Thread: First straight (and second) shave

I just finished my second straight shave. I got the usual, several nicks and one small cut. Not a big deal.

The big deal was that i got a more enjoyable shave the second time. I did prep better. Shaved after a shower for the second shave, the first one I put a hot towel on my face several times in about 10 minutes. I used the same shave soap, hand made lemon grass from Hawaii.

The first shave I used urleebirds project razor. It's at least 150 years old and it is a wedge. Stropped it and shaved. The second razor was also from urleebird, but it was a 4/8 or 5/8 hollow ground. The wedge pulled at the hairs more than the hollow ground. Actually the hollow ground (sorry I can't make out the brand) didn't pull at all. I was able to take a longer stroke and do so with a greater amount of comfidence than the first shave.

I have always been a razor blade shaver. I started at 15 with a DE and moved through various other razors until I got a M3. Have had that for several years but thought that it was "lacking". Then I moved into a brush and soap. And finally back to a real blade, a straight.

Does anyone think that the wedge was just an inferior steel? From everything that I have heard urleebird is an awesome razor honer. I might have done something wrong when stropping, but I was careful and used a paddle strop, so that I wouldn't dull the edge somehow.

Please let me know what you think. I really like the wedge, but not the shave I got. I'll try it again when I get some pastes.

Thanks for the feedback,
Tim

I just spent a couple hours toning up the few shavers I have and noticed how stroppping can make a big difference. One razor which wouldn't cut the hanging hair and I simply decided to strop it a little more, suddenly was good to go. Give the stropping another chance with a minor adjustment (lighter touch maybe) and see what happens. Small changes seem to produce dramatic differences SOMETIMES.

X

Congradulations on a great shave BTW.

The steel in the wedge should be just fine. Try 35-50 laps on the strop.

If it still does not suit you then use the abrasive pastes.

Thanks.

Tim

I just spotted this... That particular blade won't make your regular rotation. I thought I explained that in the description of the set. If you can''t get it to go, just pack the blade only, send it back to me, and I'll work on it some more for you. Part of the reason is because that wedge had reached the stage where it probably would have been replaced by the user because it was near the end of a useful life. It's also why razors changed their dynamics from wedge to hollow ground. I just didn't want to mess too much with the original.

Tim,

Let me just add that I think wedges in general are harder to hone. I have a W&B wedge that I worked on for a long while couldn't get it shave ready. I sent it to Lynn and it took him a bit to get it shaveable. Now of course it is my favorite. The hairs just jump off my face when they see it coming. But let me tell you it took a while.

Bill,

I know that the wedge was at the end of it's useful life. I was just excited to give it a try. Having never used a straight before it was not an unpleasant experiance. It just pulled more than everything that I had been reading on the various forums. The other razor shaved so well that I wish I could read the tang. I was able to take 2-3 inch strokes without a problem.

Thanks for the awesome set of scales. I just wish that I had a better way to display them. The wood really does have a lot of depth and a lot of "hidden" tones that draw you into them.

When I get a little more cash I will be giving you another call for a razor.

Thanks again everyone. I'm just trying to learn as I go.

Tim

Tim...

Just want you happy with the set. I will be happy to work on it some more if needed...

Bill,
Thanks. I am very happy with the razors.

The second shave with the hollow ground blade was much better than the previous shaves that I have gotten. After years of shaving with a M3 I think that this (straight shaving) will be very enjoyable.

Thanks again everyone.

Tim