Hi all, just another newbie diary here. I'll try and document the successes and failures and hopefully it'll be useful to some folks in the future!
Background
I'm based in the UK, so hopefully there will be some other useful tips for anyone trying to source stuff over here.
Motivation
I'm getting started for lots of reasons. Firstly, I'm fed up with the amount of waste, both plastic and other, from cartridge or even worse disposable razors. Secondly, with enough practice, I'm hoping for that perfect super-close shave. Thirdly, I think of it as a nice ritual, to take time and pamper my face. Finally, I just think it's cool to connect with an art that's been practised by generations of men before me!
My first SR
I've been able to try out a shave-ready SR before buying my own, so I've experienced what that's like. It also helped inform me about what I'm looking for in a razor. So recently I took the plunge and treated myself to a Ralf Aust 5/8", Spanish point, stainless blade, jimping on the top and bottom of the tang, and Olivewood scales. Really easy purchase through Ralf's site, with a great tool to customise the razor exactly how you'd like it, and it was posted within a day. Although, it then took a couple of weeks to make the short journey across the water from Germany to the UK.
When the razor arrived my first impressions are that it's a beauty. Looks great and feels great in the hand. It was exactly what I wanted. I was initially a bit unsure about the blade alignment in the scales (see another thread on here) but you guys convinced me it was nothing to worry about for now. I would say, as a potential warning to other newbies, that it definitely did not arrive shave ready. I was a bit surprised as others have reported that theirs had arrived sharp. Mine only barely shaves my arm hair and is a totally different experience to the SR I'd tried before. Needless to say I only managed one cheek before deciding to get this thing honed!
Honing
So this is where I am now. Rather than send it away for its first hone, I figured I'd take the plunge now. I've got to learn sooner or later, right! I decided to go down the lapping film route and have been preparing all the gear. I also put together balsa strops for finishing. I read all the great threads on The Method and watched Slash's videos so I think I'm ready to give this a go. I'll post up details of what I bought and how I prepared it all, assuming I can get a nice edge out of it!
Background
I'm based in the UK, so hopefully there will be some other useful tips for anyone trying to source stuff over here.
Motivation
I'm getting started for lots of reasons. Firstly, I'm fed up with the amount of waste, both plastic and other, from cartridge or even worse disposable razors. Secondly, with enough practice, I'm hoping for that perfect super-close shave. Thirdly, I think of it as a nice ritual, to take time and pamper my face. Finally, I just think it's cool to connect with an art that's been practised by generations of men before me!
My first SR
I've been able to try out a shave-ready SR before buying my own, so I've experienced what that's like. It also helped inform me about what I'm looking for in a razor. So recently I took the plunge and treated myself to a Ralf Aust 5/8", Spanish point, stainless blade, jimping on the top and bottom of the tang, and Olivewood scales. Really easy purchase through Ralf's site, with a great tool to customise the razor exactly how you'd like it, and it was posted within a day. Although, it then took a couple of weeks to make the short journey across the water from Germany to the UK.
When the razor arrived my first impressions are that it's a beauty. Looks great and feels great in the hand. It was exactly what I wanted. I was initially a bit unsure about the blade alignment in the scales (see another thread on here) but you guys convinced me it was nothing to worry about for now. I would say, as a potential warning to other newbies, that it definitely did not arrive shave ready. I was a bit surprised as others have reported that theirs had arrived sharp. Mine only barely shaves my arm hair and is a totally different experience to the SR I'd tried before. Needless to say I only managed one cheek before deciding to get this thing honed!
Honing
So this is where I am now. Rather than send it away for its first hone, I figured I'd take the plunge now. I've got to learn sooner or later, right! I decided to go down the lapping film route and have been preparing all the gear. I also put together balsa strops for finishing. I read all the great threads on The Method and watched Slash's videos so I think I'm ready to give this a go. I'll post up details of what I bought and how I prepared it all, assuming I can get a nice edge out of it!