I was about to give up...

[sanuginz]

After a month or so I of straight shaves I couldn't seem to get as close as my DE. The cuts to my face weren't worth it. But then I got my first smooth shave. I re-read Chris Moss PDF on ShaveMyFace. Thanks for teaching a proper XTG pass.
My thoughts now are: the str8 is fun as all get out to use. A 2 pass WTG, XTG is sufficient. A DE shave will be kept around for those times when I need a quicky 2 pass WTG, ATG. Or just when my face needs to heal a bit.
Next step is hones. I was going for a swaty, but the price is not justified. Any alternatives, besides a paste?

 

[JerimiahC]

Thanks for posting! I'm at the two week marker now. Have been getting ok shaves, not great, but good, but I like hearing the after stories that turn out good.

Except for one patch on my neck that I should have touched up, my shave yesterday was the best yet. still not as good as a DE, I use a slant with the Red Persona blades, but the straight is getting there. What's really keeping me going is the fact that most guys I've talked with wouldn't even want to try. It gives me a sense of accomplishment.

 

[Bertilak]

A DE shave will be kept around for those times when I need a quicky 2 pass WTG, ATG. Or just when my face needs to heal a bit.
Next step is hones. I was going for a swaty, but the price is not justified. Any alternatives, besides a paste?

Keep an eye out for an eBay Swaty -- shouldn't be very expensive. Trouble is, you will need to lap it and they are super hard and could ruin a lapping hone, which will probably have cost at least twice as much as the Swaty. I speak from experience. I suggest you read up on lapping with sandpaper, or the like.

A CrO2 0.5 micron paste on either a dedicated strop or the backside of a strop will work pretty well for keeping a shave-ready razor in shape. Unless, as is likely, your newbie habits for stropping mess up the edge.

Once you have reached a certain skill level the straight should be no rougher on your face then your DE. Again, this is from experience as I have only recently reached that stage.

What's really keeping me going is the fact that most guys I've talked with wouldn't even want to try. It gives me a sense of accomplishment.

That's the spirit! Mastering a difficult skill is quite satisfying.

 

[sanuginz]

Thanks for posting! I'm at the two week marker now. Have been getting ok shaves, not great, but good, but I like hearing the after stories that turn out good.

Keep at it. Practice. Practice. Patience... After a year or so it'll all be worth it for both of us!!

Keep an eye out for an eBay Swaty -- shouldn't be very expensive.

A CrO2 0.5 micron paste on either a dedicated strop or the backside of a strop will work pretty well for keeping a shave-ready razor in shape. Unless, as is likely, your newbie habits for stropping mess up the edge.

I'm looking at a swaty over $41 with 2 days left to bid. Seems expensive.

I'll probably end up using paste on the back of my strop for now. I just don't have the razor collection to justify buying a bunch of stones right now.

 

[leighton]

I recommend pastes. Its the same motion as regular stropping. Honing is a whole different game. Plus it takes a long time to master. I've been honing my own razors for 7 years and I still have more to learn.

Btw, I have a two sided panama stone thats lapped. I don't use it, it just kind of sits on my window sill with a D6E & D6F (which I also don't use). If you really want to go the barber's hone route, shoot me a pm and I'll hook you up.

 

[sanuginz]

If you really want to go the barber's hone route, shoot me a pm and I'll hook you up.

PM sent