First Shave with a "Real" Straight

Evening Gents

I had my first shave with a real straight this evening,and would value some feedback from your good selves.

I have been using a shavette type razor for the past week just to get accustomed to using an open blade razor. I ordered a lowcost Rockwell Solingen to practise honing and it arrived this morning. Of course it was not shave ready, so I spent some time preparing it for my first shave. After honing and then stropping I was easily able to shave the hair on my forearm, so I decided "to give it a go"

Good points.....the heavier razor with the wider blade was easier to handle, and that gave me a lot of confidence. The round point was much more forgiving than the sharp corner of a DE blade so I was able to shave the upper lip area round my nose with no consequences.

I was able to achieve a reasonable shave...however it was obviously not as sharp as the Shavette. I was dragging the hairs before they cut. I had no irritation afterwards......just a "not terribly close" shave.

As I am new to this....I have nothing to compare with. From my description would anyone care to hazzard a quess as to how close I may be to the "perfect shave" I do not want to overhone.

Best Regards
Brian

Hello Mr Medic,

Welcome to the board and to the wonderful and sometimes frustrating world of straight razor shaving.

Point the first: I will go out on a limb and say you are nowhere near a perfect shave. Sorry. Most of us here have been doing this for years and still are questing for the perfect shave. For now, try for the perfect shaving experience.

Point the second: I encourage you to read everything in these forums- or at least as much as you stomach.

Point the third: We all start at the begining and none of us become experts over night. Both shaving and honing take practice even when you have been shown the proper techniques and 'rules'.

Ultimately, to know is to do. And many times to do is to do over... and over. So ask, listen, practice, and never give up.

Oh, and get another razor. Sorry. That's just the way it is.

regards &c
LG Roy

Yeah, sorry Brian, that's one of those dudd razors which'll likely never get good enough to actually enjoy. Good that you can get used to handling a razor though. That's got to be of some benefit. If you don't win one of the giveaways (if you can wait that long) get yourself another. A Wade & Butcher or Henckells or something else of quality and hone that one to shave with. Ask around here if you're looking at one and wonder if it'll do ... yada, yada. Way to be bold though.

X

Thanks for the advice.
I don't expect to get perfect overnight...just looking tips and anything that helps me come to grips with this rather Black Art.

As far as the razor is concerned....... I also have a nice (to me) Dovo Special Tortoise 5/8 which I don't want to touch until I can get something resembling an edge on the Rockwell!

Regards
Brian

Brian,

Also check out www.billysblades.com This is Bill Ellis's site
who is known a urleebird on this forum.

I have ordered 3 vintage razors from him and was extremly
satisfied with all of them. They are reasonably priced and
SHAVE READY!! :D . Now it don't get any better than this.

Do enter the drawing if you haven't already and I wish you
luck.

The Dovo Special is a very good razor, I have a 6/8, though
it has the black scales, the tortise scales are way prettier.


Terry

I am sorry to say this but you will never get a decent edge on that Rockwell razor and most likely whatever edge you do get will not last the entire shave. The steel in those razors is very poor. Many of us have tried these. Before you buy another razor send one of us a PM and ask our opinion.

The general rule is that the razor must be made in England, Sweden, Germany, Spain or the USA to have good steel.
What you look for is a "stamping" (not etching) on the shank of the razor (not the face of the blade) of any of the following words. Solingen, Germany, Sheffield, England,Spain,Eskiltuna, Sweden, or somewhere in the USA.

Many of the poorly made new razors are made in Pakistan or China. Frequently they do not put their country of origin on the razor. I have a box full of these POS razors. Some I bought and some were given to me. Most are not ground correctlly so they do not lay flat on the hone. I have tried to hone enough of these to know that the best you get is a razor with a coarse edge that does not last. About the only thing they are good for is honing practice.

Hope this helps,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by madmedic

Thanks for the advice.
I don't expect to get perfect overnight...just looking tips and anything that helps me come to grips with this rather Black Art.

As far as the razor is concerned....... I also have a nice (to me) Dovo Special Tortoise 5/8 which I don't want to touch until I can get something resembling an edge on the Rockwell!

Regards
Brian

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Not to beat a dead horse here but your razor will probably better serve you as a box cutter than a shaving razor. I wouldn't waste my time unless you just want to use it to experiment with for honing practice to help develop the right strokes and moves. The only problem is you probably will never get it sharp enough to pass any tests.

Back to what you have. I also have the 5/8 Dovo with the Tortoise scales. It is one great razor. I also have a 6/8 Dovo hone scales. I love it too. I won't reiterate every-ones comments on Paki steel.:D

I'd illustrate the point with a photo of my scars but I still have to collect my camera from my mom. I guess she didn't wanna bring her Sony into the south american jungles and keep it around pilots, guides and prospectors for 2 months.

Many Thanks for all your advice. I have been in touch with Bill and purchased this one:

http://www.billysblades.com/Coll.Razors/1684.htm.

When yet another razor arrives....my wife may find a use for the Rockwell :eek:

Regards
Brian

That's a sweet one, in good shape. I have nothing but positive things to say about any dealings with Bill, either. Ya done good, homey.

Brian,

Congratulations, I have no doubt that you will be satisfied
with your selection. But any razor that Bill puts on his site
is a great razor.

Please let us know how your first shave goes with a shave
ready razor. You will be amazed at the difference between
the Fulton and the Rockwell.


Terry

Brian,

Great choice. Enjoy your purchase. Keep us updated.:cool:

I have just started straight razor shaving and I have an antique Wade and Bucher blade that I've gotten really sharp. When I try to shave though, I don't seem to get any hair off. I use williams shave soap and a brush to put on the lather and I let it soak in for a couple minutes, strop the razor and reapply lather before I shave like I've read. I try to stretch the skin though I find it difficlt with the slippery rather. I just can't seem to shave any hair off when I try to shave. Any pointers on what I might be doing

Firdt of all welcome to the forum.

It sound like you are following proper procedure.
As far as Wiliams soap goes, it's good stuff and
in my rotation. Now I'm definately not the most
qualified member having started myself only 3
months ago and despite the title honemeister,
I've never honed a razor. But my guess is that
while sharp the razor is not shave ready.

Perhaps you can put out an appeal to one
of the real honemeisters on the forum for
assistance.


Terry

If your razor doesn't pass the Hanging Hair Test (in the Help Files) then it won't shave well. Ultimately we will need more information to help you properly.

What state was the razor in when you got it?
What are you using as a hone or hones?
How many passes are you doing on them, pyramid?
Wwhat kind of pressure are you using?
What kind of beard prep are you doing?
Have you read the Permanent Archives in the Help Files?
What kind of strop do you have?
Is there anything else you can tell us?

X

forget about honing or prepareing your razor for now...send your dovo to lynn to hone along with any other razors you have...it will stay sharp for 2-3 months during this time hopefully you will learn to strop prep your face and learn to shave...after you can strop and maintain the edge and shave without bleeding to death and still get a smooth shave you are ready to move on...this can be a very satisfying or frustrating experience...its all how you approach it!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by filmecyan

I have just started straight razor shaving and I have an antique Wade and Bucher blade that I've gotten really sharp. When I try to shave though, I don't seem to get any hair off. I use williams shave soap and a brush to put on the lather and I let it soak in for a couple minutes, strop the razor and reapply lather before I shave like I've read. I try to stretch the skin though I find it difficlt with the slippery rather. I just can't seem to shave any hair off when I try to shave. Any pointers on what I might be doing

---

I can guarantee you your razor isn't sharp enough. I had one that I thought was shave ready but it was not at all.

Well....after a long delay....I finally managed to get to use Bill's Razor. 30 passes on my strop....and I had a great shave with absolutely no nicks! Many thanks to Bill for doing all the hard work. It's all downhill from now....until I learn to hone properly!


Best Regards
Brian:D