Thread: finally got a blade!

Well it has been awhile since I last posted. I have been practicing my wet-shaving lather technique for a few months now with disposables. I finally picked up a boker king cutter/strop from straight razor design and some of mamabears soap. I should have my blade by the end of this week or next week. Super excited to start shaving some of the face:P

Congrats! I can remember the anticipation of the arrival of my first razor. Quite a great feeling when it does arrive...

Great to hear you are taking the plunge!

Those are all excellent products you got there. The boker is great stuff, mama bears is wonderful, what brand of brush, strop and hone are you getting?

Congratulations! Taking up straight razor shaving is about learning a manual skill much like skiing, sailing or even dancing...expect a month or two of some frustrations but the day you complete a good shave without a nick will be extremely gratifying. This forum is invaluable...thanks Lynn!

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Those are all excellent products you got there. The boker is great stuff, mama bears is wonderful, what brand of brush, strop and hone are you getting?

thanks guys!

My brush is actually a basic boars hair from walgreens which I have been using with a basic mug for a month or so working on lathering. I ordered the basic 2" Red Latigo Strop and Webbed Fabric that came with the Boker and straightrazordesigns. I also ordered a shallow srd bowl as my mug was hurting my wrists due to the depth.

I assume my strop will get destroyed as I learn and I am waiting to get a honing setup/nicer strop and brush for closer to christmas time.

You don't HAVE to destroy your first strop. If you start slow and learn good technique you can save your first strop from nicks. My first strop has only one nick.

Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.

I started with a boars hair and they work just fine. I used the brush for about 20 years, I didn't even know there was anything different.

I do love my badger hair brushes though. I just made my first silver tip from golden nib! I'll have to take some shave photos to show off my stuff!

Originally Posted by jmreeves

I assume my strop will get destroyed as I learn and I am waiting to get a honing setup/nicer strop and brush for closer to christmas time.

Originally Posted by jmreeves

Well it has been awhile since I last posted. I have been practicing my wet-shaving lather technique for a few months now with disposables. I finally picked up a boker king cutter/strop from straight razor design and some of mamabears soap. I should have my blade by the end of this week or next week. Super excited to start shaving some of the face:P

Sweet man. I got the same thing from SRD about a week and a half ago... September Special! I opted for the 3" strop. Everything is f'n SWEET! Just wipe off the oil on the blade and get your shave on; no need to strop it. Plus, if your stropping technique is a little off you will know what a real 'shave ready' razor is. Lynn sends 'em right! I was using a Parker shavette prior to the new equipment. Boker is WAAAAYY better.

I have been using VDH soap and boar brush from Walgreens. I just picked up a Col. Conk badger brush for a local cigar shop when I was home in Pensacola last weekend. To me it is way better. Not that the VDH boar was inadequate, I just like the badger better: it's softer and seems to get thicker lather much quicker... that could just be the extra experience since using the boar brush.

Anyway, you are in for a treat, my friend. You made a good choice.

... I now want to shave even when I don't need to...