I've made an executive decision. I've had so many questions and everyone's been so helpful. I've mentioned that I'm impulsive and a weakness of mine is this inability to wait.
First romance was being enamored by the lure of balsa strops. I made a set. I noticed straight away that the very edge wasn't making contact with the balsa. I knew this first by feel, then by accident--as a newcomer I lifted the spine accidentally and only then did I hear the "music" you all speak of with extra full ground hollows.
It occurred to me this was happening because Jarrod of The Superior Shave uses convex stones and this yields a hollow grind on the blade. Since the very edge looks like a gunsmith's screwdriver tip, the edge doesn't contact the wood.
I also felt like I wasn't getting the best shave. I had to use way too much pressure, and I won't recount everything you were all kind enough to tell me. Two things come to mind, and you know who you are. One of you told me, "Either way you're gonna need leather." Someone else said, "there are two kinds of pressure, the pressure against your face, and the pressure it takes to cut hair." Bottom line was you gave me pointers and this little voice in my mind kept saying, "Nope, ain't that." "Can't be that either."
You told me:
1. Stretch your skin
2. Prepare your beard
3. Work on your technique
4. YOU MUST HAVE LEATHER!!, and other gems I decided not to hear.
Don't get me wrong, I knew your were right, but I wanted solutions now! It's amazing what the impulsive mind does when you just don't want to listen!!
I made myself a honing setup with acrylic and purchased lapping films. I'm all ready to go. I decided I would remove the hollow-ground edge Jarrod gave me and hone my own brand-new razor. I consider myself reasonably intelligent, but do you see the irony in this guy who NEVER TOUCHED A STRAIGHT EDGE BEFORE going to remove an edge made by a trained man, and hone my own? What a great joke that is.
Then it hit me tonight. Just a few minutes ago. I have a brand-new Dovo that was not cheap. Its edge was crafted by a man who was trained in Solingen. Cerebral behemoth I am, I am going to take off this coticule-formed edge, re-hone a brand new blade so my balsa strops will work--I would go on, but you surely see the insanity that I didn't catch in my haste.
Today I had three days growth and I prepped my beard and stretched my skin. Really stretched it. "All the difference in the world" is a little strong, but I certainly felt the difference. I think it kind-of opened my eyes. I'm going to work on 1-4 above and see how things evolve before I change anything.
I am going too fast. I am going to slow down. I am NOT going to touch this blade until my strop from Tony Miller arrives and then we'll see how things go. I won't touch this metal with a stone, diamond paste or anything but a strop.
I appreciate everyone's input. I'm glad I didn't undo the edge on this wonderful straight razor that I got.
Deep breath. Exhale. Strop. Shave. Practice. Wait, lather, repeat.
Worst case scenario I'll buy a "vintage" razor off eBay for $20 max. and put a new edge on that. (Just for practice.....)
Damn it, man. Gimme enough rope. . . LOL
First romance was being enamored by the lure of balsa strops. I made a set. I noticed straight away that the very edge wasn't making contact with the balsa. I knew this first by feel, then by accident--as a newcomer I lifted the spine accidentally and only then did I hear the "music" you all speak of with extra full ground hollows.
It occurred to me this was happening because Jarrod of The Superior Shave uses convex stones and this yields a hollow grind on the blade. Since the very edge looks like a gunsmith's screwdriver tip, the edge doesn't contact the wood.
I also felt like I wasn't getting the best shave. I had to use way too much pressure, and I won't recount everything you were all kind enough to tell me. Two things come to mind, and you know who you are. One of you told me, "Either way you're gonna need leather." Someone else said, "there are two kinds of pressure, the pressure against your face, and the pressure it takes to cut hair." Bottom line was you gave me pointers and this little voice in my mind kept saying, "Nope, ain't that." "Can't be that either."
You told me:
1. Stretch your skin
2. Prepare your beard
3. Work on your technique
4. YOU MUST HAVE LEATHER!!, and other gems I decided not to hear.
Don't get me wrong, I knew your were right, but I wanted solutions now! It's amazing what the impulsive mind does when you just don't want to listen!!
I made myself a honing setup with acrylic and purchased lapping films. I'm all ready to go. I decided I would remove the hollow-ground edge Jarrod gave me and hone my own brand-new razor. I consider myself reasonably intelligent, but do you see the irony in this guy who NEVER TOUCHED A STRAIGHT EDGE BEFORE going to remove an edge made by a trained man, and hone my own? What a great joke that is.
Then it hit me tonight. Just a few minutes ago. I have a brand-new Dovo that was not cheap. Its edge was crafted by a man who was trained in Solingen. Cerebral behemoth I am, I am going to take off this coticule-formed edge, re-hone a brand new blade so my balsa strops will work--I would go on, but you surely see the insanity that I didn't catch in my haste.
Today I had three days growth and I prepped my beard and stretched my skin. Really stretched it. "All the difference in the world" is a little strong, but I certainly felt the difference. I think it kind-of opened my eyes. I'm going to work on 1-4 above and see how things evolve before I change anything.
I am going too fast. I am going to slow down. I am NOT going to touch this blade until my strop from Tony Miller arrives and then we'll see how things go. I won't touch this metal with a stone, diamond paste or anything but a strop.
I appreciate everyone's input. I'm glad I didn't undo the edge on this wonderful straight razor that I got.
Deep breath. Exhale. Strop. Shave. Practice. Wait, lather, repeat.
Worst case scenario I'll buy a "vintage" razor off eBay for $20 max. and put a new edge on that. (Just for practice.....)
Damn it, man. Gimme enough rope. . . LOL
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