11:00 PM.... By the way, Honey, a parcel arrived for you today......

[BakerAndBadger]

WOMEN, why will they never understand the importance of parcels that come for us fellas?
Well as you can imagine I hot-footed it downstairs to check out the contents of the said parcel and lo and behold its official, I'm now an owner of a sight unseen pack from our good friend Larry of Whipped Dog fame.
Here are the pictures of my kit and kaboodle, sorry for the quality, I only had my iPhone to hand and didn't have time to take any better ones this morning - plus I was holding the iPhone upside down when I took em. But you'll get the idea!



First thought was COOOOOOL. Second thought was...... damascus blade???? Third thought was.... Vaseline....and no I wasn't back up in bed when I had that one!

More pics to come when I've wiped the vaseline off this weekend.

Couple of questions:

Can I use vaseline on the blade after each shave to keep it protected? I'll probably only be using it a couple of times per week as I don't have much time to learn at the moment.
What alternatives to the neatfoot (I think they call it) oil for treating my strops?

Cheers,

Paul

[BakerAndBadger]

And before anyone suggests it I'll not be using the granite worktops for lapping my hones - a sharp razor in the en suite bathroom and an angry missus would not be a great combination!

[BakerAndBadger]

Finally I know the punctuation isn't good in my posts so apologies to all you nit pickers out there!

[dpm802]

I don't know why everyone apologizes for posting smartphone pics ... they look pretty good to me.

I'm not into straight razors (not until I retire and have more time to indulge in honing)
but I know a work of art when I see it.
Those scales are downright gorgeous!

[BakerAndBadger]

Those scales are downright gorgeous!

I probably should have removed the elastic band before taking the photo but as I was half asleep that never occured to me.

To reassure any of you curious readers, I did put a pair of pyjama bottoms on before going downstairs - didn't want to drop a shave ready straight on anything important!

[Giant Kiwi]

Nice kit

[Prof. Moriarty]

Couple of questions:

Can I use vaseline on the blade after each shave to keep it protected? I'll probably only be using it a couple of times per week as I don't have much time to learn at the moment.
What alternatives to the neatfoot (I think they call it) oil for treating my strops?

Cheers,

Paul

I would not use vaseline after each shave, bit of a mess if you ask me. I personally would grab a razor sleeve from The Superior Shave. They should cost you I think $5 shipped (for one, the more you buy the cheaper it gets). I use them for my razors, and they are fantastic.
You should have gotten some oil with the package, I would just use that for now. Some people just rub their palm over the strop, due to the natural oils.

[BakerAndBadger]

Thanks Prof.

I did get the oil however I was planning for the future/spillage!

Will check out the razor sleeves.

[Seraphim]

No need to oil or Vaseline after every shave. Just dry things off with a towel. You can strop the blade on a towel to make sure the edge gets dry.

Welcome to the monkeyhouse!

[BakerAndBadger]

I hope to be a long running member of the club - and no, I'm not talking about the Vaseline again.

[Raithskar]

Grats on the Kit. Welcome to the Brotherhood!

[rearviewmirror]

I live in Florida, it gets insanely humid here, especially in the bathrooms.
I just keep my razors on top of a book case just outside the bathroom, they're out of sight and out of the humidity. No need for vaseline.

[turtle]

Nice sight unseen you received.

I use mineral oil and a Q-tip to oil my blades after I shave because I am not sure how long it will be before I use it again.

If I used my straights more regularly I probably wouldn't oil them unless I were going to put them away for an extended period.

[Doc226]

Get some of the sleeves on top of the page, you will thank me later
http://thesuperiorshave.com/Boker_Straight_Razors.html

[ouch]

WOMEN, why will they never understand the importance of parcels that come for us fellas?

You're underestimating them. In fact they're smarter than we are. Case in point-

Your wife has come to the realization that she is not going to be able to stop you from pursuing your hobby, so she did the next best, i.e., cause you to lose a night's sleep. What time did you eventually hit the hay?

[BakerAndBadger]

I'll be honest, I got back into bed at about 11:30, then looked at razors on the internet for another 30 mintues, then couldn't get to sleep for thinking about hones and razors.......
Do psychopaths ever go through similar stages of excitement and withdrawal as razor aficionados?

[ouch]

You're underestimating them. In fact they're smarter than we are. Case in point-

Your wife has come to the realization that she is not going to be able to stop you from pursuing your hobby, so she did the next best, i.e., cause you to lose a night's sleep. What time did you eventually hit the hay?

I'll be honest, I got back into bed at about 11:30, then looked at razors on the internet for another 30 mintues, then couldn't get to sleep for thinking about hones and razors.......
Do psychopaths ever go through similar stages of excitement and withdrawal as razor aficionados?

See?

I hate to say I told you so, but.........
Whom am I kidding? I love saying that!

[LarryAndro]

Any oil will work for oiling blades. The reason I use white petrolatum (Vaseline) is because it is cheap, easy to find everywhere in the world, and absurdly easy to apply. (Dab finger, swipe on side of spine, 3 swipes downward, repeat on other side... 5 seconds.) I don't remove it when I start to shave either. If manufacturers try to lubricate their blades, if lather has lubricants, if I apply pre-shave oil, why am I trying to remove a lubricating oil? (Oil workers used to treat cuts, which is how it was discovered.)

I recommend oiling a blade after every use for two reasons: (1) I don't know the humidity of storage, and (2) I don't know the time between shaves. We all tend to put a razor down, try other razors, and not come back for a few weeks.

Oiling, and what you use for oiling a blade is not something to grow passionate about. But, Vaseline is nice.

Occasionally, someone responds saying Vaseline contains water. It does not.)

[Prof. Moriarty]

I would not use vaseline after each shave, bit of a mess if you ask me. I personally would grab a razor sleeve from The Superior Shave. They should cost you I think $5 shipped (for one, the more you buy the cheaper it gets). I use them for my razors, and they are fantastic.
You should have gotten some oil with the package, I would just use that for now. Some people just rub their palm over the strop, due to the natural oils.

Get some of the sleeves on top of the page, you will thank me later
http://thesuperiorshave.com/Boker_Straight_Razors.html

Beat ya to it Doc Thanks again for convincing me to buy them, they are one of the best purchases I have made.

[Doc226]

Beat ya to it Doc Thanks again for convincing me to buy them, they are one of the best purchases I have made.

Yes you did, I love them too, they do exactly what they are supposed to do.