Thread: First shave with a "real" straight... Is it worth it?

I've been shaving with a shavette and a safety razor for about 4 years now. I finally ponied up and bought a real straight off the classifieds here. It's a Dubl Duck that was advertised as shave ready. I say advertised because I really have no way of telling if it truly is. So here's my issue... Today I went to use it for the first time. I got out of a nice hot shower and did my typical pre-shave routine. When I went to shave the razor did not want to slide across my skin and when it came into contact with my beard it didn't want to cut, it grabbed then skipped up about 1/8 inch. I thought I was not using enough pressure, second attempt was barely better. It still wanted to skip. I tried a few different angles, all with the same result. Frustrated, I grabbed my shavette and it was smooth sailing from there. So my question is, what did I do wrong? Wrong angle? Did I somehow manage to ruin the edge on the blade? I didn't strop it before shaving. I figured since it was advertised as shave ready from a senior member, I'd only harm the edge with my stropping ignorance. So... Honestly, my neck isn't happy and I'm wondering if making the switch was worth it. Any help is greatly appreciated.
TIA
-Matt

The Shave Test


http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...-test-vid.html


it is pretty explanatory between the thread and the Vid

Thanks for posting that. Some good info, only problem is I keep a full beard and only have my neck and the tops of my cheeks :-)

This is a common topic here at SRP and your experience is more common than not, so rest assured good sir, you are in fine company.

The culprit is usually shaving technique (angle, pressure etc) and poor stropping. Since you didn't strop the first time 'round that might be a good start. I'm not certain that every razor sold as "shave ready" is prestropped before shipment, so that could be a factor.

And yes, unfortunately it could be the razor itself. Even the best honers have the odd one slip through the cracks. But the tendency is to blame the razor first, so I'd recommend more practice before considering additional honing.

Originally Posted by guthriemt

I've been shaving with a shavette and a safety razor for about 4 years now. I finally ponied up and bought a real straight off the classifieds here. It's a Dubl Duck that was advertised as shave ready. I say advertised because I really have no way of telling if it truly is. So here's my issue... Today I went to use it for the first time. I got out of a nice hot shower and did my typical pre-shave routine. When I went to shave the razor did not want to slide across my skin and when it came into contact with my beard it didn't want to cut, it grabbed then skipped up about 1/8 inch. I thought I was not using enough pressure, second attempt was barely better. It still wanted to skip. I tried a few different angles, all with the same result. Frustrated, I grabbed my shavette and it was smooth sailing from there. So my question is, what did I do wrong? Wrong angle? Did I somehow manage to ruin the edge on the blade? I didn't strop it before shaving. I figured since it was advertised as shave ready from a senior member, I'd only harm the edge with my stropping ignorance. So... Honestly, my neck isn't happy and I'm wondering if making the switch was worth it. Any help is greatly appreciated.
TIA
-Matt

There is a difference between a shavette and a traditional straight. You are used to one and not the other. Since you are an experienced straight shaver I think I'd do more harm than good suggesting things like making your lather slicker. It's just a matter of practice.

gssixgun,
I have a sneaking suspicion I'll be a hobbiest fairly shortly...

gssixgun, how difficult is it to learn to hone?

Originally Posted by guthriemt

gssixgun, how difficult is it to learn to hone?

Learning to hone to a shave ready edge is not that hard at all 1000's of people on here have done it, but you have to invest the time, everything about this hobby costs time to get it right...

There is a certain "Coolness" about using a traditional SR that you honed and stropped yourself that can never be replaced with unwrapping a blade and sticking it into a handle.. But that desire has to be more than just "Shaving" basically it becomes a hobby unto itself...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Learning to hone to a shave ready edge is not that hard at all 1000's of people on here have done it, but you have to invest the time, everything about this hobby costs time to get it right...

There is a certain "Coolness" about using a traditional SR that you honed and stropped yourself that can never be replaced with unwrapping a blade and sticking it into a handle.. But that desire has to be more than just "Shaving" basically it becomes a hobby unto itself...

What kind of financial investment can I expect to have what I need to get started?

Originally Posted by guthriemt

What kind of financial investment can I expect to have what I need to get started?

Again it is time vs money

You could invest the time hunting Antique shops and Estate sales and find some old Eschers and Coticules out in the wild for $10 each or you can order a set of Naniwas, Choseras, Shaptons, J-nats etc etc and spend some serious hard earned cash..

We mostly advise starting with either a Norton 4/8 or a Naniwa SS 3/8,,, that gets you started, then of course a strop... Cost again is relative to time, you can wait and watch the Classifieds and get them for a really good deal or buy them new tonight


See how this all seems to revolve back to "How much time to you want to invest"


I am NOT trying to be evasive or mystical these are choices you have to make