Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11
Like Tree38Likes

Thread: Benchmarking

  1. #1
    lobeless earcutter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    4,864
    Thanked: 762

    Default Benchmarking

    So you have bought yourself a straight razor and entered the world of wet shaving! Sweet! You have made a large leap. But inevitably, as with all things sharp, there comes a point where they become dull. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your mindset), said dulling comes quicker for the new straight razor user than the seasoned user due to a variety of reasons really, namely; poor angles when shaving, poor stropping technique, etc., etc.

    Hence, learning how to hone or maintain an edge should be as paramount to the beginning straight razor user as shaving itself. And this is where being a member of SRP really shines!! Where the internet really shines! But I got to tell you something you’re not going to like hearing… short of the SRP wiki, a bit of what you read here is malarkey!! 95% of what you read on the net is absolute malarkey! Even this is malarkey!!

    Now before you get all defensive about your sources of knowledge, let me explain. There is what I call a certain amount of voodoo in blade maintenance and honing – you’ll discover it soon enough. What works for one, doesn’t always work for another. This is because it is VERY hard if not impossible to account for all the variables. Everything is a guideline. I mean if you tell me you are only applying light pressure… well what does that mean exactly?

    More importantly – we are a forum of gentlemen. Hence, when you say something is working for you, who am I to say you are lying? I mean seriously, if you tell me that you are doing 100 laps on a brick with diamond paste before every shave and that its working for you… who am I to say you are lying? Of course sometimes guys are called out on their technique, and then things get really fun!

    Inevitably, brick/diamond man will produce a picture under 400x magnification showing how smooth his blade is etc, etc. This in turn will have many who “chase the edge,” guys like me, buying said paste, scouring their back yards for a decent brick, and going hog wild… only to suffer the worst razor burn ever! Of course, I’ll blame the brick and keep looking… ultimately, wasting my time lol.

    You may be more skeptical, but many of us aren’t, and I like many… am that sucker they talk about that is born every day. I have done it! Often! And ultimately I became dejected as would anyone - especially if you just blew their entire honing budget on it! Many of us are looking for shortcuts. Shortcuts are great! But shortcuts like in anything, can only exist for those who know what they are doing first. Just ask Columbus lol!!

    __________________________________________________ ____________________

    Ok so if everything is malarkey including this, why should you even read any further? Why have you read this far?? Well, hopefully because of two things. One, the truth is right there in front of your face, it’s just not as sexy as a magic natural hone or a magic paste. You'll see. And Two, you can speed up the process to where you can discover your magic hone or paste for yourself, because it’s out there waiting for you!! But you have to create a system or what I call a benchmark in order to find it! Only a very few of us get as lucky as… Columbus lol.

    __________________________________________________ ____________________

    Ok so what’s benchmarking? According to Bing, it’s, “a standard against which something can be measured or assessed”


    The best benchmark I have ever seen or read - something I refer to often is here:
    Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Library

    Seriously - allot of thought has gone into this - read it often!!
    Lynn, gssixgun, gugi and 15 others like this.
    David

  2. The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to earcutter For This Useful Post:

    aa1192 (04-07-2014), badg3r (04-08-2014), dexter90723 (04-08-2014), edhewitt (04-08-2014), lz6 (04-09-2014), pfries (04-07-2014), Siguy (04-09-2014)

  3. #2
    Huh... Oh here pfries's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Tri-Cities TN
    Posts
    2,270
    Thanked: 358

    Default

    I have and I do, competent in what I do for me to get a close comfortable shave.
    I am however far from done in learning or improving. I test, I play, I compare and do it again.
    This place has been a wealth of knowledge to teach and inspire me.
    Over three years in if you count my time with a shavette and without SRP and my journey has only just begun.

    Thanks for the reminder
    earcutter and Chevhead like this.
    It is just Whisker Whacking
    Relax and Enjoy!
     



  4. #3
    The original Skolor and Gentileman. gugi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    17,410
    Thanked: 3906
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    hey, how about the cliffnotes to that novel you posted, and if you could please summarize those Library FAQs to say 20 words.

    much appreciated!

    kthxbai
    earcutter and Chevhead like this.

  5. #4
    Senior Member badg3r's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    North Bay, Ontario & Reno, Nevada
    Posts
    146
    Thanked: 28

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by earcutter View Post
    Seriously - allot of thought has gone into this - read it often!!
    Well said Earcutter!!! I couldn't agree more with the entirety of your article but I really like that last line. I have been shaving with a SR for a very long time and although I have only been with the forum for a short while, I find something new and interesting every time I look back through the Library. It has gotten to the point where I captured most of the pdf articles and put them on my kindle as I travel a lot and it gives me something to peruse when I am without internet and seeking entertainment. Knowledge is power and everything that is needed to be successful in this sport is contained in that Library. My hat is off to everyone that has contributed to and maintained this wealth of information.
    Gerry

  6. #5
    Moderator Razorfeld's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Forest Grove, Oregon
    Posts
    5,152
    Thanked: 1226

    Default

    earcutter, despite the fact that your excellent post reads and rings true at first I thought I was reading one of those dreaded TV commercials where they promise you Nirvana, free, no cost, eternal joy and take twenty minutes to get you to submit your credit card number for shipping and handling.

    All kidding aside, damn good read, and to the point. Summary: Listen to me, don't listen to me. Do as I do, or don't. If we were all alike it would be boring. But above all share and share alike our knowledge without rancor and emotion and remember, above all YMMV.
    "The sharpening stones from time to time provide officers with gasoline."

  7. #6
    lobeless earcutter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    4,864
    Thanked: 762

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gugi View Post
    hey, how about the cliffnotes to that novel you posted, and if you could please summarize those Library FAQs to say 20 words.

    much appreciated!

    kthxbai
    Cliff notes:

    Don't get excited and listen to what 90% of us are saying as we experiment if you are just starting out and feel a bit overwhelmed!

    If you don't know who to believe, believe no one (Especially gugi! - He's always looking for shortcuts!), and start at the link provided.

    Once you got that down, and know what you're doing, start trying new things! Banter with gugi! Look for exotic things to make things quicker.
    Lynn, gugi, Chevhead and 1 others like this.
    David

  8. #7
    The original Skolor and Gentileman. gugi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    17,410
    Thanked: 3906
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by badg3r View Post
    My hat is off to everyone that has contributed to and maintained this wealth of information.
    Let's do one better and drag them out of the semi-anonymity:

    Name:  Screen Shot 2014-04-08 at 3.32.40 PM.png
Views: 134
Size:  40.8 KB

    Look ma, I made it to the second tier
    lz6, earcutter, Siguy and 1 others like this.

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to gugi For This Useful Post:

    badg3r (04-09-2014), earcutter (04-08-2014)

  10. #8
    lobeless earcutter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    4,864
    Thanked: 762

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gugi View Post
    Let's do one better and drag them out of the semi-anonymity:

    Name:  Screen Shot 2014-04-08 at 3.32.40 PM.png
Views: 134
Size:  40.8 KB

    Look ma, I made it to the second tier
    That's awesome!! To all those gentlemen - thank you!

    The 12 disciples !!
    David

  11. #9
    Senior Member Siguy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Black Bear, NJ
    Posts
    1,672
    Thanked: 171

    Default

    Well said, Dave! A post like this it begging to be made every month or two.

    @gugi,
    Nice job. There should be a stat for edited posts. I'd rank somewhere in the top of the table. lol
    earcutter likes this.

  12. #10
    Senior Member Siguy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Black Bear, NJ
    Posts
    1,672
    Thanked: 171

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Razorfeld View Post
    All kidding aside, damn good read, and to the point. Summary: Listen to me, don't listen to me. Do as I do, or don't. If we were all alike it would be boring. But above all share and share alike our knowledge without rancor and emotion and remember, above all YMMV.
    In other words, all paths are different, but the destination remains the same.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •