first success
first success
My dad was a barber and was known for having the sharpest razor in town among about 25 barbers. About ten years ago I started trying to learn how to sharpen a razor and use it. I watched many Youtube videos and would attempt it with little success and put everything away for months. Finally yesterday I managed to get an edge good enough to get a baby smooth shave. I feel that it is an homage to my dad who has been gone many years
Re: first success
That is a great homage to your father, he would be very proud, well done. You have just achieved some thing that very few can, it is a skill that few can master.buck16 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 8:35 am My dad was a barber and was known for having the sharpest razor in town among about 25 barbers. About ten years ago I started trying to learn how to sharpen a razor and use it. I watched many Youtube videos and would attempt it with little success and put everything away for months. Finally yesterday I managed to get an edge good enough to get a baby smooth shave. I feel that it is an homage to my dad who has been gone many years
- Steve Warden
- Posts: 6320
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 4:18 pm
- Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Re: first success
Great!!!
And the shaves will only get better.
Do you use a brush and shave soap?
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Re: first success
Right now I use Edge. That's what I used with a Schick disposeable.You know, until safety razors were invented , every young man had to learn with and maintain a straight razor. Probably a lot of razor burn and beard growing.
Re: first success
And styptic pencils and band aids.
- Steve Warden
- Posts: 6320
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 4:18 pm
- Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Re: first success
Buck, your grocery store should carry Van der Hagen shave brushes and shave soap. Should be less than $20 for both.
My opinion, the Van der Hagen is the best bang for your buck soap out there.
My recommendation, avoid Williams shave soap. Yeah, it's cheaper, and there's a reason.
My opinion, the Van der Hagen is the best bang for your buck soap out there.
My recommendation, avoid Williams shave soap. Yeah, it's cheaper, and there's a reason.
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Re: first success
Thanks Steve, I'll get on line and see if any store near me sells them. Well, I revisited cleaning and conditioning my strop today and tried to use a light stroke. I can't quite make a hair pop yet but seems pretty close. Getting my strop in better shape helped.
Re: first success
How did you clean and condition your strop? Always interested in how others clean their strops.buck16 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 6:44 pm Thanks Steve, I'll get on line and see if any store near me sells them. Well, I revisited cleaning and conditioning my strop today and tried to use a light stroke. I can't quite make a hair pop yet but seems pretty close. Getting my strop in better shape helped.
Re: first success
Tried to get some Van der Hagen shaving soap over here, always looking for a good shaving soap, $35 Aussie for one piece, i will have to pass.Steve Warden wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 10:32 pm Buck, your grocery store should carry Van der Hagen shave brushes and shave soap. Should be less than $20 for both.
My opinion, the Van der Hagen is the best bang for your buck soap out there.
My recommendation, avoid Williams shave soap. Yeah, it's cheaper, and there's a reason.
Re: first success
Cudgee, I used WD40 and stiff brush to clean it per a guy on YouTube. I tried it on a spot under the clasp at first. Didn't seem to harm it so I did the rest. I condition it with mink oil......rubbed it in and then blew it with a hairdryer on warm. Seemed to work pretty well.
- Steve Warden
- Posts: 6320
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 4:18 pm
- Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Re: first success
WOW! I Googled the US $ to the Ausie $ and saw 1 US = 1.31 Ausie. Close? If so, the Van der Hagen Luxury should be $5.24 for you, as I'm paying $4.cudgee wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 8:52 pmTried to get some Van der Hagen shaving soap over here, always looking for a good shaving soap, $35 Aussie for one piece, i will have to pass.Steve Warden wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 10:32 pm Buck, your grocery store should carry Van der Hagen shave brushes and shave soap. Should be less than $20 for both.
My opinion, the Van der Hagen is the best bang for your buck soap out there.
My recommendation, avoid Williams shave soap. Yeah, it's cheaper, and there's a reason.
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Re: first success
If you don't like using WD40, i personally don't use it on leather, i think it is to harsh, i use PH neutral leather cleaner, or you can use PH neutral saddle soap. I use the cleaner, only because i can get it from the super market, it comes in a spray dispenser which makes it easy to use, and works a treat to clean wood knife handles.buck16 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 11:01 pm Cudgee, I used WD40 and stiff brush to clean it per a guy on YouTube. I tried it on a spot under the clasp at first. Didn't seem to harm it so I did the rest. I condition it with mink oil......rubbed it in and then blew it with a hairdryer on warm. Seemed to work pretty well.
Re: first success
I ordered a Van der Hagen kit from Amazon; brush, mug and soap for $19.99. As usual they ripped me on shipping so I used credit card points.Still money though.
Re: first success
Congratulations!! Straight razor shaving is the best. I kept razor burn on my neck for years until I discovered straight razor shaving. It’s the smoothest, least irritating shave you’ll ever have.
The biggest thing about keeping them sharp is, it just takes time. You can’t rush it. IMO.
I agree with Steve about using a good soap instead of the spray stuff in the can. Can soap will work against you, but a good soap and a badger hair brush will help a lot.
My favorite is Prorasso. I buy the cream in a tube off Amazon. One tube lasts a LONG time. And it’s pretty cheap too.
The biggest thing about keeping them sharp is, it just takes time. You can’t rush it. IMO.
I agree with Steve about using a good soap instead of the spray stuff in the can. Can soap will work against you, but a good soap and a badger hair brush will help a lot.
My favorite is Prorasso. I buy the cream in a tube off Amazon. One tube lasts a LONG time. And it’s pretty cheap too.
“There are things in the old Book which I may not be able to explain, but I fully accept it as the infallible word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
- Steve Warden
- Posts: 6320
- Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 4:18 pm
- Location: Cherry Hill, NJ
Re: first success
Thumbs up to Prorasso.
If you have a Bath and Body Works near you, they sell Prorasso branded as C.O. Bigelow. Same stuff. Often they'll have BOGO deals.
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Re: first success
Yes sir! I have used it and it is the exact same thing. The only problem is Bath and Body Works is in our local mall and I avoid that place like the plague! Have you see the freak show that is walking around those places? LolSteve Warden wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 2:09 pmThumbs up to Prorasso.
If you have a Bath and Body Works near you, they sell Prorasso branded as C.O. Bigelow. Same stuff. Often they'll have BOGO deals.
So I just order it off of Amazon. They usually have package deals where you can get the shaving cream and the aftershave together for a decent price. And that prorasso aftershave is some kind of awesome!
“There are things in the old Book which I may not be able to explain, but I fully accept it as the infallible word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
- 1967redrider
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 16106
- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:23 pm
- Location: Alexandria, VA
- Contact:
Re: first success
My razor don't work so good.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
Re: first success
Must be one of them new fangled razors!
A straight razor would still work under that chin and on those cheeks!
“There are things in the old Book which I may not be able to explain, but I fully accept it as the infallible word of God, and receive its teachings as inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee