Passing it on to my sons

[sandhillmac]

I have shaved straight for a while and my teenage sons enjoy knives and my razors and I was wondering how to help them into the wonderful realm of "Great Shaving" I had them switch to a brush and shave soap to get better lather but not sure when or if I should encourage a young man with pimples to go straight? Anybody have thoughts? Should I encourage them to go D-E first then with what they want when more experienced? They are using multi blade wondrs now.
I have a Gillette D E that I have never used that seems to be adjustable, is it a decent razor to let them use?
Do I need to use it to help them learn?(don't really want to leave my str8ts though) Any thoughts or experience here? I would like some.

 

[Samjax]

I got my son started a few months back with DEs...he absolutely loves it and is starting to accumulate a few extra choice shaving items.

 

[Agravic]

I got my son started a few months back with DEs...he absolutely loves it and is starting a accumulate a few extra choice shaving items.

I look forward to doing the same with my boys when they come of age.

 

[airmech]

I got my youngest(21) into wet shaving with a DE last year and he loves it. My oldest (24) thinks we are silly. My advice is to give them the advantages to TWS and the encourage them. DO NOT force them, let them learn the enjoyment of it.

Tom

 

[Criss]

When did they start? How old are they?

 

[sandhillmac]

I have 4 sons. The older 2 are married and somewhat interested, the younger 2 are 17 and 14. The ones at home are fairly interested. They have multiple knives of their own and sharpen them and thought it was pretty cool when I bought 3 gold dollar #66's one for me and one for each of them. Mom isn't sure about her boys and straights.
I have never shaved with teenage facial issues. Will they have problems nicking themselves with DE or straight?
KChighlife you mentioned a "mild" DE, I understand the idea but don't know anything of DE's whick ones are mild and not? Is it the razor of the blade?

 

[Slash McCoy]

Let them choose. They will do better with the method that they have the most interest in. Zits are no more an impediment to straight shaving than to DE shaving, IMO. In fact, since the shaver can see the edge, maybe a straight is actually better for getting in close to bumps.

Either way, they WILL bleed while they are learning. Count on it. Make sure you have styptic pencil and alum block on hand. Teenage boys typically regard shaving cuts as a badge of manhood anyway, but the styptic will definitely help to stop bleeding, and minimize scabbing and scarring. A tiny dot of neosporin after the cut has closed dry and tight will also help.

How about a pic of your DE? Someone will identify it for you. I am a great believer in adjustables, even, and even especially, for a newbie. Once basic shaving technique is mastered, the adjustment can be tailored until the sweet spot is found for that particular user and that particular brand of blade. It is like 9 different razors in one, from mild to wild. Whichever of your youngsters ends up with it, he will never outgrow it as his skill level improves, and never wonder whether he would do better with a milder or more aggressive razor.

A Gold Dollar, properly set up, is as good a beginner straight as any. The price is right, too. It is basically expendable. The original bevel angle is quite large, and so while they are not the sweetest cutters, they also are very forgiving, and aren't as likely to cut skin. With a more acute bevel, they can be as scary aggro as any straight. The steel is good, and the heat treating and tempering seem to always be excellent. The only negative is that they can sometimes be a royal PITA to hone, right out of the box, without modification. Have you honed all three, and do they all shave well, along the entire length of the edge? If so, I say you are pretty well set, for straights, then. Your only problem would be if both boys want to go with a DE, in which case you will be shopping for another adjustable.

You COULD all share a strop, if they go with straight razors, but your two beginners are likely to hack it up while learning, which will be a source of irritation for you. I would get them the Poor Man Strop Kit from www.whippeddog.com to learn on. Larry also has cheap but pretty darn good badger brushes. With mugs from Goodwill, and VDH soap from Walgreens, you will set them up for very little coin.

 

[sandhillmac]

Thanks Slash for your well thought out reply, I appreciate it.
Need to get technology figured out for pics. I'm not very savy, Have kid help?
On DE is setting 1 mild and 9 wild? Looking at angles that is what I would guess.

Haven't sharpened Gold Dollars yet. Haven't decided how to regrind heel area so they can be sharpened more easily. Dremel possibly? Grizzly knive sander? Seems all they need is relief cut at heel.

May let boys have my strop so I can get better one? Good excuse!!!
Thanks again guys
Mac

 

[smalltank]

Start with DE..I would dial 7/5/3 if not having a heavy beard

 

[Slash McCoy]

Thanks Slash for your well thought out reply, I appreciate it.
Need to get technology figured out for pics. I'm not very savy, Have kid help?
On DE is setting 1 mild and 9 wild? Looking at angles that is what I would guess.

Haven't sharpened Gold Dollars yet. Haven't decided how to regrind heel area so they can be sharpened more easily. Dremel possibly? Grizzly knive sander? Seems all they need is relief cut at heel.

May let boys have my strop so I can get better one? Good excuse!!!
Thanks again guys
Mac

Yeah. "1" is mildest. "2" is good for learning. Most shavers end up at around 4 or 5.

Dremel is the usual tool to use for a GD "heel-ectomy". We usually use the sanding drum rather than the stones. You MUST NOT overheat the blade, particularly the edge. Thin steel (such as a razor's edge) overheats much more quickly than thicker steel. Once you see the dreaded blue stain, you have messed up. There are several threads dealing with this topic. Do a site search for "Gold Dollar" and "dremel" as keywords. Then look for the lapping film threads before you actually hone the razors. Film is the easiest way to get a great edge on your first attempt at honing a razor. It is dirt cheap, too, compared to a full progression of synthetics or a coticule large enough to be easy for a beginner to use.

www.starshaving.com. Look for the Big Daddy strop. Very cheap for such a big strop of decent quality.

I also suggest having your boys strop the first few times on newspaper. Fold a whole sheet lengthwise and again and again until it is about 3" wide. Pass one end over a towel rod. Pinch both ends together and pull it back tight. Disposable strop. They can slash it to bits and no biggie. Even an expendable leather strop deserves a fighting chance at survival. The first few attempts at stropping are most likely to hack up a strop.

 

[sandhillmac]

Thanks guys Haven't done it for several days I need to play with razor steel Love to sharpen, clean, polish, caress...........just enjoy the history man-upmanship craftsmanship and on and on May go grind a Gold Dollar!!!