Hello folks. I came here to write a short thank you and to share my appreciation for Alfredo, aka @Doc226. I didn’t know him prior to joining this forum but I’m glad we were introduced. I began exploring DE/wet shaving perhaps a year ago and had a hard time with it until I found the right blades and improved my technique. What I learned pushed me to want to explore more — the straight razor. I opened a Reddit account and started reading. Then started lurking on this forum, until I finally created an account, which was the real game changer.
Regardless, I purchased my first straight razor, a Boker Edelweiss, figuring that I wanted a good razor and I’d learn to hone it. I had been a woodworker for years and amassed a very large assortment of sharpening tools, so I figured honing straight razors would be easy to pick up. I came so close, but I was so far. After my conservative attempt to “set the bevel,“ having read so many stories about people jacking up their razors and removing too much material, I decided to send my new razor to Alfredo (Doc226) because I was terrified that I was going to ruin it.
It was really important to me that he not just hone my blade, but to also share with me (teach) what I had done wrong. And it was very simple. Alfredo shared some videos/images of my honing job before he began (which was as important to me as his honing). He said, “You were close, really close. You have some areas that were just hair short of reaching the very edge.“ Note the first three photos:
He provided ample notes but then shared the photo of his own honing where “you can see the typical frosted JNAT bevel.“ '
Bottom line: I became overwhelmed with the razor itself and the process that I completely forgot to visually inspect/ensure I honed all the way to the Apex. Regardless, Alfredo was patient, supportive and made a lot of time via emails working with me — he also sold me one of his JNATs! I feel very fortunate to have found this forum, all of you, and of course, Alfredo/@Doc226. I’ve only got amazing things to say about him. He’s fast, extremely reasonable, and a super gentleman. So if you need a honemeister, consider hitting him up. You can’t go wrong. Thank you again, Alfredo!
EDIT: And oh, BTW, I did my second ever shave with a straight today and it was great. Not BBS everywhere, but I’m conservatively erring on the side of self-preservation LOL and to this end, not a single cut, nick or any razor burn. But I did get some BBS with some across/against the grain shaving. I finished with my DE to get the rest BBS.
Sincerely,
Rich (Alexandria, VA)
Regardless, I purchased my first straight razor, a Boker Edelweiss, figuring that I wanted a good razor and I’d learn to hone it. I had been a woodworker for years and amassed a very large assortment of sharpening tools, so I figured honing straight razors would be easy to pick up. I came so close, but I was so far. After my conservative attempt to “set the bevel,“ having read so many stories about people jacking up their razors and removing too much material, I decided to send my new razor to Alfredo (Doc226) because I was terrified that I was going to ruin it.
It was really important to me that he not just hone my blade, but to also share with me (teach) what I had done wrong. And it was very simple. Alfredo shared some videos/images of my honing job before he began (which was as important to me as his honing). He said, “You were close, really close. You have some areas that were just hair short of reaching the very edge.“ Note the first three photos:
He provided ample notes but then shared the photo of his own honing where “you can see the typical frosted JNAT bevel.“ '
Bottom line: I became overwhelmed with the razor itself and the process that I completely forgot to visually inspect/ensure I honed all the way to the Apex. Regardless, Alfredo was patient, supportive and made a lot of time via emails working with me — he also sold me one of his JNATs! I feel very fortunate to have found this forum, all of you, and of course, Alfredo/@Doc226. I’ve only got amazing things to say about him. He’s fast, extremely reasonable, and a super gentleman. So if you need a honemeister, consider hitting him up. You can’t go wrong. Thank you again, Alfredo!
EDIT: And oh, BTW, I did my second ever shave with a straight today and it was great. Not BBS everywhere, but I’m conservatively erring on the side of self-preservation LOL and to this end, not a single cut, nick or any razor burn. But I did get some BBS with some across/against the grain shaving. I finished with my DE to get the rest BBS.
Sincerely,
Rich (Alexandria, VA)
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