gettin' closer to gettin' closer

[jiminyshiznit]

Well, about 18 months since my first DE, and only a few weeks after trying and loving my first SE, I impulse bought a straight from the BST (thanks again, Noah). No strop yet, and haven't read nearly enough or watched enough tutorials, but I have been getting a feel for holding it and admiring it.. and fearing it a little, too. I think I'm already hooked, even though it has only cut a single arm hair so far. I'm in no rush, and have lots more homework to do, but I am super excited and wanted to say hello to this side of B&B, and introduce y'all to my new little friend..

 

[pmaster]

Don't forget you can strop on newspaper until you get a leather strop. I did for a week and it didn't seem to hurt (not sure it actually made a difference? lol).

 

[Seraphim]

My stropping vids.

 

[Nxspam]

Whoa Seraphim! You're getting pretty close to that left hand in the first vid man!

 

[Nxspam]

Seraphim, in the last video, the Beathoveen music, were you inspired by clockwork orange?

 

[jiminyshiznit]

Thanks! The razorcam is awesome! What is the strop you're using in those first few vids? Not that I'll get something that nice right now, but that thing is sweet.

My stropping vids.

 

[Seraphim]

Seraphim, in the last video, the Beathoveen music, were you inspired by clockwork orange?

True!

I was initially introduced to Ol' Ludwig Von's 9th by Clockwork Orange.

 

[global_dev]

View attachment 313881

that right side image is just about my favorite profile

 

[Wid]

I'll bet that razor can take one wicked edge.

 

[noahpictures]

Here is the lapping film thread. Don't throw away the used film sheets. They are great for removing scratches and marks from the scales and the blade.

This is my usual honing progression:

Tape spine with 3M Super 88
12 micron: set bevel. Stay on 12 µ until the blade can easily shave arm hair
6 micron: 60 laps
3 micron: 60 laps
1 micron: 60 laps
1 micron with paper underneath: 30 laps
Take tape off spine. Remove tape glue using nail polish remover.
Leather strop: 50 laps.

Slash McCoy's honing on lapping film videos are also very helpful.

 

[Nxspam]

True!

I was initially introduced to Ol' Ludwig Von's 9th by Clockwork Orange.

Do you remember the name of a straight razor in Alex's language ?? (its really cool - should've used it as my login for B&B ! Damn.)

 

[Nxspam]

Do you remember the name of a straight razor in Alex's language ?? (its really cool - should've used it as my login for B&B ! Damn.)

You know what, I think you should make a clock work orange inspired razor and use that name
(when you remember what it is or find it on the net, he he

 

[wherndon]

Britva, it's Russian for razor.

 

[Nxspam]

Britva, it's Russian for razor.

Bingo!

 

[jiminyshiznit]

That thread is epic! Thanks again.. glad I didn't buy a hone yet, which I almost did. It's been said a million times, but this place is awesome.. if it weren't for a community of folks like this, I'd still be shaving with the Wahl clippers. Yikes! I can't believe I did that for so long, but that's when I thought of shaving as a chore.. now I'm bummed if I have to miss a day. Thanks to all y'all.

Here is the lapping film thread. Don't throw away the used film sheets. They are great for removing scratches and marks from the scales and the blade.

This is my usual honing progression:

Tape spine with 3M Super 88
12 micron: set bevel. Stay on 12 µ until the blade can easily shave arm hair
6 micron: 60 laps
3 micron: 60 laps
1 micron: 60 laps
1 micron with paper underneath: 30 laps
Take tape off spine. Remove tape glue using nail polish remover.
Leather strop: 50 laps.

Slash McCoy's honing on lapping film videos are also very helpful.

 

[jiminyshiznit]

Sweet mother of pearl, I friggin' did it! I decided to take Noah's advice and just jump right in... even though I felt like I should continue reading and watch more than just the one geofatboy vid, I knew I was starting to psych myself out too much.

Noah, the "swift" bit was top of mind, 'cuz it made sense real quick. The first time I touched it to my face, my whiskers stopped the blade in its tracks.. next few tries, same thing. I felt like I should just reach for a DE, but I finally took a deep breath and pretended like I knew what I was doing.. bingo. It took about 45 minutes or maybe more, but I shaved my whole face and neck as clean as any shave I've ever had, with ZERO nicks.. not the slightest hint of blood. I also didn't want it to end, so I made a second pass.. a few areas were tricky to figure out, so I ended up going over them a bunch of different ways. A little irritation in those spots, but surprisingly little.. if I'd have gone over those spots that many times with my R41, I'd be raw. Continuing with the nostalgia that I was feelin', I reached for the Floid Blue.. my face feels like a million bucks!

The one thing that surprised me more than anything, was that I used my left hand as well as the right. I'm not an ambidextrous dude, so that was bizarre.. when I got to that side of my face, there was simply no other option than to switch hands.. I couldn't figure out how to do it with the right hand. I went suuuuper slow, but damn y'all.. that was awesome! I'm gonna stick to slow for awhile, I think, and just do the straight thing when I have the time... scored a sweet deal on a strop of the bst today, and I can't wait to get that, so I can go again. I guess I can do the newspaper thing, but we'll see. This was definitely the best shaving experience of my life, and easily as smooth a shave as I've ever had.

Oh, and a couple more things, Noah.. glad you didn't dull the tip, because it kept me very aware of where the whole blade was, not just the part that was cuttin'. Also glad you talked me into my first straight being a "singing" type blade.. that feedback really helped me keep a light touch. Thanks again, man.. love this thing.

 

[noahpictures]

Man you just made my day. My first shaves also took me 45 or more the only difference is you did better than me with zero nicks! Yes to using both hands equally when shaving. The spike point does make things more exciting.

I recommend watching Chimensch's video in the sticky HERE. It's probably the best video I've seen. I know I learn something new every time I watch it.

Thanks against for posting and sharing your experience.

 

[jiminyshiznit]

Wow.. OK, that's the goal, right there (the Chimensch vid).

It's funny, every time I've gone back a notch in shaving technology, both the experience and the shaves are better. Marketing "convenience" to folks should be illegal, damn it! Progress is a peculiar concept.. seems innocent enough, but it's loaded with some dark alleys. 100 years of progress in the shaving world is pretty gross when you step back and look at it all at once. I'm glad to be able to do some time traveling, and shave with a 1911 straight one day and a 2011 R41 the next, but both of those require some digging to even realize their existence. The stuff that's readily available to the masses is actually getting harder and harder to understand. It's like if McDonalds was the only food you could easily go get right this minute, and you had to find a little-known, niche mail-order channel to get a fresh vegetable.. anyway.. obviously last night's shave was a soulful one! Now I'm trippin' on how easily "first straight" came outta my fingers in the last post. I gotta freeze my credit card!

 

[noahpictures]

^^Well said!