Straight edge razor shaving

[sasquatch]

I take old ones like this

and do this to them

I keep meaning to get decent photos of my users in rotation, I'll soon be thinning the herd so others can enjoy them as well. No need for me to have so many and it's time consuming to keep on top of them all!

 

[robin wood]

I take old ones like this

and do this to them

I keep meaning to get decent photos of my users in rotation, I'll soon be thinning the herd so others can enjoy them as well. No need for me to have so many and it's time consuming to keep on top of them all!

OK sold, how about starting that heard thinning now? Could you spare me a decent blade to start with and how much? What else do I need badger brush? special soap?

 

[Steve27752]

Tony,
You will find all your answers and lots of encouragement here.
http://www.theshavingroom.co.uk/forum/search.php?action=results&sid=e8aa043515fa1edca739a422a5227187

 

[sasquatch]

Pm sent Robin...

 

[Two Socks]

A couple of months back I started with one, and haven`t looked back since. It is great. (I received great help on the forum here too back then, by the way.) Here is mine:

 

[kristophish]

I do like a good cut throat.

Been thinking bout selling a few off if anyone needs one

 

[Graham_S]

I started when I realised just how much I was spending on cartridge razors.
I started off with one of those ones that takes half a DE blade (the type barbers use), then I moved on to one I got from a specialist grooming shop.
If you have more than a couple of days growth, nothing beats a SE.

 

[Big Stu 12]

I must admit I have always thought abotu using a stright razor, use a brush and soap now, so not much to change, lol..

any tips on a good razor to get started with......,

and were to get one.....

 

[Tony]

Had a shoulder op so my right arm is all strapped up and i'm not risking a left handed shave, although pat of me does think about giving it a go

Some lovely razors there guys.

I think it's something one could get obsessive about but I'm viewing it as an opportunity to take some time for myself, those minutes just zoned into shaving are quite refreshing rather than the quick whip around from a Gillette 3 or some such.

Give it another few weeks and i'll be back on the case, get some pics sorted I've not cut myself yet, how about the rest of you guys?

Robin, you started with one yet?

 

[Doc]

A little thread resurrection.

Have been using the badger brush and Arko shaving soap for years - cheaper and more earth-friendly than aerosol cans of gloop. But I recently switched from the usual cartridge Mach 3 to a double edge razor. Apparently the multi-blade razor cartridges cost about 5p each to make, but cost up to £2.40 to buy. It's a colossal rip off.

Double edge razor blades are much cheaper - from about £7 per hundred and each blade lasts about a week.

I was worried it wouldn't be as good a shave. In fact the DE shave is noticeably better and my skin is in much better shape since the switch. The technique is slightly different and it takes slightly longer, but not much. How on earth did Gillette convince nearly the entire adult male population to pay forty times the price for an inferior product??

I guess the straight razor is next.

 

[sasquatch]

American GI's were apparently issued with Gillette razors in WWI and a scare campaign about straight razors being dirty and dangerous in comparison were all it took to swing the tide the wrong way from manliness. If memory serves correct from past reading that is...

 

[greensurfingbear]

I used to use the Gillette mach3 type razors until I was travelling in Malaysia and had forgotten my razor. Was lent a DE razor with a fresh blade. Was so impressed came home and bought my own DE razor. Next step is the SE........


Orric

 

[Big Stu 12]

I have so often thought about a straight razor.. I already use soap and a brush with a Mach3, so not much change there...

I don't want to spend too much as I may not keep it up, any tips or suggestions for razors

 

[BillyBlade]

I use a vintage carbon steel Solingen brand Stu. It really is a lovely old thing and it strops up to a whole new level of sharp compared to even a good cartridge type.

It used to take me 30 mins a shave when I started, but down to 10 mins now. And only the half a pint of O Neg!

 

[Swallow]

I've seen SEs on Amazon for a tenner, but never got round to putting an order in. The lack of waste appeals to me.

 

[MSkiba]

Hi! I love my straights! Also have a Dovo here. Its about the experience of the shave that keeps me coming back. Don't attempt if you are in a rush running late for work however

Best way to test your blade Tony is the Hair Popping test (unsure if that's an official term?). To test if the razor is sharp enough, take a hair (best to get a badger hair from your brush) and gently rest it on your razors edge. It should POP apart without any force of movement form you. If it does not, keep stropping/honing

I'm a big Proraso products fan, and they do a fantastic pre shave balm that I leave on my face while stropping / lathering makes the blade glide better. Also there's a little trick with towel's and a microwave to make hot towels but I don't bother. Hope that helps, take your time

 

[BearInTheWoods]

I've got a pair of razors made in 1885, fantastic blades for a shave. My wife got them from a company called 'The Invisible Edge' which has a sharpening service, £25.00 a throw, they come back ready to go.

One thing is that you have to pull your skin taut when using them, any saggyness and you pay for it with little bites. Pull your cheeks up, stretch your jaw etc, you look like the runner-up in the All-England Gurning Contest but it's better than ending up looking like Davros after a fall through a plate-glass window.

 

[oldtimer]

For reasons irrelevant here, I once shaved every day for a week with a hollow ground hunting knife. It was possible, but unpleasant and I don't understand why anyone would use any but the easiest method of shaving. During a long trip across the States in the 1970's staying away from civilization I let my beard grow and have only shaved once since, for a charity bet. I don't really understand shaving at all. I keep my beard short with a weekly scissor trim.

I once knew a woman who said she didn't like beards because they were unnatural! Go with nature, say I: don't fight it let it grow!

Shakespeare: "A kiss without whiskers is like meat without salt,"

 

[sasquatch]

I've had a full beard for 7 Weeks now. Horrendous things in my personal opinion. Can't wait to shave it off tonight, really looking forward to it.

On a side note, avoid new straight razors for £10. You'll never keep an edge on them. Old ones can be had for cheap and sent off to be honed as mentioned above. Stu,a cheap way to try it out is to buy a shavette and snap double edge blades in half. They'll show you how easy it is to get the technique down. No pressure and little angle is the secret. Hold it flat against your cheek then angle it out slightly and shave away.

 

[Dave-the-rave]

Old Shakespeare must have been snoggin some right old munters eh.