Thread: Patterns of blood.

I know its a hard thing to do, but leave the hones alone for now. Learn to shave and strop first. Then next year think about honing. Sure it sounds like its not hard to do but you dont want to learn to shave with an unperfect edge. Too many things can go wrong and you wont know if its the razor or not.

Now Im going to be straight with you. When I started i too wanted to learn it all at once. I argued and fought my way through everyone telling me to slow down and wait to learn to hone. And when it all came together for me it was almost 2 years later. Sure i could make sharp but smooth and properly honed edges took a lot of time. Plus I didnt get great shaves for a long time but i kept at it and worked my way though. I will say that I now feel if Id have learned to shave first and left the hones alone i feel i would have learned both faster.

Do what you want to do, but know that some of us have been where you are. And most learned faster and better. Its all fun but do what is best and learn from other peoples mistakes is what my dad says.

Hey matt jus wanted to check in on ya and see how your shaves have been going? Hope you got that razor in from the other member.

Also wanted to just mention quickly the importance of properly sanitizing old/new blades with some sort of barbicide solution or the like. There are all kinds of nasties you can get from using a very old vintage razor, that may have all kinds of things calling it home. Just food for thought for the newer guys.

Not trying to cause any alarm, but personally, I don't think it's mentioned enough. Sanitize your new/old blades, better safe than sorry. Barbicide is incredibly cheap, I still have the same bottle I bought over six years ago. A cap full is all you need to sanitize a whole stable of razors. I am by no means a doctor, but if it's good enough for barbers, it's good enough for me.
-Laramie-

I typically go with a 20 minute soak in rubbing alcohol. It is effective and as importantly easily available.

I typically have restored the razors I shave with, so I don't think anything survived, that needs worried about on that behalf. But those I've honed for...u betcha. I use Ethyl alcohol, better than rubbing alcohol.

Found in different % levels of hand sanitizer.
I think mines 98% Ethyl alcohol

My bad...80%

Interesting. I had not thought of hand sanitizer and we have 20 gallons of that at work.

Yep. Denatured ethyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol either one works. That's what I use. You can also set a kettle whistling and work it through the steam using an alcohol bath to keep it from overheating.

Hay all
It's going well, I've been keeping at it. With rezdog' razor and my own that Scot at rusty razor company put an edges on. he did a honing and strop session with me and I would recommend it.

Shaving is getting better, I've decided to stick with wtg for now.

I wonder if not washing my face pre shave gives more organic material for the razor to slide on?

I tryed coconut oil pre shave as it is supposed to soak into the hair and help with burn.

Also I seem to get half a pass of smooth before it starts to catch. I wonder... Maybe a video is in order.
Matt
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That sounds like maybe you are putting too much pressure. My grandmother used to say, "You're trying to work the tool. Let the tool do the work." She was referring to putting too much pressure on a shovel or ax handle because she was afraid we would break the handle. My son started off digging into the whiskers too much and dulling the edge. I finally got him to let the blade cut instead of trying to force the edge through the hair. Try letting it glide over your face. It's okay if it doesn't cut it all on the first stroke. It's better to go back over what is left behind than dull the edge trying to force it through.

Interesting. I will try that. It's surprising advice so I'm interested to see what happens.
Matt

I use Noxema as a preshave