first success

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buck16
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first success

Post by buck16 »

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
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cudgee
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Re: first success

Post by cudgee »

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
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. ::tu::
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Steve Warden
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Re: first success

Post by Steve Warden »

::ds:: ::groove:: ::tu::
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)
buck16
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Re: first success

Post by buck16 »

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.
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cudgee
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Re: first success

Post by cudgee »

buck16 wrote: Wed Jun 02, 2021 8:20 pm 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.
And styptic pencils and band aids. :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Steve Warden
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Re: first success

Post by Steve Warden »

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)
buck16
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Re: first success

Post by buck16 »

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.
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cudgee
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Re: first success

Post by cudgee »

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.
::tu:: How did you clean and condition your strop? Always interested in how others clean their strops.
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cudgee
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Re: first success

Post by cudgee »

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.
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. ::uc:: ::handshake::
buck16
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Re: first success

Post by buck16 »

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.
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Steve Warden
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Re: first success

Post by Steve Warden »

cudgee wrote: Thu Jun 03, 2021 8:52 pm
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.
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. ::uc:: ::handshake::
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.
Take care and God bless,

Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000

But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
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cudgee
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Re: first success

Post by cudgee »

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.
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. ::tu::
buck16
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Re: first success

Post by buck16 »

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.
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Colonel26
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Re: first success

Post by Colonel26 »

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.
“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
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Steve Warden
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Re: first success

Post by Steve Warden »

Colonel26 wrote: Fri Jun 04, 2021 12:27 pm
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.
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)
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Colonel26
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Re: first success

Post by Colonel26 »

Steve Warden wrote: Fri Jun 04, 2021 2:09 pm
Colonel26 wrote: Fri Jun 04, 2021 12:27 pm
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.
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.
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? Lol

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
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1967redrider
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Re: first success

Post by 1967redrider »

My razor don't work so good. 🤭
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Colonel26
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Re: first success

Post by Colonel26 »

1967redrider wrote: Fri Jun 04, 2021 10:52 pm My razor don't work so good. 🤭
::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: Must be one of them new fangled razors! :lol: :lol: :lol:

A straight razor would still work under that chin and on those cheeks!
1E60EABA-DFCC-4FE6-A455-A1CDFC03CC36.jpeg
“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
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