First ever successful straight shave!

[Bird-Man]

Thanks to Jose (Ambrose), who did a marvelous job honing my straight inherited from my Grandfather, I had my first ever full, successful straight shave! Although I must say that the ATG was a bit rough I managed to get a decent shave with only 2 minor nicks.

Looking forward to getting more proficient with my Perfecto Velvet Wedge.

Two questions:
1. How important is the strop? I've got an old strop made in Moravia, Iowa, also inherited from my Grandpa, that I used. It's a bit worn and stiff. So, should I invest in a new strop? I did take a pumice stone and shaving lather to it a while ago which seemed to help smooth it out and get rid of the nicks that were in it from my Grandpa.

2. Any suggestions on the ATG?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Wid]

Nice to see another Illinoisan on board. If you could post a pic of the strop the ones in the know will be able to give you some advise if it is usable or not.

Jose puts one heck of an edge on a razor, that's for sure.

I don't have any advice on ATG other than watch your angle and take your time. I find going ATG to be very easy. I have a harder time with XTG than ATG.

 

[Bird-Man]

I find going ATG to be very easy. I have a harder time with XTG than ATG.

Really? I mostly get a scraping on my whiskers when I go ATG. I assume my angle is to blame here. XTG wasn't that hard for me. I'll have to keep experimenting.

I'll try to get a picture of the strop posted here sometime soon.

 

[Wid]

I know, it seems strange but it's true.

 

[Defend Tacoma]

WOW! Great job on your first time out. It is especially cool that you get to use a family heirloom razor!

I didn't try atg till i was about 40 shaves in, as any attempt to do it would stop the razor in it's tracks and make it want to "bite". I've only tried atg a couple of times, so take this with a grain of salt, but try closing up the angle of the blade a bit, keep the spine closer to your skin than when you are going wtg.

No need to be a hero and go atg right away. My advice would be to wait on it a bit till your skills are honed a bit more!

 

[Bird-Man]

I guess I was just too anxious to shave with my newly honed straight.

 

[Luc]

Excellent!!

1. You would probably need to sand any nicks or cracks in the strop, use a high grit sandpaper. I did a thread on how to restore a strop: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=163703

You might just need leather conditioner and skip the soap.

2. Take it slow ATG. I use my right hand on my left side and left hand on right side to go ATG. It's easier for me that way.

 

[RF1963]

so take this with a grain of salt, but try closing up the angle of the blade a bit, keep the spine closer to your skin than when you are going wtg. :

Just the advice I was about to give. When I go ATG the blade is almost flat to my face.

 

[sanfranciscian]

[Originally Posted by Defend Tacoma
so take this with a grain of salt, but try closing up the angle of the blade a bit, keep the spine closer to your skin than when you are going wtg. :
Just the advice I was about to give. When I go ATG the blade is almost flat to my face.
__________________
I fear no woman: except my wife, her sister and their mother!
A Friend of Laphroaig, A Guardian of The Glenlivet and possessed of a keen appreciation for all Single Malt Whiskies.
/QUOTE]

I will third that advice, flattening out the angle was the key to unlocking the ATG for me. I do admire your trying it at this early stage, i was a good 30 shaves in before i worked up the nerve.

Ian

 

[natchez]

Excellent!!

1. You would probably need to sand any nicks or cracks in the strop, use a high grit sandpaper. I did a thread on how to restore a strop: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=163703

You might just need leather conditioner and skip the soap.

2. Take it slow ATG. I use my right hand on my left side and left hand on right side to go ATG. It's easier for me that way.

The strop restore instructions are really good! Working with leather can be lots of fun. If your strop is bent or cupped, wet it, and press it under some books to flatten it and then proceed with the restore.

 

[LarryAndro]

The WTG pass sets up your shave. You should repeat WTG, if necessary, until your face is BBS when running your hand over your face in the WTG direction.

In your shave, at no time should the razor ever, ever dig into the whiskers. If so, the razor will dig in, and ride down on the hair follicles, and you will get razor burn when too much protective skin is removed.

On subsequent to WTG passes, in my opinion, the blade should skip over the top of your beard like skimming rocks on water. If it doesn't, then you advanced too rapidly towards ATG. And, you should back off, shave with an angle a little closer to the original WTG pass.

Personally, I often shave WTG, WTG + 45 degrees, then straight to ATG. There isn't really a formula for YOU. You just advance in pass angles as fast as is comfortable, maintaining the "blade skipping" and not "blade digging" behavior.

 

[professorchaos]

Congratulations!

 

[Defend Tacoma]

Great post, Larry! Thank you for this fine bit of info!

The WTG pass sets up your shave. You should repeat WTG, if necessary, until your face is BBS when running your hand over your face in the WTG direction.

In your shave, at no time should the razor ever, ever dig into the whiskers. If so, the razor will dig in, and ride down on the hair follicles, and you will get razor burn when too much protective skin is removed.

On subsequent to WTG passes, in my opinion, the blade should skip over the top of your beard like skimming rocks on water. If it doesn't, then you advanced too rapidly towards ATG. And, you should back off, shave with an angle a little closer to the original WTG pass.

Personally, I often shave WTG, WTG + 45 degrees, then straight to ATG. There isn't really a formula for YOU. You just advance in pass angles as fast as is comfortable, maintaining the "blade skipping" and not "blade digging" behavior.

 

[Bird-Man]

Thanks for all the advice, fellows. Right now, I'm just doing WTG, and XTG and then calling it quits there. I figure once I get that down I can move on on to ATG.

 

[ouch]

The first time I went to a driving range, I hit the 225 yard sign on the nose with my very first golf ball. Never came close again.

My first straight shave was also successful, but it took quite some time to duplicate the results. Keep at it, and don't get discouraged if you take a step backwards.

 

[Alacrity59]

Thanks for all the advice, fellows. Right now, I'm just doing WTG, and XTG and then calling it quits there. I figure once I get that down I can move on on to ATG.

Congratulations. Ultimately we all progress at our own rate and being comfortable with the process is very important. Hesitation with a straight razor is, in my experience, not a good thing.

 

[instpasr]

I'm about 14 shaves into my straight experience albeit I'm using a feather but I dare say the technique is the same. I'd say I'm just getting comfortable with the entire experience, oddly enough my ATG pass is my best. As they say YMMV.

 

[Wid]

I'm about 14 shaves into my straight experience albeit I'm using a feather but I dare say the technique is the same. I'd say I'm just getting comfortable with the entire experience, oddly enough my ATG pass is my best. As they say YMMV.

I thought I was alone with the ATG being my best pass.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

Thanks for all the advice, fellows. Right now, I'm just doing WTG, and XTG and then calling it quits there. I figure once I get that down I can move on on to ATG.

Good idea and congrats!