I’m back … and I’ve gone straight.

Going to a huge antique/vintage show tomorrow at the Expo Center. Don't need another old straight razor, but it's the thrill of the hunt you know. I'll give a holler if I snag anything noteworthy.

Sarge
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
Going to a huge antique/vintage show tomorrow at the Expo Center. Don't need another old straight razor, but it's the thrill of the hunt you know. I'll give a holler if I snag anything noteworthy.
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Good hunting at the show.

My son came back from college yesterday. He has a week here until summer quarter starts. He had a lot of stubble from not shaving during finals week, so I introduced him to the straight razors. He did very well, better than I did the first time, and no blood. But then he had some instruction and I didn't. (That's my excuse.) I started him off with one of the razors I reconditioned but halfway through it was pulling quite a bit so we switched over to a new Dovo and that did better. I guess I still have a ways to go with the edges. I touched them up a bit more on some old barber hones.

My son said he'll give the straight razors a try the rest of the week and then decide if he wants to take some gear back to school with him. If nothing else I can probably get him to adopt a brush and mug. He likes the bay rum aftershave also, so I'll probably set him up with some of that too.

I figured the passing down of the techniques skipped a generation or two, but since I rediscovered it I may as well pass it down.
 
Howard Wallace said:
I started him off with one of the razors I reconditioned but halfway through it was pulling quite a bit so we switched over to a new Dovo and that did better. I guess I still have a ways to go with the edges. I touched them up a bit more on some old barber hones.
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Seen that before, usually results from a minute residual wire edge left over from honing. Generally after honing one, I'll strop it well on a strop loaded with compound before I finish up with a regular strop. If a razor is otherwise sharp, but feels like it's yanking the whiskers out instead of cutting them, take a look at the edge under a magnifying glass, just about bet you'll see what I mean.

Sarge
 
Your son is in college now Howard? Time flies. When I first met you on knifeforums I was still in college myself.
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
Seen that before, usually results from a minute residual wire edge left over from honing. Generally after honing one, I'll strop it well on a strop loaded with compound before I finish up with a regular strop. If a razor is otherwise sharp, but feels like it's yanking the whiskers out instead of cutting them, take a look at the edge under a magnifying glass, just about bet you'll see what I mean.
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I'll bet you're right. I saw a burr after using the abrasive belts but I thought I got it off with the leather belt. Apparently not.

kamagong said:
Your son is in college now Howard? Time flies. When I first met you on knifeforums I was still in college myself.
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Yes, he just completed his first year. (He took some courses while he was in High School though, so he's actually more than a sophmore now.)

The years blow by like the fluff of dandelions in the wind.
 
Hi Howard,
I thought I had my addiction to sharp steel confined to khukuris, Philippine blades, Scandinavian blades and gaucho knives. Now you expose us to the grace and beauty of the straight razor. Several old and inexpensive ones are headed my way right now from the great Ebay yard sale.:eek:

And I don't even shave! :)

Thanks bud. :D

Steve
 
ferguson said:
Hi Howard,
I thought I had my addiction to sharp steel confined to khukuris, Philippine blades, Scandinavian blades and gaucho knives. Now you expose us to the grace and beauty of the straight razor. Several old and inexpensive ones are headed my way right now from the great Ebay yard sale.:eek:

And I don't even shave! :)

Thanks bud. :D

Steve
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There's a hidden trap. I thought I would shave off my beard for a week or so, to surprise Red Flower. Then I figured since it was off I might as well have some fun with a straight razor until I started to regrow it. Now I am always eagerly anticipating my next shave, and the horizon for regrowing my beard is quickly receeding into the distance.

Beware!
 
You can have your beard and shave it too Howard. Mine's now whittled down to a long mustache, that curls up ever so slightly at the ends, and a goatee I guess you would call it, that just covers my chin and lower lip. So, I get to sport me some facial hair, yet still shave my cheeks, neck, etc., daily. Trimming around beards/mustaches is where those squared end style razors really shine.
Here's another "neat" razor tip guys. You know that hair on the back of your neck that gets sort of scraggly between hair cuts? Whip out your trusty straight razor, stand with your back to the bathroom mirror, hold any hand mirror in front of you with your non-razor wielding hand, and believe it or not, you can square that stuff away as good as any barber. 'Course it takes a bit of practice, and a modicum of skill with a razor to start with, for it not to be just a wee tad "hazardous". Worth the trouble though, you'd be surprised how much you can stretch out time between hair cuts by just cleaning up around the edges with scissors and a razor.
About the new beard configuration. Was down at the old squadron a while back, welcoming some folks home from Afghanistan. Some of the youngsters asked me to pose for a picture with my foot propped up on a bench and holding a huge bottle of Captain Morgan's rum. Knowing I was being set up for something I asked why. One of 'em piped up, "uh Sarge, ain't that your picture on the label?" Some things don't change, them boys are still knuckleheads. ;)

Sarge
 
Of course you could just cut your own hair also. I do it with $20 clippers from Wally World. Between my own haircuts and the use of straights, I figure I must save around $500 a year.
 
For the ultimate in "clean as a whistle" grooming, Josh will shave your arms for you. Really makes tattoos "pop". ;)

mankeyarm6ay.jpg


Sarge
 
Yup, had no idea when I adopted that style, that it apparently got planted in my memory banks as a result of drinking spiced rum. Not sure I'll grow my hair to emulate the Captain's, it's dayumed hot already here in Texas, forecast calls for everyday this week to hit the century mark. :( Still, it ain't near as hot as some places I've been. ;) :D

Sarge
 
Interesting fact about me:facial hair;never had any,never will I like being hairless :thumbup:
 
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