Thread: some kind of milestone

i'm the type to jump headfirst into a hobby/activity and didn't hold back on this one. i ignored all the advice about learning to shave first with a honemeister's work, though i did eventually and sooner rather than later have a couple of razors honed by Dylan around turkey day. i acquired the norton combo, dylan's old 220/1k king, a phig, and through shooter, dylan's old coticule.

i also kept on buying razors off ebay but was careful enough and lucky enough not to get burned on any of them.

I honed a couple of my purchases to varying degrees of success. the best edge came on a worcester co. razor. had difficulty with a wostenholm which i rescaled. the other day at lunch at work i thoughtfully read as much honing advice as i could in a half hour and came home and sort of randomly grabbed a razor and went to work. then i stropped 60 on linen and 100 on leather and shaved. nice. then i looked at the razor and it was a bengall.

tried it again last night with a joseph rodgers Hamburg Ring which i have been reluctant to touch because it is in excellent shape. 20 circles till sharp followed by a bunch of heel leading strokes on the 1k till it cut arm hair, then followed the pyramid starting at 25 laps, then i worked up a bit of slurry using the coticule rubber on the 12k and polished, diluting twice to clear and then very lightly till the stone was dry. same stropping, 48 hours stubble, nice nice shave. two passes, though i felt and heard nothing on the second pass. rinse, rub with cold water on the alum block, rinse again and then 4711.

no pink lather, no runs, no nicks, no drips. what a feeling to have had some mastery of this arcane skill.

Nice job. Sounds like it all clicked right away.

Originally Posted by Noisykids

what a feeling to have had some mastery of this arcane skill.

I agree. Gaining some skill with a straight is part of the enjoyment for me. And I get to do it everyday!

...Ray