El Cheapo n00b experience so far

**twelvepbrs** · 10-30-2008, 01:13 AM

I never did a formal introduction. Just like everyone else on this board, my name is Joel. The blade on my M3 Fusioin Power Flux Capacitor Millenium Falcon is really dull, and rather than shell out more dough, only to keep throwing more crap in the trash, I decided to look into straights. As of right now, I'm really glad I did. After buying three eBay specials ($30.00 total including shipping), and doing some tinkering with the two razors that have shown up so far (shown below), I've already been able to rehab both edges, and get what I would consider a pretty good shave out of one of the razors. One of the edges had a nick that was adequately described in the eBay listing, and the other razor seems like it had a little bit of a double bevel by the heel. In addition to the razors, I've spent a whopping $10.00 on supplies to sharpen them (some 600 grit Norton Wetsand, and a three pack of pinnacle honing films from Woodcraft). I've been using a previously untouched marble cutting board (it's just too heavy and bulky to actually use a cutting board) for a surface for both the 600 grit, and the honing film (using the 600 grit like a honing surface with it wetted to the board). For soap, I just slapped some foam from whatever B&BW foaming hand soap just happened to be in the bathroom, did WTG, XTG (including XTG on the upper lip), and a little bit of ATG touchups with only two or three very minor nicks, much more comfortable than when I was just trying a small patch with a dull razor. I have a feeling that my grip and technique are unorthodox, especially for some parts of my face, but I'm not really sure how much that matters if I'm getting a smooth and comfortable shave without a whole lot of effort. BTW; the Wostenholm gave the better shave; after honing, I did a patch with each razor, and decided to use the Wostenholm to finish up. It seems like maybe I didn't go long enough to get rid of the double bevel on the Clover. Also, I didn't shave my chin, because I have some hair there to help my hide one of my many other chins, but there's also a scar there that has been there since I was five. I caught the scar in a safety razor when I was a teenager, left a little flap of skin hanging off the razor. Man was that bloody, but now it doesn't stick out as much, but I'm still nervous about putting a blade over it.

Now to make my own strop.....

**crankymoose** · 10-30-2008, 05:00 AM

Welcome to B&B
were you able to hone that chip out?

**geoffreyt** · 10-30-2008, 07:50 AM

Sounds like you have a good grip on things. 600 should set a bevel and moving up in grit, maybe 4000 then 8000 then 12000 would put a bit of smooth in the blade. A strop is a must. I like the spike point blades.

**twelvepbrs** · 10-30-2008, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by crankymoose

Welcome to B&B
were you able to hone that chip out?

To start I cut a strip of the 600 grit that was three inches wide, and got it to stick to a marble cutting board with some water. The surface tension was enough to hold it flat while I honed (edge first) on it until the chip was gone, didn't take too long, under an hour I think, but I did go through a couple sheets of 600 since the abbrasive started to wear off. The pinnacle honing films are 15, 5 and 0.3 micron, which works out to a 1200 grit, 4500 grit, and something in the finising stone range. If the films start to wear down I think I might move on to some of the 3M diamond lapping films, but I can get the pinnacles easily, since there's a Woodcraft less than 15 minutes from my house (the 15 micron film is actually made by 3M).

**crankymoose** · 10-31-2008, 04:00 AM

cool

**battlemonk** · 11-01-2008, 10:55 AM

I have a scar on my chin from falling on an ice rink when I was about 12. I've only cut it once or twice when shaving, and never with my straight.

**profsaffel** · 11-01-2008, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by battlemonk

I have a scar on my chin from falling on an ice rink when I was about 12. I've only cut it once or twice when shaving, and never with my straight.

I have a scar on my chin from slipping (I was running in socks) in the church fellowship hall when I was about 7. No stitches, but mom said it bled... a lot. It's on the bottom of my chin, so my goatee hides it well.

**Bobtrumpet** · 11-01-2008, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by twelvepbrs

I never did a formal introduction. Just like everyone else on this board, my name is Joel . . . For soap, I just slapped some foam from whatever B&BW foaming hand soap just happened to be in the bathroom

Joel,

Welcome to B&B!

If you frequent Bath and Body Works, you might pick up a tube of C.O Bigelow Premium Shaving cream (green tube, made by Proraso). I think you'll get a better shave out of it.

http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/prod...entPage=search