Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 18 of 18
Like Tree12Likes

Thread: First Straight Razor Shave - A Review/Plea for Advice

  1. #11
    ECD
    ECD is offline
    Senior Member ECD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    West Sussex England
    Posts
    144
    Thanked: 5

    Default

    I think I am stropping properly because the blade feels sharper after I finished stropping Am I right in what I am Saying here . Or is there a different way to know if you are doing your stropping the right way or not if you are not doing it the right way s there a way you can tell Thanks

  2. #12
    Senior Member RVShave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Where ever I park it, presently in So. TX
    Posts
    124
    Thanked: 4

    Default

    You really need to read thebigspendur's axiom of shaving, it a sticky at the top of the begginers forum: If you're afraid of the blade then you'll never master it, respect is good it keeps you going slow and careful. When starting out you need at least 30 min. to str8 shave, if you don't have the time then use the DE. With prep and shaving I take 30-45min I just enjoy it as ME time, it's nice to pamper ones self.

  3. #13
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Somewhere in Southeastern Europe.
    Posts
    1
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    Although most razors are advertised as "ready to shave" have to do a few more steps before shaving:

    1. It's nesessary to have chromium oxide powder and to spread this powder mixed with oil for straight razor on the leather glued onto a flat surface.The chromoxide powder must be 0.3 - 3 microns for best result.Less micron = a close and smooth shave .
    This can be done also with second lether strap or balsa wood.The mixed powder must be spread slightly and evenly on the leather/second leather strap/balsa wood.

    2. Then must strop straight razor 15-30 times/rounds on both sides .After that you must try to cut hair in your hand, but withouth touching the skin-around 3-4 milimeters from surface.If straight razor cuts hair without any force and hair just falls the straight razor have excellent blade.If straight razor cut hair, but with some effort(the hair lies down lightly to the skin before being cut) the razor may shave, but may be sharpened to better.

    After the purchase and initial sharpening Chromium oxide 15-30 times new razor can be sharpened on Chromium oxide with 4 to 10 passes.Straight razor pass on Chromium oxide 2 weeks to 1 month(If you shave with the same razor every other day) - depends on the beard, shaving soap, shaving skills and so on ...



    3. After sharpening with Chromium oxide, wipe the razor with a napkin and pass a clean razor leather strop without Chromium oxide.

    4.When you lather your face let the foam about 2 to 4 minutes to stand in the face and then do it again foam on it without removing the old lather.After that you are ready to finish shaving with a straight razor.If you shave with soap then you can put the soap before you stir it up with shaving brush 2 to 4 drops of olive oil for a smooth and comfortable shave.

    This is my short experience with the "Wacker Best tradition" (my first razor after 20 years of shaving with "the best of a man"), and I fear it is already looking around for the second Wacker-"Wacker special razor".
    It's roughly like a nice condition - nice to look at the straight razor and when you shave and uncomfortable for your pocket when you buy. There is no complete happiness ...

    Without Chromium oxide powder / paste after about 12-16 shaves my beard grow for a little over 24 hours and shaving under the chin is difficult and painful.Chromium oxide with which to pass the razor every 2-3 weeks I shave every other day.

    If you are a beginner there's something else important: Do not shave with short, quick strokes. They are for people used to shave with a straight razor.For starters, more suitable for shaving are smoother and longer movements of the razor. When you advance your shaving with a razor then everything becomes itself, including rapid and confident movements of the razor.

    Do not despair, and after a short time there will be a success.
    Last edited by Justify; 08-04-2013 at 12:17 AM.

  4. #14
    Junior Member Fittz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    U.K
    Posts
    4
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    Thanks for the advice fellas.

    Today's shave went a lot better. I felt more confident holding the razor and allowed myself to experiment more with blade angle and more decisive strokes.

    Vast improvement.

    I grew significantly in confidence throughout the course of the shave. So much so that by the end I properly shaved my the left side of my face; after a pretty choppy attempt at the right side, and even did a little of the chin area.

    And in other good news I stropped the razor before shaving and it didn't seem to have any negative effect on my shave. So, I can only assume I correctly stropped the razor. No rolling or blunting of the blade etc.

    Definitely felt that the straight razor gets a noticeably closer shave.

    Oh, and the one little nick I gave myself. Yup, it was from finishing up with the DE and not from straight.

    Already getting impatient waiting for the next shave.

    Thanks once again everyone.
    Last edited by Fittz; 08-04-2013 at 03:12 PM.
    BobH, EdG, edhewitt and 1 others like this.

  5. #15
      Lynn's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    St. Louis, Missouri, United States
    Posts
    8,454
    Thanked: 4941
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default

    Keep at it.

    The more you shave, the better you get. The better you get, the more you will like it.

    http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ead-first.html

    http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...icipation.html

    Have fun
    Wolfpack34 and crouton976 like this.

  6. #16
    Senior Member kwlfca's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    1,106
    Thanked: 96

    Default

    +1 to what was said about about not being afraid of the razor. You're not going to horribly injure yourself. Calm down, have a drink, have a smoke, whatever it is you do to relax. You could also watch some vids on youtube of people shaving. I know geofatboy does some good videos.

    Also, Solingen is not a manufacturer, it is a city in Germany. I know that the invisible edge sells Dovos and Bokers, both of which are German made (in solingen) so perhaps you have one of those? They also have vintage razors that could be German made as well. Post a picture!

  7. #17
    Senior Member rickboone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    913
    Thanked: 83

    Default

    I've never had to use crox. Personally I hate the stuff and its results. I use it for knives but not razors.

    I've never seen anyone roll the edge stropping. Personally I think it would take a lot of force to do that. I'd like to see it done.

    I would have the edge checked. It may not be as shave ready as they claim. I have rehoned a lot of "shave ready" blades.

    I would also say check your lather. This sticks out the most. Also the longer lather stays on, the drier it gets. Dip your brush in water and put it on your face. Or, rinse it all off and start over. Do that several times if you need to. You can have soupy lather with a straight. The protection and glide is still there. You can lather your face, rinse it off and still shave with plenty of protection.

    Don't strop a whole lot. 25-30 nicely contacted strokes is all you need. Take your time and ensure good contact.

    Go slow. You will get there. The nerves will subside. You will get cocky in a few weeks and cut yourself. You will heal and be back at it. Remember, countless others have done it. To date there are no documented cases of someone dying by merely shaving. And remember, it's just shaving so have fun.

  8. #18
    Senior Member RVShave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Where ever I park it, presently in So. TX
    Posts
    124
    Thanked: 4

    Default

    I have slightly rolled an edge while stropping, got going to fast really thought I knew what I was doing. I have a cheap strop I got with my starter set and CrOx crayon, put a little on cheap strop, took 10 laps then 20 felt then 40 leather and back in business. Have to learn to be patient speed will come and strops are different. Watching some vids some strops flex quite a bit but my Big Daddy strop is pretty stiff, even tried some williams soap, really have to rub it and keep pressure to pretty much just the weight of the blade. Just my observations and I've only been at this a couple of months.

    On the shave itself it will come just keep going, I didn't have as much trouble because I worked in an industry with repetitive injuries so I trained myself to alternate hands to avoid this, for me stropping and honing will be the toughest.

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •