straight razor shaving

[MSW]

i also use a fountain pen... but that's a tirade for another day ... love it when the store clerk says, "no, you can't use that..."

yes i can, sonny... this pen has worked for me since before you were born ...

curmudgeon
geezer


heck, everyone needs a hobby...

 

[Rick Boylan]

I'm also a fan of and use a fountain pen. My wife thinks I'm crazy for doing so, but she also says I'm crazy for shaving with a straight razor.

Honestly, it's the closest and best shave I've ever had.

 

[Cruzatte]

I'm also a fan of and use a fountain pen. My wife thinks I'm crazy for doing so, but she also says I'm crazy for shaving with a straight razor.

Honestly, it's the closest and best shave I've ever had.

Straight razors and fountain pens....crazy is as crazy does. :metoo: :hatsoff:

 

[Wes/Tex]

Me 3! But the razor isn't getting much use these days!

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I'm also a fan of and use a fountain pen. My wife thinks I'm crazy for doing so, but she also says I'm crazy for shaving with a straight razor.

Honestly, it's the closest and best shave I've ever had.

Straight razors and fountain pens....crazy is as crazy does. :metoo: :hatsoff:

Just call me crazy then ! I do both , only own one razor now days but I have over 200 fountain pens . :metoo:

Eddie

 

[MSW]

two hundred pens - wow - i wanna hang with this guy!

 

[RHensley]

For the past 4 or 5 years all I have used is a straight razor. That's one of my hobby's. I've used razors from 1810 until the 1950s. There are trying not to break the rules but there are youtube videos on how to use the straight razors and they are very informing. Go slow. Remember it's not a race. Go with the grain of your beard first. If you've never honed a razor before there are videos on that on you tube. Enjoy Roger

 

[Rick Boylan]

That is exactly how I taught myself to shave using a straight razor. The videos were very helpful. I have seen the ones on how to strop and hone. Also very helpful.

I've also bought a couple of vintage books on shaving and I have a video I bought from Straight Razor Designs that is great.

For me, it's the only way I'll shave these days.

 

[jrmflintlock]

Keeping it sharp enough is my concern. I started using a straight razor with disposable blades like my barber uses in order to get the technique down.

I love the shave I get!! I am saving my pennies to buy one from Scott Summerville!

Any recommendations on a good strop for a beginner?

 

[Rick Boylan]

I've bought all of my shaving items from Straight Razor Design. They have soaps, strops, razors, etc.

I got my razor from them and my strop. I got the wider strop so I can strop my razor without having to do any fancy stuff. The cloth side of the strop is for sharpening and some honing. I use a Diamond spray that coats the cloth side with a paste that has diamonds in it. You can use it to strop your razor when it's really starting to pull your whiskers.

I also have a 400/800 honing stone that I can use to hone my razor if needed. So far, I have never really had to use it.

The guys at Straight Razor Design professionally hone any razor you buy off of them before they ship it to you. They will also hone for you if you send them a razor. Just because a razor is sold as "shave ready" doesn't mean it's really sharp enough to shave with. The extra honing really makes it a great shave and you'll notice the difference.

I bought a Dovo Shavette that is a straight razor device that takes interchangable blades like a barber would use. I like it for keeping in my travel kit for when I'm away from home and need a shave.

For my normal shaving I have a Dovo Best Quality razor. It's a great razor.

 

[jrmflintlock]

Thanks!

The Shavette is what I have too, but not sure where my wife got it for me. That's my plan too once I get all set up proper, to keep the shavette for traveling so I don't have to take the strop with me.


Thanks for the tip!!

 

[Darkgael]

Hart razor.....my go to for a good shave. I travel with a Shavette.
I have been lusting after a Bob Lewis razor for years but don’t have the bucks.
Pete
PS: I use fountain pens also.

 

[mbseto]

Late to the thread, but I've been shaving with a straight for about 2 decades now. Not so much a hobby as just an effort to generate less medical waste. Looks like all the good advice has been given already. I'd just second these: start slow, don't even bother when you're in a hurry. Soap has to have a lubricant in it, not all modern soaps do. Otherwise you'll be watching a dime-sized piece of your face spiralling the drain. On a properly sharpened razor, you won't even feel the cut. Learning to sharpen well was the hardest part for me. That hanging hair test above is the gold standard. My Dovo works great, got some great antique shavers too. Stay away from cheap steel.

 

[Ames]

What is this shaving you speak of? 050 by Ames, on Flickr

 

[MSW]

wow- the Schweppes man would be proud!

 

[toot]

my barber said he was taught to lather up and shave a peach without breaking/ cutting the skin.

 

[toot]

i have a razor strop and it has one side of leather and one side of a canvas mtl. witch side do i use first to strop and why is there two different materials?

 

[Cruzatte]

i have a razor strop and it has one side of leather and one side of a canvas mtl. witch side do i use first to strop and why is there two different materials?

Use the canvas after you have honed your razor. Use the leather side for every day maintenance. I only hone my straight razor about once a year

 

[Dave Orchard]

I use a strop glued to a length of wood since a flop-strop sags.
You could make a fitted box for your razor with seperat little compartment for stropping compound and the strop glue to the outside of the lid.
Dave

 

[toot]

CRUZATTE, thanks for responding to my question on the use of a razor strop. is honing done on a special razor stone, be fore the strop is used? and where would i get a razor stone? thank's, toot.