I owe Lynn a apology.

About a month ago I recieved my first straight razor, a 5/8 Dovo Best from Vintage Blades. The razor was honed by Lynn himself.

On my first couple of shaves this razor was not shave ready! It left wiskers, tugged, and gave me alot of irritation. I was thinking that Lynn gave me a poorly honed razor.

Funny thing, as my skill level got better the razor seemed to get sharper. In fact, I now get BBS shaves with it with almost no irritation. I still nick myself regulerly but I am getting better.

The moral of the story for all us noobs is that as long as we are using qualit equipment the problems we are having are likely our lack of skill and not the products.

Lynn, please forgive my ignorance. I'll never doubt you again.

Therein lies the reason for taking the razors actual shave readiness out of the equation by having it honed right first time. That way you know it isn't the blade that is at fault.
We all make mistakes mate. We just have to man up and apologise, as you have done, then move on.


Mick

A noble thing to do, indeed.
Mistakes and missjudgements are all part of any learning process.
The good thing is that you are getting the good shaves you wanted.
Now, Keep Buggering On!

I just subscribed to this thread, just so I can link it for people to read when they are having trouble....

Thanks !!!

thats a good post and it brings up a very important point for those who sell honed shave ready razors to first time users , ya just know there gonna blame the razor every time if things dont go perfectly ..hehe ! only natural I spose but it does make it frustrating when it happens no doubt . I would think if Lynn cant get it right who can .... way to go on the appology my hat off to you sir .

It's normal reaction. Most guys who pick up a straight razor for the first time, can't use it correctly, angle is usually to blame..As the other's said, it takes a man to apologize...
good 4 you....

Danricgro,

By doing what you have done in your post, i think it's safe to say that a gesture like THAT (making apologies) is a deed of a true gentleman!!
My respect to you, Sir!!

Regards,

RazorBack

Thank you!!

I think expectations sometimes outweigh the fact that we all have to start from the beginning when are learning something new.

The main thing is to learn straight razor shaving correctly and enjoy it forever.

You guys may not know this, but years ago and way before I had a shop, I begged the big shops to sell honed razors to people. The thought was that it is hard enough to learn to shave without having to learn to hone or wait to have your razor honed. This forum will always be dedicated to your success. It truly is the spirit of this house. Your post makes it all worthwhile.

This was very kind of you and I do hope that some of the new people coming into our world will learn from you.

All the best,

Lynn

Kudos for this post. The learning curve hasn't been that easy for me - especially honing. Every time I think I get it, I learn I'm clueless. That's hard. You're right though - we need skills. I only wish I could shave more often than once/day so I could accelerate the learning. The quality and pleasure of the shaves keep me at it. As I've said - Perseverance or Stupidity: they both work (being too dumb to know when to quit).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danricgro

About a month ago I recieved my first straight razor, a 5/8 Dovo Best from Vintage Blades. The razor was honed by Lynn himself.

On my first couple of shaves this razor was not shave ready! It left wiskers, tugged, and gave me alot of irritation. I was thinking that Lynn gave me a poorly honed razor.

Funny thing, as my skill level got better the razor seemed to get sharper. In fact, I now get BBS shaves with it with almost no irritation. I still nick myself regulerly but I am getting better.

The moral of the story for all us noobs is that as long as we are using qualit equipment the problems we are having are likely our lack of skill and not the products.

Lynn, please forgive my ignorance. I'll never doubt you again.

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I had a similar experience but I did think it was the way the razor was attached to the ground. What got me it shaved so easy the first three or four shaves then the trouble began. I tried another new shave ready razor and it was worse then the previous. As time went on they both started shaving smoother.

Just curious, could you name the specific changes you started to take in your shaving techinique that improved the quality of the shave?

i.e. getting familiar with your face. Blade angle. Adjusting blade angle for different parts of your face. Stropping. Pre shave prep. etc.

Usually people get better shaves with a progression in all of these area's. But I've found in all the reading I've been doing, that usually it's one area that had a huge effect on a person's shave.

I was just curious if you could name your one area and what you started doing differently.

Danricgro,

Your's is a nice gesture; good going. One of my toss off comments is that it is the mark of a true craftsman to know when to blame the tools. Actually, it's usually the guy in the mirror who erred, but blaming the inanimate devices used is one way to try to take some weight off those shiny shoulders.

Thanks from those of us who have gone through it too.

:beer2:

I think stropping was the issue in my learning curve. I had no confidence in my technique. The actual shaving went smoothly. Problem was I didn't know if it were the stropping, blade andle, the razor, my prep, and on and on. Having aa fresh "shave ready" razor proved to me that it was something in my technique. I just kept trying things and nicking myself. It's just my experience I found the larger blade eassier to shave with again that was MY experience.I was trying everything but it was the fact that every razor seemed to tug and pull thaat pointed to my technique.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thorxes

Just curious, could you name the specific changes you started to take in your shaving techinique that improved the quality of the shave?

i.e. getting familiar with your face. Blade angle. Adjusting blade angle for different parts of your face. Stropping. Pre shave prep. etc.

Usually people get better shaves with a progression in all of these area's. But I've found in all the reading I've been doing, that usually it's one area that had a huge effect on a person's shave.

I was just curious if you could name your one area and what you started doing differently.

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Not sure exactly what changed. I came to straight shaving from DE shaving so prep is the same. I think things just gradually fell into place as far as blade angle and skin streching.

This may sound really stupid but I found it really awkward looking in the mirror with everything being backwards. It took me a while to get my bearings. Completely differant from cartridge and DE razors. Not sure why.

Now I just have to cut down on the blood. Got a nasty cut on my neck this morning and I don't know how I did it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danricgro

This may sound really stupid but I found it really awkward looking in the mirror with everything being backwards. It took me a while to get my bearings. Completely differant from cartridge and DE razors. Not sure why.

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Your brain can handle up and down in the mirror but it has a harder time with mirror image left and right visual cues. In order to get better at straight shaving in the mirror, your brain has to do a little re-wiring and this takes time. Learning to ride a bike has the same requirement. That's why you get better with practice!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShoreBird

I think stropping was the issue in my learning curve. I had no confidence in my technique. The actual shaving went smoothly. Problem was I didn't know if it were the stropping, blade andle, the razor, my prep, and on and on. Having aa fresh "shave ready" razor proved to me that it was something in my technique. I just kept trying things and nicking myself. It's just my experience I found the larger blade eassier to shave with again that was MY experience.I was trying everything but it was the fact that every razor seemed to tug and pull thaat pointed to my technique.

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I think I've heard stropping to be a huge issue for the majority of people.

I often see people tell about how they finally knew they had a shave ready razor once they adjusted something with their stropping. Whether they changed stropping above the waist, at the waist or maybe just amount of pressure, the shave "readiness" seems to come once you really get the hang of stropping.

Then they usually say what danricgro just said; "Now I just gotta worry about the Blood". lol Once you know you have a tool for the job, and you can maintain it, all that's left is being able to use it properly.

maybe we need shave ready strops???:fim:

Just occured to me. I also lowered my expectations, meaning I developed a more realistic set of goals for my daily shaves. Doing this took the pressure off of trying to be perfect and just let me enjoy the journey. In other words I think I relaxed and let it happen. Does any of this make sense?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danricgro

Just occured to me. I also lowered my expectations, meaning I developed a more realistic set of goals for my daily shaves. Doing this took the pressure off of trying to be perfect and just let me enjoy the journey. In other words I think I relaxed and let it happen. Does any of this make sense?

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Definitely.

I think this actually applies to every aspect of Straight Razor shaving. From the honing, to the prep, to the actual shaving. Even the nice burn of aftershave should be fun and bring you a sense of satisfaction.

I remember that things started falling into place once I did exactly what you describe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danricgro

The moral of the story for all us noobs is that as long as we are using qualit equipment the problems we are having are likely our lack of skill and not the products.

Lynn, please forgive my ignorance. I'll never doubt you again.

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Danricgro,

As others have said it's a sign of a true gentleman to apologize, and I applaud you for doing so.

I'm so glad I bought a shave-ready razor from Lynn when I started shaving with a straight 5 mos. ago. For the first time ever, yesterday I shaved with a vintage razor I cleaned & honed all by myself. Although it gave a respectable shave (better than I anticipated), it PALES in comparison to the shave I got this morning by one of my Lynn-honed razors.

I'm not saying this to "toot Lynn's horn" (although it deserves to be done), but to re-affirm what everyone else has been saying. It just plain makes sense to reduce the number of variables when learning to straight shave. In medicine, we talk about certain lab tests or procedures being a "gold standard". A professionally honed shave-ready razor is straight shaving's gold standard. It provides a benchmark by which one can accurately gauge his or her success.

Happy Shaving!

I give you props on starting this thread. I know I had a similiar one a few months back and I believe everyone of us that started off started off doubting the razor. It is only human to look to others for your mistakes and it is great to see someone that can admit it. Congratulations, and smooth shaves from here on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danricgro

Just occured to me. I also lowered my expectations, meaning I developed a more realistic set of goals for my daily shaves. Doing this took the pressure off of trying to be perfect and just let me enjoy the journey. In other words I think I relaxed and let it happen. Does any of this make sense?

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That's the ticket. Stay thirsty my friend

Very decent of a man to admit he is wrong in such an open forum...kudos. As a noob (not even having shaved with my str8 yet) I'm "palming" the strop 20 or so strokes at a time. I've also stropped the razor some bit...I'd say 40 strokes on the leather and none on the linen yet...wondering if I need paste or not???. I purchased the SRD 3" Red Latigo strop with matched webbing and Dovo 6/8 Best Quality blond razor as a set along with the video from SRD. After reading ALOT of the posts in here, I'm vastly more confident at Lynn's expertise in making my razor shave ready than I am in my ability to USE it well right out of the gate. Just hope I don't dink it up on the strop. However, this stright razor shaving experience reminds me of playing golf. A beginner can have the best equipment and coaching but expertise is only gained when perparation and perfect practice come together as one. I just hope I catch on to str8 razor shaving quicker and better than I have with golf...lol. :nj. Have a good day all. Rich

Remember also that Lynn (and I'm thinking other honemeisters as well) never return a honed razor they haven't shave tested themself. I know my razor from Lynn came with a note saying it had been honed, shave tested and sterilized.

That to me, would remove any doubt as to the shave readiness and put all the concern back to personal technique. I recall the first shave I ever did with a single edge Ever Ready 1912 razor. Horrible shave. How could this be with a brand new GEM surgical blade? Pure and simple, technique and blade angle. Not much different from a straight razor requirements.

bill