Straight razor.

So I got a straight razor, and then I got another one. I am dissapointed in the dovo straight razor; made in Germany, and pleasantly suprized by the Thiers Issard straight razor; made in France. Supprise, They can do something else well other than make excelent bread and loose wars.

I will admit the with in the first three shaves I sliced my self up good. The first time I actualy didn't have any problems. The second and third time was when the carnage occured. The first three were with the Dovo. But then the fine piece of machinery came from the frenchies and I realized my mistake. Now my only problems come from the difficult angles on the left side. Right side is good. No problems. I am still just a little awkward on the left.

One piece of advice just incase any of you men want to try it. Do not... DO NOT try to shave with out stroping, even if the razor comes with directions saying that the razor comes ready to shave. Still, you should strop that bad boy. The Thiers Issard directions said that and I believed them. I got about half way across my face and said "that is enough" I washed off the razor stroped it and when I came back was as smooth a shave as I have ever had. SO STROP YOUR RAZOR.

You may say "that is silly" or "straight razors are so expensive" or "I am afraid I would cut myself" or " I don't know how." Well all of those excusses are worthless. And here is why.

1. that is silly- Your fore fathers used straight razors and they were more of a man by the age of 15 than you may ever be.

2. straight razors are so expensive- Yes they are, but they are not as expensive as the typical razor blade cartrages you have to buy twice a year. Do you realized the prices on those things are like 35, 40 dollars. Those are for the big packs and they may last a long time. But they wont last as long as a good finely crafted piece of carbon steel.

3. I am afraid I would cut myself- Of course you will cut your self you pansy. Grab your man parts and get over it. I have and it is refreshing. Especialy when you splash some after shave or strait alcohol on it after wards. The pain lets you know you are still alive.

4. I don't know how- Well of course you don't. no one has ever shown, or told you how to do it. But there is an easy remedy for that. Look it up on the internet. You are on the internet if you are reading this. So take 5 seconds to do some REAL INDEPTH RESEARCH AND GOOGLE IT. or I will give you a breef go over at the end.

SO there you are. No excuses any more. Really it is a better way to do it. I have to say that even with my sensitive neck and face skin the single blade of the french made, carbon steel, hollow ground, deadly, work of art, only after 6 attempts, it gives me a far better shave than the last overly expensive gellet thing that i bought with the 14 razors lined up on it with the swivel head and the single blade that almost shaves but not really. I am done with those. And one day I may have to buy another straight razor. But by that time i may be so old that my nurse will have to shave me, right after she changes my diaper.

THE END.

What you need to know for a good shave with a strait razor.

Items needed.

1 strait razor. I sugest Thier Issard. they are alittle over 100 dollars.

1 strop. get one with a leather and a canvas side. It will more than likely come with instructions. If not give me a ring and i will Instruct you in the ways that you should go. It will cost you about 30 to 50 dollars.

1 sharpening stone- this is were I think you should spend money on the higher grade sharpening hone. I purchased the Norton 4000 and 8000 combo water stone. It was 79 dollars. I have yet to use it on my good razor. But I have plenty of dull knives to hone my own sharpening skill on.
The sharpening hone is for after about a year the strop will not sharpen the razor like it did at first. YOu must then cut the worn edge off and re-cut it with the hone. THen the strop will work as it once did.

Lather and shave with the grain on a sharp angle. start with the side burns and come down. then the neck, then come across the chin. Coming back across the chin from the left and down the neck is where i have had trouble. SO be patient YOu are going to get cut. It's alright sweaty. You will make it. Eventualy you will get better. And then finaly the mustash. That is where the strait razor can really make the difference between a fine tool and the big stack of razors that cut like a lawn mower.

One more thing I would recomend. after the shave use a good aftershave. easy enough, I hope.
  • phat_man
    I got a straight razor in march of last year. I LOVE IT! Though I must admit, I have not kept good care of it as of late and it is beyond the help of a strop. I either need a whet stone or take it to get sharpened.
    by phat_man at 04/30/07 2:36AM
  • phat_man
    By the way, I've never cut myself with it. So hah!
    by phat_man at 04/30/07 2:37AM
  • buddabignbald
    I love number 1 on why we should use them. I could hear that one coming out of your mouth.
    by buddabignbald at 05/11/07 2:44PM
  • mattdevore
    Chuck, do you still love the razor? I will buy one now if you still swear by it.
    by mattdevore at 05/17/07 6:13PM
  • skinns
    I do. I even sharpened up my grandfathers very old straight razor and used it the other day it was as good as the new ones.
    by skinns at 05/18/07 4:25PM
  • phat_man
    do you thing you could give mine a once over and make it sharp as new?
    by phat_man at 05/19/07 3:32AM
  • phorgain37055
    skinns, email me...again. I deleted all of the emails in my inbox on accident the day you sent that
    by phorgain37055 at 05/22/07 9:29PM
  • marie
    Happy Memorial Day...and many thanks for your service.
    by marie at 05/28/07 11:18AM
  • jimmybuck
    You mean you don't have to change the blade? Wow! I so want one, and to get a nice shave, I'd spend that kind of money!
    by jimmybuck at 06/12/07 10:49PM
  • pooky
    Hey Charley. How's it going?
    by pooky at 06/13/07 4:04PM
  • mattdevore
    We used the heaters and everything. I thought I would vomit when I saw and smelled the cheese spread.
    by mattdevore at 07/11/07 9:59AM
  • danielstephen
    i believe we both need a new post
    by danielstephen at 07/31/07 4:15PM
  • marla
    Check this out. Heehee.
    by marla at 08/06/07 10:22PM
  • cdawg
    i went behind enemy lines two times during the smashing of yugoslavia to retrieve a broken jet, was shot at on the ground on both occassions and was almost shot out of the sky, do you know me or do you just like to pick fights?
    by cdawg at 08/20/07 9:04AM
  • pooky
    Charley! I'm starting to take offense at your silence. I see you can comment on Cal's blog - but I can't get a hello from you for over 6 months. What's the deal - it's not like we go back to when we were little or anything.
    by pooky at 08/20/07 8:19PM
  • cdawg
    yes, three times a year we did exercises and had to dig fox holes and fill sandbags. but primarily i fixed jets, a grease monkey. but from what she tells me, you were in the choir. so did you dig a lot of foxholes in the choir, just a little air force / groundpounder rivalry ... ;P
    by cdawg at 09/10/07 10:36AM
  • cdawg
    crew chief, F-15C. Central European Command 493rd FS RAF Lakenheath, UK.
    by cdawg at 09/10/07 10:41AM
  • cdawg
    note - mos is crew chief
    f-15 was the type of plane
    central european command was the theater
    fs means fighter squadron
    raf means royal air force b/c we were stationed in england
    and lakenheath was the base
    by cdawg at 09/10/07 10:46AM
  • cdawg
    what is pjs? pararescue?
    by cdawg at 09/10/07 12:19PM