straight razors

[tullius]

Reasons to shave with a straight razor:

• No more spending hard gotten money on 5 blade throw-away modern wonders you can’t sharpen, clog up, dull after 2 uses, and cost $50 for a plastic handle & 14 refills
• Same $50 can get you a restored & honed vintage straight razor that lasts a hundred+ years, requires no refills and you can hand it down to your kids & grandkids, plus a near lifetime supply of Williams shaving soap
• Your razor has a fresh edge every time you use it: sharp enough to peel pieces off a human hair lengthwise
• Result: none of your hard earned money will go toward weak chinned, slack-jawed, knock kneed, nancy ass crap like this:

• View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koPmuEyP3a0

Haven't bought a razor cartridge in 20+ years.


Read this first: : https://archive.org/stream/shavingmadeeasyw0020th#page/n8/mode/1up

 

[Alpine]

I seldom use my straight razor ( when I do, it’s usually Sunday) but use my double edge every other day. The advantages are similar, but you don’t need a strop and lots of time to shave yourself properly. DE blades have a negligible cost, and I use one for 4 to 5 shaves. Bought 2 kilograms of Cella shaving soap that will last me probably 10 years for around 25$ (that was a good deal), my Omega brush is more than 5 years old, and I’m well stocked with Aqua Velva bought in Spain for 11$ per liter. Sadly, I have no kids or grandkids.
Beautiful collection BTW.

pier

 

[deluxestogie]

Over the past 57 years, I've used nearly every type of razor you can think of (other than the 3, 4, 5, 6 blade thingies). I've used electric razors, both expensive as well as cheap.

For nearly two decades, I used a straight razor. They're primitive tools, and a fair amount of tedious work to keep adequately sharpened. Yes, they look cool. I have well-used stones and strops. All have been mercifully tucked away for a long time now. My aging shoulder joints don't appreciate the high angle required for using a straight razor.

I look for bags of truly inexpensive, two-blade disposables in the big box store. Years ago, I stopped using shaving cream and soap and lotions, just to shave. I use lots of warm water on my face--Navy style. While I shave only every other day (no image to maintain), a typical cheapie two-blade disposable lasts me a couple of months--if kept meticulously clean. They will always underperform, if left with drying debris on or between the blades. The "lube" strip wears off after a week or so of use, but I have found I don't need that "lube" stuff. Just water. If I shave every day, my skin becomes irritated, whereas shaving only on alternate days leaves the skin healthy and intact.

This is the best razor I have ever used. The head does not swivel, and that is a good thing, allowing me full control of the cutting angle. But alas, they stopped making them. So after my current (last and final) Wilkinson Classic Twin has given up the ghost, I will go with a bag of BIC twin-blades for sensitive skin. They don't last as long, since they don't have a plastic shim that is finger-pressed from the back, to clear the space between the twin blades.

Life can be a whole lot simpler, if we allow it to be. And if I can no longer find a rationally priced disposable, then I'll crank up the old straight razor again. It's my backup plan.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I use my grandpa's Kiebitz to shred tobacco super fine and to cut dough. I don't shave my face anymore.

 

[Radagast]

I have a straight razor but I don't really know how to use it properly. Neither have I the skill to keep it sharp. My wife bought me this and I love it:

Super sharp, easy to clean, blades are cheap.

 

[deluxestogie]

a straight razor but I don't really know how to use it properly.

Soap a ripe peach, then use the straight razor to remove the soap, without removing the peach skin. That's pretty much it.

Bob

 

[GreenDragon]

I've found my skin just cannot handle a razor blade. Due to my pale skin and dark beard, I have to shave every day. So I use one of these in the shower. Since I make my own soap, which is similar to expensive shaving soaps, I simply lather up my face as usual, then run the lawn mower over it, and rinse. Boom - complete two tasks at once! Very efficient.

I have several friends who use a straight razor, so I've made a few formulations of shaving soap for them. They all claim my stuff is far superior to the $20 - $30 bars they get off the 'net. I'm sure the fact that they were free didn't affect their opinion in any way

I've got a few bowls left that's been curing for a year and need to be used. (After I found my regular bar soap works just fine with my electric razor, I couldn't be bothered to whip up a cream every morning.) If anyone wants to try one give me a PM.

 

[Knucklehead]

A Dovo straight razor I never use anymore. A vintage Gillette Double Edge from the 60’s that I used daily for a long time before I got lazy and went with the Braun. I still use the Gillette when I want a bit closer shave or I’m feeling nostalgic.

 

[docpierce]

Here is my rotation.

 

[Radagast]

They make for an attractive collectible.

 

[tullius]

few more of mine, some of these I haven't cleaned or honed up yet:

use my double edge every other day

Tried a nice double edge twice years ago, hated it, gave or sold it to my brother, he loves it. Not being able to see the blade like you can with a straight stymied me I think.

a fair amount of tedious work to keep adequately sharpened

Something isn't right then, just takes a few seconds more than maintaining a disposable. Before shaving, a few passes on the linen, a few passes on the leather. After shaving, dry off well, few passes on the leather, put away. No need for honing unless you've nicked or damaged the blade. I keep the linen side lightly loaded with this french razor chalk, it's mildly abrasive, but you can use other rouges/abrasives/etc.

Dovo straight razor I never use anymore

Beautiful razor, that same one dressed in white was the first one I ever bought, brand new. Third from the top in the pic at the start of the thread. It was something like thirty bucks delivered back then. They go for more than triple that now. Came popping sharp. Had to hone it once ten years ago because I dinged the blade on the faucet

 

[Knucklehead]

Tried a nice double edge twice years ago, hated it, gave or sold it to my brother, he loves it.

Beautiful razor, that same one dressed in white was the first one I ever bought, brand new. Third from the top in the pic at the start of the thread. It was something like thirty bucks delivered back then. They go for more than triple that now. Came popping sharp. Had to hone it once ten years ago because I dinged the blade on the faucet

It took me at least two weeks to get comfortable with the double edge. Finding that perfect angle is critical. There’s not much leeway there but once I found that angle I don’t even think about it anymore. No tugging or pulling. The other trick is to find the brand of blade that works for you. A sampler pack of different brands is a good idea in the beginning. Its weird but a brand that works great for me may not work for you. Different beards, different requirements. It’s a very nice, easy, smooth shave now.

The Dovo is a nice razor, it came ready to go. I never honed it. Just a leather strop. I’ll have to look into that linen thing.

 

[tullius]

Cella shaving soap

Haven't used this yet. Obviously you like it well. Tell me about it?

Omega brush

Almost all of my brushes are Omega. Vastly underrated, and a tremendous value.

shoulder joints don't appreciate the high angle required

True story. Nothing bad about good morning stretches though.

every other day

This is the way, if you can

I use my grandpa's Kiebitz to shred tobacco super fine and to cut dough.

Have not seen this marque in person yet. Solingen, so it should be excellent. Tell me about it? I like the repurpose as a lame, but shredding tobacco makes me wince: that's dirty dulling stuff on such a thin fine blade..

If anyone wants to try one give me a PM

DM sent.

 

[plantdude]

I've got a goatee mustache thing going in the summer and usually just quit with the whole shaving thing when winter comes. In the mean time I use a very old electric razor with dull blades that spends more time pulling the hair out than actually cutting it. I think it's more akin to waxing than shaving. It helps me feel better about myself though, more manly, to make up for those times when I use the sewing machine to make wee little white dresses for my tobacco plants to help cover their little flowers.

 

[Alpine]

Haven't used this yet. Obviously you like it well. Tell me about it?

It’s an old (since 1889!) shaving soap made in Milan in the same factory ever since. It contains tallow in high percentage and has a classic almond scent that disappears shortly after shaving. If you want to try it, drop me a PM and I’ll send you a piece, no problem.

pier

 

[tullius]

Thank you! DM sent.

 

[deluxestogie]

Perhaps I expect a straight razor to be way sharper than it needs to be. Back in the 1960s, I learned to sharpen microtome blades in the histology lab. The sharpness of a microtome blade was my standard for my straight razor (singular--only had one, which I still have).

At 72, with my years of competing in gymnastics far back in the distance, I do curls and presses (with two wimpy 7.5# weights), leg lifts, squats and push-ups 4 mornings a week. (A Ruth Bader Ginsburg quality of workout!) Still, it is sometimes a challenge to reach with a disposable razor in my right hand to shave the left side of my neck. And I no longer climb trees or do handstands and cartwheels.

Bob

 

[tullius]

Perhaps I expect a straight razor to be way sharper than it needs to be. Back in the 1960s, I learned to sharpen microtome blades in the histology lab. The sharpness of a microtome blade was my standard for my straight razor (singular--only had one, which I still have).

No, something else is wrong. There are three possibilities: form, technique or materials. If you did microtome blades, would guess it's the former or latter.

Have three straights that still won't cut right no matter what I've tried over the years: one Bengall (Sheffield), one Hercules (only marked made in Germany), and one marked Fremont Ohio. Have come to the conclusion they're either of bad steel or poor temper, or were so badly mistreated in the past the blades were fatally compromised.

Can still shave well with the hercules, but it doesn't hold an edge against anything marked solingen or wade & butcher or even japan (Fain Looking). Razors marked solingen have always been extremely satisfactory in my experience: a sure thing. Until this bengall, would've said the same thing about any razor stamped sheffield as well

 

[deluxestogie]

Sigh. I'm a failure.

Bob

 

[tullius]

Not at all! Just trying to help you out in case you have to employ your backup plan