Straight Razor Shaving

:dead: At the risk of starting another "Post From Hell", I wanted to let everyone who joined in to my last post (I think half the world did) know, that my theory of my lack of skill in sharpening a blade was my downfall in using an old fashioned straight razor. I am now using one with the disposable blade in it and am really enjoying the shave. Nothing more need be said. Thanks! :hatsoff: :grin:

Yes but it is a much shorter thread lol

With all the participation, I woulda called that a Successful Thread. :idunno:

BigDogg said:

With all the participation, I woulda called that a Successful Thread. :idunno:

Click to expand...

I know I enjoyed it. Thanks for getting it started, Deano!

Anyone mastered a Chinese 12K for a finishing stone?

Y'know...I have had a similar experience. I have some nice old blades. I have the right stones and a good strop. Despite that, I have been unable to get any blade to shave as smoothly as the Feather disposable. I have even sent two razors (both Wade and Butchers) out and had them professionally honed. Nope....they still don't shave as smoothly as the Feather.
I wish that they did; I really want them to work.
Pete

The Wade & Butcher is a Sheffield. I've heard on SRP and other forums some people making comments that the English razors just don't perform as well as the German Solingens. I'm finding that to be the case myself. I stay away from Sheffields and stick to the Solingens. Ironically, I've had good luck with American razors too. (Usually made under contract from Germany.)

HERE WE GO AGAIN!! ANOTHER TOPIC FROM HELL!!
:rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

Deano,
I know you were :rotf: but any topic
that provokes a conversation in a civil manner
is a good one..
BTW, I used a straight razor up till about
5/6 years ago.Had the soap mug,soap,brush the whole thing.Worked just fine for almost 50 years!
Then my hands just quit doing what I was telling them to do.Came to the point I valued
my life more than a straight razor shave.Still use
the shave cup(it was my dads) soap and brush though. Straight razor has been replaced by a
disposable Bic.

jbtusa said:

The Wade & Butcher is a Sheffield. I've heard on SRP and other forums some people making comments that the English razors just don't perform as well as the German Solingens. I'm finding that to be the case myself. I stay away from Sheffields and stick to the Solingens. Ironically, I've had good luck with American razors too. (Usually made under contract from Germany.)

Click to expand...

Y'know....I wonder about that. I might be willing to accept the idea if it were new blades that were involved. The razors in question, however, have been around for about a century and have been used and cared for. I am more inclined to believe that I am expecting too much.
Or that I don't sharpen properly ( that doesn't explain the pro sharpened blades, though)
Pete

I don't know for sure about the differences between the English and German razors. I'm first to admit that I'm no expert. Maybe someone who knows can jump in and tell us.

Okay, since its my topic, I guess I can do whatever I want with it, other than start a war. So I am going to try and get it off the metallurgy and back to the basic shaving operation. :rotf: I have an observation and a question. The observation is that since I started shaving with the disposable blade razor, I am loving the operation and believe that the love comes from the ABILITY of now being able to do it without hacking up this beautiful thing called my face. This operation takes care and skill, which is only developed through practice. So loving straight razor shaving comes through experience and self-training.

The question is whether all you straight razor shavers do it the same way. As a right-hander, I somehow learned from past experience to point the end of the blade back to the right as the normal-feeling way of holding the blade, even when shaving the left side of my face. It seems to give me the right angle of blade-to-face. Is that the same for all of you?
:hmm: :idunno: :hmm: :idunno:

Both hands, it's easier.

never tried using the left hand for the left side of the face, although I have heard of some folks doing it that way. I go through all manner of goofy looking contortions to keep the right blade angle, and this is what has worked for me over the years. (the goofy is confirmed by my kids, who would actually interrupt their incessant squabbling to watch daddy shave- all very entertaining).

so, i guess i'm a one handed luddite, but it works for me. for those who are figuring out the straight razor deal, i would recommend that you try different methods and do whichever one works best for you. (sorta like life... maybe there's a book in that ... "Everything Important in Life I Learned while Shaving" ... ???)

I alternate between left and right hands when shaving. I'm not ambidextrous by any stretch of the imagination, but certain angles and spots were easier for me if I switched hands.

I use the right hand for the right side holding the razor with two fingers on the top of the tang and shaving north to south. Switch hands for the left side and do the same thing. This includes under the nose, chin, and front of the throat. These latter areas usually need more attention because of the directions the hair grows. Lather them up again, shift grip on the razor so the two fingers are on the bottom of the tang and shave the front of the throat from south to north again switching hands halfway through. At this time the chin and under the nose are done east to west followed by west to east using whichever hand seems best. If any areas are still being difficult I will lather those areas up again and switch to a pencil grip on the tang with the scales either next to my palm or coming up between the first and second fingers.

Anyway, I'm still learning and tweaking and tuning as I go.

No, that is my point. Two hands is not easier for me. Admittedly, there are a few spots where I point the blade end to the left, because I can't get my hand to hold the blade pointing to the right. But using two hands is definitely not easier for me.
:v

Your left or off hand will catch up. Just go slow and before you know it, using your left/off hand will become second nature. Plus, there're areas that only the 'other' hand can get to.

I use both hands at this point. I am very right sided, though, and learning to use my left for anything is a slow process. That being said, I approached the shave-with-the-left-hand business very carefully. I continue to do so and each shave gets better lefty. I do, however, shave the greater part of my face - including the upper lip and chin - with my right hand.
Pete