparisons here and get a feel for the difference between the two. Then I'll be sending the TI out for some TLC.

Good plan. I may be slower than others, but 8 months in, and I'm just getting comfortable with judging "shave ready". Too many variables to start. Face prep, lather, technique (pressure, angle ...) stropping ... etc. Took me quite a few good shaves before I could rule any factors out on a bad shave.
Starting slow, with at least one good blade will cut your learning time considerably.

Originally Posted by mgoffin

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

It's never been to a professional to get honed. I can say that it does tug and skip. I chalked that up to being a newcomer and not getting my angle right, not keeping me skin as tight as I could, or not lathering enough (I re-lather a lot because it's taking me so long and the lather dries up).

I can definitely add a cross-grain pass to my routine. I've done it in the past with my safety razor but my beard grows in such crazy directions that even a small patch winds up being both across and against the grain on the same pass.

I'll definitely look into cold water shaving. Never tried it and I guess it can't hurt!

If it's tugging and skipping, you'll be better off not using it until it's properly honed. A dull razor is hard to work with, and will cut you faster than a sharp one.

While I was at my hair stylist today she mentioned that she has a shear sharpener guy she swears by. I asked her if he did straight razor honing and she contacted him. Turns out he does! So I am going to compare mine honed by the local guy and the one Lynn did for me that is in the mail! If they feel and perform the same then at least I know the honing did the trick and that there's someone local I can support! If the local guy's honing isn't up to the Lynn's level, then I'll know in the future where to send out my blades for honing