Hello All,
New here, and not sure where to start. Posting this here because it is mostly about me being new to SR shaving and looking for advice. I will try to make this as short as I can.
Got interested in trying a straight razor in the last month or 2. I got one from someone online who restores them. It was very nice and arrived shave-ready. No one else in my family or friends uses a straight, so I learned from youtube. My first shave was great, and I was hooked. Not saying that I did perfect, but it was very smooth and comfortable and I loved it.
So I fell in love with SR shaving after that first shave. Of course, like anyone new, I didn't really know what I getting into. Loved the shaving, but quickly learned that apparently I suck at actually taking care of a SR.
I have fairly sensitive skin but pretty coarse facial hair. After the 3rd shave with my new razor I could tell a difference in how it was shaving. I had purchased a strop, and used it. I did not have good technique, but believe I have largely corrected that now. I knew that my technique wasn't good when I bought a brand new razor and it was very sharp when I tested it, but after stropping it was significantly duller. I was able to improve my stropping and the blade improved.
So now I have 2 razors for my new hobby. But, I had dulled them both with improper care. Then I had the idea to buy an old, cheap razor off of ebay to practice honing. I got an 8k stone and a 12k stone, and lapping stone.
I should have realized that a $20 razor on ebay is probably going to come with more problems than an 8k stone and someone with no experience can fix. The razor has chips or a sawtooth edge. I tried honing it several times, but it was still quite a rough experience on my face.
I also made a mistake with my other stone (an ILR). I had heard about the idea of lapping, and that the stone need to be flat. Makes sense to me, so I put some light pencil marks on the ILR and starting lapping. I learned that the center was slightly bowed (pencil marks were gone on the ends but not the middle). I had put a good bit of effort into it at that point, and I went harder on the lapping, and used a slurry stone on it once. Well, the fact that it was wet seemed to hide the damage I had done. Once it dried it looked like this:
I had scratched the surface all up. I figured that can't be good, so I got myself some sandpaper and wet-sanded the surface, which took about 800 strokes progressing through 180, 220, and 400 grit. Now it looks like this:
I am assuming this is ok?
Now I have ordered a 2k stone and 5k stone, but they have not arrived yet.
I am using a cartridge razor this week to give my face a rest after some pretty harsh test shaves, but not giving up.
Happy to hear any advice you may have. I know that the problems with the razors were my doing. I have no problem at all with paying a professional to re-hone, but I am also someone that loves to learn how to do things and have a fair bit of patience. I was going to wait until my other stones arrive, and try again.
Anyway, this has been longer than I intended. Thanks for reading.
Jason
New here, and not sure where to start. Posting this here because it is mostly about me being new to SR shaving and looking for advice. I will try to make this as short as I can.
Got interested in trying a straight razor in the last month or 2. I got one from someone online who restores them. It was very nice and arrived shave-ready. No one else in my family or friends uses a straight, so I learned from youtube. My first shave was great, and I was hooked. Not saying that I did perfect, but it was very smooth and comfortable and I loved it.
So I fell in love with SR shaving after that first shave. Of course, like anyone new, I didn't really know what I getting into. Loved the shaving, but quickly learned that apparently I suck at actually taking care of a SR.
I have fairly sensitive skin but pretty coarse facial hair. After the 3rd shave with my new razor I could tell a difference in how it was shaving. I had purchased a strop, and used it. I did not have good technique, but believe I have largely corrected that now. I knew that my technique wasn't good when I bought a brand new razor and it was very sharp when I tested it, but after stropping it was significantly duller. I was able to improve my stropping and the blade improved.
So now I have 2 razors for my new hobby. But, I had dulled them both with improper care. Then I had the idea to buy an old, cheap razor off of ebay to practice honing. I got an 8k stone and a 12k stone, and lapping stone.
I should have realized that a $20 razor on ebay is probably going to come with more problems than an 8k stone and someone with no experience can fix. The razor has chips or a sawtooth edge. I tried honing it several times, but it was still quite a rough experience on my face.
I also made a mistake with my other stone (an ILR). I had heard about the idea of lapping, and that the stone need to be flat. Makes sense to me, so I put some light pencil marks on the ILR and starting lapping. I learned that the center was slightly bowed (pencil marks were gone on the ends but not the middle). I had put a good bit of effort into it at that point, and I went harder on the lapping, and used a slurry stone on it once. Well, the fact that it was wet seemed to hide the damage I had done. Once it dried it looked like this:
I had scratched the surface all up. I figured that can't be good, so I got myself some sandpaper and wet-sanded the surface, which took about 800 strokes progressing through 180, 220, and 400 grit. Now it looks like this:
I am assuming this is ok?
Now I have ordered a 2k stone and 5k stone, but they have not arrived yet.
I am using a cartridge razor this week to give my face a rest after some pretty harsh test shaves, but not giving up.
Happy to hear any advice you may have. I know that the problems with the razors were my doing. I have no problem at all with paying a professional to re-hone, but I am also someone that loves to learn how to do things and have a fair bit of patience. I was going to wait until my other stones arrive, and try again.
Anyway, this has been longer than I intended. Thanks for reading.
Jason
