First shave, against all odds.
Well, I did my first straight shave today... and I didn't go to the hospital.
I intended to do things 'by the book' but got anxious. I actually have a shave-ready razor from the SRP classifieds on the way, but in the meantime I found a pair of Geneva Cutlery razors in an antique shop. The one in the best shape had a small nick in the blade, but otherwise was a good 6/8, round tip razor.
I ordered the Woodcraft 80th anniversary set a couple days ago, and was hoping I'd get it AFTER my shave-ready razor came, because I knew I wouldn't be able to resist. Well, Woodcraft is only one state away and it only took a day to get here.
I used the 600 grit until the nick was gone, then the 1200 until it passed the TPT. Then on to the 8000 grit, until it was close to passing the HHT, a slow moving hair didn't pop but a little faster of a stroke and it would cut. My strop hasn't come in yet, so I used a 1.5" leather belt I found that didn't have any stitching on the back and stropped with that.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but after all is said and done, I got only one small slice on my cheek when I was figuring out the angle, and no worse of a razor burn than when I try to get BBS with a DE razor and go a little overboard. I told myself that if it didn't seem to go smoothly when I started I'd quit, but I didn't have to.
I also have a 12k Chinese waterstone on the way, so that will be sure to help too.
I think I'm hooked... I know I should have waited and done it by the book, but it's a great feeling to do your first shave with a razor you found, cleaned up, polished, honed and stropped yourself!
:chop: