Today is a good day

[BrightFutur]

Gentlemen,

I've taken the plunge!

To be more accurate, I'm going to take the plunge soon. I was hunting for SE safety razors at antique stores today, and saw this Dubl-Duck straight for 15 dollars. By far the nicest straight they had (Some with half blades, or whole dime sized chips right out of them). I figured that I would pick it up, and I could practice honing on it later. I pulled my thumb against it and thought 'Jeez. This things got a real edge'. I plucked a hair off my head and there's actually a section of the razor that passes the HHT! Zing. I'll take it.


So anyways, here's my first DE. It appears to be in great condition - no rust or corrosion, no pitting, scales are clean but uneven (razor catches on them unless guided in). Edge has no smile or frown, or any dings in it (or dime sized chips missing).

Apologies for the image quality!

I just had to tell everyone! I've lurked the straight razor forums for so long, with such lust, now I'm on my way!

 

[Ironman06]

Oh sweet find !

Are you going to send her off to one of the resident honemiesters? That's what I would have done if I hadn't picked-up a shave ready razor. Do you have a strop yet? That's what actually held me back for about a year. I figured no strop, no reason to get a razor.

Good luck on your journey. I just started myself too. <<Edit>> Oh, I thought your name was familier, you posted in MY intro thread! Glad you could join so soon.

 

[BrightFutur]

Oh sweet find !

Are you going to send her off to one of the resident honemiesters? That's what I would have done if I hadn't picked-up a shave ready razor. Do you have a strop yet? That's what actually held me back for about a year. I figured no strop, no reason to get a razor.

Good luck on your journey. I just started myself too. <<Edit>> Oh, I thought your name was familier, you posted in MY intro thread! Glad you could join so soon.

So am I! It was an unexpected, but very welcome find.


I actually just sent an email to Leighton to see if I can take him up on his offer for a free hone. If not yes I will be sending it off to another honemiester.

 

[mdunn]

brightfutur has been kind enough to give me this duck, free of charge. What a great guy!

Spoiler

go ahead, do it!

 

[leighton]

So am I! It was an unexpected, but very welcome find.


I actually just sent an email to Leighton to see if I can take him up on his offer for a free hone. If not yes I will be sending it off to another honemiester.

Huh, I didn't get it. Maybe the server's slow.


Great razor. I like DD's and that one looks to be in great condition.

 

[PolsBirthday]

I just picked up the same razor off of ebay for 40 bucks (that's 25 bucks for the extra 3rd pin!) immaculate blade though, not a trace of pitting anyplace.

 

[ambrose]

If I were you I would take up leighton on his offer. I would hate to see you ruin that razor just for practicing honing.

In fact what I would do is compare leighton's true shave ready against a different practice honing razor that way you know how sharp you need to get it .

 

[BrightFutur]

As of 8am central today my baby is in the capable hands of the USPS. She's off to Arizona! I think its important that she see the world, gain experiences, sharpen her senses. You know?

It's always hard for a parent to let go though...So I'm headed to this huge antique mall today to see if I can't find her a brother!

 

[BrightFutur]

An update: I received my Duck back from Leighton on Monday morning. Shave ready as far as I know.

My first shave wasn't amazing, but it was a very enjoyable experience. I was a little apprehensive leading up to it, so I really tried to focus on my prep and technique to make it as easy on myself as possible. I got a little razor burn (Particularly on the left side of my face. Learning how to shave left handed is....interesting) but no blood was drawn and my shave was (with the exception of my chin. A little patchy looking) socially acceptable.

Today's shave was *Excellent*. It was a real transcendental experience for me - everything I've been looking for in a shave. I had a good, long hot towel prep and almost fell asleep. I rubbed lots of JM Fraser's into my beard area, and continued the prep. Meanwhile I had a kettle boil some distilled water, and I soaked my brush in the hot water and charged it to the brim with Tabac. I whipped up a good lather, then added just a little bit more water than usual (per some suggestions here. I did not make it soupy, but simply pushed the water-holding capacity of the lather). I tried to take my time with the shave, and let every short stroke occur on a stretched, flat surface, with a steady hand.

After I had completed a single WTG pass, I relathered and did some touch up on my chin, and experimented with a XTG on my lip. I tried to really just focus on improving my technique, not the results. Really paid attention to what I was doing with my left hand.

The resulting shave was better than my first - I still have some razor burn on the left side of my face, but my chin is looking better (Still have some stubble. It's a struggle to get my angle right). What's most important is that I looked at my watch, where did that half hour go! For that first pass WTG I took almost 20 minutes. I got so into the zone, and immersed in what I was trying to do, that I completely forgot about everything else that was going on. I've been having a hard time lately with school, illness in the family, and stress related to moving back to Canada. This was such an excellent way to relax and just focus on one task. Really refreshed me and got me ready for all the things I need to get done today. It's what I have been looking for in shaving.


Even though I'm new to this, I can already tell that my DE's and SE's are going to be neglected. I promised myself that there would be nothing but straights for a month, but I can't see myself picking up a safety razor again after that. My neck always bothers me, but the straight got it closer, with less irritation than a DE or SE ever would in a single WTG pass. My face feels great, and even the razor burn that I did get subsided quickly with application of an ASB.

All in all, a terrific experience!

(Just like to thank everyone who contributed to guides, or has given advice to me or others thus far. And Leighton for putting a nice smooth-shaving edge on that Duck!)

 

[BrightFutur]

Tonight's shave went well. Lot's of prep again, used JM Frasers during the towels as I find it really softens my beard up real nice. I then switched to Tabac for the shave. Another decent shave - less razor burn, but drew blood for the first time, pretty bad too. I was changing the angle while shaving XTG under the nose with my left hand. Forgot I was using my left, and put the thing about 90 degree's to my lip. Cut right into the top of my lip pretty nice!


All in all - really enjoyed the shave again. I'm really digging the audio feedback the hollow ground razor gives, I turn off the fan in the bathroom so that I can really hear what is going on.