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Aesquire
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 11:26 pm: | 
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A buddy of mine sells straight razors on E-bay. Antiques, of course. I also have a bro that can forge you a new one, if you want it custom.
Leather strop is a big key to avoiding burrs, Burrs will cut you. |
1125rcya
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 11:45 pm: |
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Love the subject!
As men we are all pro's for the most part.
I use a quattro titanium for at least 2-4 months a per razor, thats until I get razor burn.
In the military one of my roommates use to shave with cold water until I introduced him to hot water for rinsing the blades.
Some peoples kids 
Id love to try the straight razor but their so expensive, if I didnt like to shave with the dang thang it would be a complete waist of money. |
Hex
| | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 01:56 am: |
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They're not that expensive, I spent $20 for one and $40 for the other. Just start looking in antique stores, you'll fined one within a year if you keep at it. No cracked, broken or modified blades please.
It's not a waste of time or money, it's an investment in a rewarding personal ritual, give it a college try.
Oh, many people learn the straight razor by practicing with shaving cream on a balloon.
I dove in feet first, but I am very confident in my hand skill with razor blades (years of aeromodeling).
I only get cut when distracted. And there is instant feedback (pain) if you go slow enough, you will minimize the damage.
Styptic is your friend.
About twice a year I hone the blade on a diamond wet stone. It's easy because you just lay it flat on the stone and drag directly away from the sharp end. The blade design is such that the stabilizing ridge opposite the sharp part creates the perfect angle for the edge.
When I use the blade, I wipe the neatsfoot oil off with a dry towel, being careful not to run any flesh or towel near the edge. Next I strop it a few times, laying again the stabilizing ridge and drawing several times perpendicular and away from the edge, on either side. Always pulling away from the edge feathers the blade. I may strop two or three different times during a shave to keep the edge fresh. Always strop and oil before putting away. These are high carbon steel, never tried stainless.
Good stuff on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_razor
Here's my shaving kit:
And here's my goofball dog:
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Pwnzor
| | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 02:46 am: |
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That's a fine looking dog you have there!
I only strop my blade, I've never had to touch it with a stone. I have a brand new stone, but I just keep my blade clean with mineral oil and strop it occasionally. |
Cityxslicker
| | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 03:06 am: |
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30 year old norelco plug in, shave the night before, have the perfect scruff for the next day. Its always 5 oclock somewhere 
Now that I aint in uniform, I dont have to shave twice a day or wear a tie.... other than that I do miss the military. |
Macdiver
| | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 05:56 am: |
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I've been using williams soap and a brush for over twenty years. For the most part my razors have been gillette's mach 3's (or the two blader before that.) I tried the straight razors for about 6 months. I really liked learning the skill. Problem is with the gillette it takes 2-3 minutes to shave. With the straight it was taking 15 minutes or so. I'll still use my straights occasionally but on a daily basis it is the gillette. Always with soap and a brush though. I don't care for canned foam. The gels are only slightly better. |
B00stzx3
| | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 09:21 am: |
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Ya'll are very brave with the straight razors! Don't think I can trust myself. Double edged safety razor though works very, very well. Trying to get my dad to switch over, he complains about paying $15 for like 4 Mach 3 cartridges. Plus the shave soap with he brush feels much better than that blue chemically junk! Takes a couple weeks to get the hang of it with doubel edged safety razor but well worth it. Cheaper to! Its win-win. I'm about to pick up either a new Merkur or Parker double edged butterfly, need something with longer handle and heavier weight than my 1940's Gilette Tech gold. |
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