Finally aboard

[Ron A]

Hi, All,
I've been reading posts on this site for months trying to accomplish the daunting task of st8 razor shaving. Your tips have been helpful. Earlier, I tried on my own, hacking away, and eventually quitting. When I stumbled upon this site, my interest was restored and I'm now an accomplished str8 razor shaver. I no longer consider myself a newbie--thanks to you guys.
I'm 54 years old and have no clue why I started this, but I'm now hooked and thoroughly enjoy the experience.
Your past discussions on equipment also helped me purchase what I consider to be some of the finest products. Again, thanks!
A couple of take-them-or leave-them tips for new guys starting out--(things I learned the hard way!):
1) To avoid red lines place the razor flat on the face and then gradually lift it to 30 degrees as you start the stroke. I kept putting the blade on my skin at 30 degrees and created red lines. Eventually, you won't need to do this.
2) Use zero pressure. Let "the weight of the blade" do the cutting.
3) Stretching is everything. Again, I learned that the hard way. I now have two permanent scars that make me even uglier.
4) Take a lot of feather-light short strokes--at least it worked for me.
5) Don't attempt going across or against the grain until you've mastered with the grain. Again, I learned this the hard way.

On a side note, and maybe a useful tip for someone out there: my daughter is an artist and made me a wonderful shave bowl. I hold it in the palm of my left hand while whipping up the lather. Anyway, I took 3 almond soap cakes, put them in the microwave oven until they melted. I stirred the liquid soap (looked like milk) and then poured it into the shave bowl nearly to the top. It was ready to perform the next day. It's a great way to build lather and I won't need to mess with more soap for months.

Anyway, thanks to all of you for the advice the past few months.
Ron A

[JMS]

Thats Neat!!
Welcome aboard!

[xman]

Thanks for saying 'Hi'.You have made some very good observations. I don't want to contradict any of the fine recommendations you make, but I do want to caution against leaving the blade still against your face. Even a micro-millimetre sideways motion could cut you. Always keep the blade moving forward.

Tell me more about this artisan hand crafted with love shaving bowl. Got any pics?

X

[sstulken80]

Anyway, I took 3 almond soap cakes, put them in the microwave oven until they melted. I stirred the liquid soap (looked like milk) and then poured it into the shave bowl nearly to the top. It was ready to perform the next day. It's a great way to build lather and I won't need to mess with more soap for months.

That's a cool idea! Once I've tried a few more soaps, I'll think I'll try that.

[Ron A]

No pics yet. I need to figure out how to do that. I'll work on it.
UPDATE: I figured it out. Pic's on the next page.
She formed the bowl on a pottery wheel, all by hand, during one of her art major classes at college. It's 4 1/4" in diameter and 2 1/2 " deep and the same shape as the Colonel Conk Onyx Bowl #175 BT at Premiumknives.com. It's very colorful--streaked with different shades of blue/aqua with sporatic brown. She made it to match my shaving equipment: razor, brush and stand--all beautiful imitation tortoise (from Shave Mac). She also made a cover with a knob on top. She surprised me with it on Father's day. It's certainly not worth alot money-wise, but it's one of my special possessions, if you know what I mean. (OK, that sounded real cheesy!)

[FiReSTaRT]

Welcome aboard Ron. Your daughter rocks

[Ron A]

Hi,
Here's the pic--just for fun--of what I mentioned earlier.

[scarface]

Whoa! -- that's real pretty

you start posting pictures like that on this forum, and these fanatics will start placing orders!

(...and you won't see your daughter for a year and a half...ask Colleen!...)

-welcome to the forum!

-whatever

-Lou

[sstulken80]

Anyway, I took 3 almond soap cakes, put them in the microwave oven until they melted. I stirred the liquid soap (looked like milk) and then poured it into the shave bowl nearly to the top. It was ready to perform the next day. It's a great way to build lather and I won't need to mess with more soap for months.

That's a cool idea! Once I've tried a few more soaps, I'll think I'll try that.

So about an hour after posting this, I tried it with a cheapie ceramic coffee mug I wasn't using. I placed the cake inside the mug and zapped it for about 30 seconds. Pretty slick result! The nice thing is that it can't develop scum underneath the soap either!

- Scott

[xman]

Hi,
Here's the pic--just for fun--of what I mentioned earlier.

That's nice alright. What's the finish like? Smooth? A little rough?

X