Shaving and Beard/Face Maintenance

I think I'd like a wedge better than the hollow blade I have. My next blade will have some more heft to it

My face finally stopped bleeding. Even the alum block wouldn't close it up

 

Got my first shave this weekend using a Feather blade in my DE. I remember reading somewhere or seeing a vid online that most guys agree that Feather makes the sharpest DE blade. I went from using the Merkur blades that came with my DE, to the Feathers. They were not lying, those things are damn sharp. I may order one of those bundle packs they sell on Amazon with the different brands of blades once I start running low on these. Any recommendations?

 

Everyone has their favorite grind on a razor. I personally have found mine to be a frame back that is a very thin wedge. Wedges in general do better for me it seems like. If you have the option, try a few different grinds out and you will find what you like.

It can also depend on your beard growth as well. I can manage to use a full hollow ground only when I don't have too much growth. When I have a few days worth I will always reach for either my frame back or Torrey, which is almost a wedge. Ver little hollow in it.

Also, Krazie, my soap came in today. I am
Picking it up from the mail room (one of the joys of living on campus) tomorrow to use it. I will post how it goes, I will try both types that I got.

 

I got to use my Mama Bear's soap today. It was awesome, it leathers very well. face hurts because I was in a hurry, but it was awesome none the less.

 

Damn you guys! Looking at picking up a second straight tomorrow. It's a 13/16 near wedge. Looks a little beefier than the French blade I just bought. I'm getting decent with stropping and have put a couple small knicks in the strop (using the cheap costmetically blemished strop until I get the hang of it).

 

Nice size blade

I like my wedge (not full wedge).

And krazie, he is catching RAD

 

Yeah, it looks pretty awesome. I'll put up pics if I end up getting it

Do you guys have straight razor stands? If so, what are you using? I think I'm going to make one from a piece of Mahagony or Cherry that'll hold my brush, a couple straights and my Merkur.

 

I use an Art of shaving stand, it probably costed too much, but it was a gift so I use it. It is designed for a safety razor and brush, but when it is on a wood shelf (raw unfinished wood), like I have mine on since I dont want to leave it by the sink in my dorms. I like having one, but it isn't strictly necessary, I have seen some nice ones people made with a pair of pliers and a wire coat hanger.

good luck if you make one, and please post pictures

 

Thanks, I'll get some pictures up. I've got an idea in my head for something simple.

Second straight shave and already going much better. I'm starting to learn the trick to straight razor shaving. I think I did a much better job stropping after watching several videos on the proper technique. Face still hurts but no gaping wounds this time (actually nothing but small knicks)

 

very nice. Your face may hurt for a while after shaves. It took me about a month or two to get it to stop hurting longer than about 5 or 10 min after the shave. it gets better each time you shave though. I only nicked myself really when I shaved and never got any good cuts.....until my last shave....2 cuts (not to bad thankfully) under my chin about 1/4 inch apart.

 

Stop shaving and start saving!

 

sorry, I like my straights too much

I have a some that could take that off without clippers though, want to try?

 

I'm actually missing shaving. I enjoy it. Nobody up here in AK does hot shaves. I got one in Portland about a year ago. Amazing.

 

Just aquired another straight
It's a Joseph Elliot 13/16 blade with a smile. Blade is a near wedge.

 

very nice

it appears to be a faux frame back. and I like smiling edge razors for shaving, I am used to using curved blades anyways (knives), so it doesn't change as much for me.

is it the camera angle, or is the wedge (in the scales at the end of the razor) a little off, does it close well?

oh, and nice smiley pencil

 

I'm hoping it's a combination of the camera angle and the barber's notch playing a trick. It looks like the notch is off but the blade is straight. I just won it on Fleabay so I'll have it in a couple days. It's supposed to be straight, honed and shave ready so we'll see how that works out

That's the Ebay picture, I don't own smiley pencils

 

awesome, be careful about the honing when you use it. if you have been using a honed razor, you will be able to tell pretty quick if it is truly honed.

I avoid fleabay....I would spend a lot of money if I didn't.....I would have a couple of 7 day sets....and they aint cheap

 

I made a deal with my fiance, this is the last razor I'm allowed to buy before the wedding

I was going to give the blade a shot and, if it doesn't seem right, send it to one of the SRP guys to have it honed correctly. The first blade I bought seems to be working out so I'd probably send the blade to him.

 

ya, that may be a good idea, I have a razor on the bay that I want.....a lot, I already have one of the design, but.....I can't get it out of my head that it would make an awesome 7 day set if I could track 7 of them down. and a 7 day set box (I can make that).

it is one like this.....



oh, and on a side note, this is one of the two 7 day set I am drooling over i believe that the scales are Ivory, though they will never say that on ebay, and this is the other set
I really need to get off ebay......I'm gonna start spending money soon...

 

Damn, those could be cleaned up into 2 really nice sets!

Have you ever looked into the Whipped Dog deals? They have deals where you can buy a sight unseen razor, use it for a while, trade it for another for the cost of honing. Seems like a good way to try out a lot of different types of razors relatively inexpensively. They also have a deal where they'll send you a razor to hone and critique your work. Once I get a set of honing stones, I'm thinking about trying this out.