Plan on learning to use a straight razor

ehurt · 08-13-2008, 02:00 PM

once I have the money (dog decided to almost die a couple of times etc). I like the idea of not having my legacy to this world be a pile of old razors and shaving cream cans. My legs also get really dry and irritated in the winter, and I can't stand body hair, so I don't want to give up shaving. Maybe with this I could shave less often. I've also made a few batches of soap, so I want to try to make my own shaving soap. From what I've read it is basically normal soap, but you add a higher percentage of castor oil for the lather and some clay for the lube. Just saying hiii. I will probably have some questions while I try and choose what to buy...I think I'd want a small razor since it seems more versatile and can get in more places than my legs. Don't know much beyond that, and of course more research needs to be done.

freebird · 08-13-2008, 03:31 PM

Welcome to the group. The Guys and Gals here are all more than willing to help answer any of your questions, and they are a great group to know as well. By your post,I'm guessing a 4/8 is what you're looking for, I have two at the moment.If we can get one of the honemeisters to clean one up and hone it, I'll send one your way.

nun2sharp · 08-13-2008, 09:03 PM

Although Tony is pretty sharp and a very likeable fellow, I would have to disagree with his suggetion of a 4/8 size blade, there are plenty of 3/8 blades floating around. I would also suggest a blade with a round point rather than squared/spike. Welcome to SRP!!! Hope we can help whatever the situation.

Pearl Razor · 08-14-2008, 02:12 AM

welcome!
I love my 4/8 though it doesn't fit into the round of my under-arm it is very good for my legs. Perfect for getting at all leg areas! A Smaller one in length would be great but a 4/9 width seems fine for me
Any questions, ask away

Pearl

ehurt · 08-14-2008, 01:10 PM

Well, this may make me sound horribly spoiled, but my dad knew I was broke from not getting summer hours and my dog getting sick (again), so he mailed me a check <3 This means I can afford to buy food again, and even a razor sooner than I thought. How exciting.

Well I did not see a place here that explained this stuff, but I assume I just missed it. After looking at the description of parts on Wikipedia. I think it might be best for me to get at least two razors. One for legs since they are oh so big and meaty, and then one that is little to get into whatever else I want to dehair (at least armpits).

Point: round because I never shape anything--if I am shaving it I want it all gone--and it would be safer.

Grinding: maybe straight since I am cheap?

Width: for legs perhaps 4/8" or larger since they have a lot of area to cover (Pearl recommended a 4/8" above), and also a tiny one, I guess 3/8" is pretty much the smallest (?), for any nooks and crannies. The latter would came later on, once I could do the big legs.

Length: Hmmm haven't seen anything about this. I am thinking an average sized one for legs, and a short one for the nooks and crannies. I assume there are different lengths anyway.

Haven't done much research yet. Can someone give me a good link on how to choose your razor? I didn't see one on here, and I'd think there would be.

Thank you,

Erin

nun2sharp · 08-14-2008, 03:38 PM

Just keep asking questions and you'll be fine!

Spike J · 08-14-2008, 10:26 PM

Hi Erin!

Welcome to SRP. a great deal of knowhow & fun is to be had here. There are some other Lady Shavers here, I should know

Ladies Corner is worth reading right the way through. You might also want to read through Project coochie razor Yes it is a huge thread, but it will answer a lot of questions.

The reason PCR started was that some of us realised that the most important dimension on a razor for nooks & crannies is length. There have been a couple of razors ground down from 3" to a more easily usable 2 or even 1 1/2". One of the custom makers, Butch Harner, has made a couple of short blades & even had his first straight razor shave with one.

Have fun here & keep asking. We will do our best to give you an at least semi-serious answer.

Spike

L R Harner · 08-15-2008, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike J

Hi Erin!

Welcome to SRP. a great deal of knowhow & fun is to be had here. There are some other Lady Shavers here, I should know

Ladies Corner is worth reading right the way through. You might also want to read through Project coochie razor Yes it is a huge thread, but it will answer a lot of questions.

The reason PCR started was that some of us realised that the most important dimension on a razor for nooks & crannies is length. There have been a couple of razors ground down from 3" to a more easily usable 2 or even 1 1/2". One of the custom makers, Butch Harner, has made a couple of short blades & even had his first straight razor hsvae with one.

Have fun here & keep asking. We will do our best to give you an at least semi-serious answer.

Spike

im keeping my eyes open for a short list of razor specs for the lady that straights.
i think im going to have to sell the one that i have been shaving with (learning )
its a hair over 5/8X1.75 long high carbon and amboyna burl mono scale (there are a few pictures around)

it works great for me to test shaving on the weekends as the round heel and tip make me not bleed. i like that part. it seems that for me least for now i like the short blade for working round my goat T

i also made a 4/8 slim but my hone was not up to par on that one (before getting new stones and practice ) so im still pending feed back

Silver · 08-15-2008, 01:10 PM

Hi Erin!

Welcome to SRP, it's great to have another Lady onboard.

You may want to check out Blue Principle's website Invisible Egde - Jargon Buster Steve has some really good info on there about razor specs and grinds (with pic's which always helps).

Spike and I both had our first (and only at the moment) razors from there and he's a solid Gent to deal with, very helpful through all stages of you enquiry's.

Where abouts do you live? There are regular SRP Meet up's all over the place, so there may be one coming up close to where you live.

Butch (L R Harner) has been playing close attention to what the Ladies and Gents have suggested over on the PCR thread to make the perfect short razor for all our nookes and crannies. Thank you Butch, I can't wait to have one!

Thank you for the update too.

Keep asking questions too, Viola and Lilith are the most experienced Lady shavers here with Pearl, Sno, Olivia and I coming next.

Great to meet you and see you around the boards soon.

ehurt · 08-15-2008, 03:39 PM

Spike: I have been reading some of the PCR thread. It is very long. I think I'm on page 13 or so now...

Silver: Selena Kyle is that you?

I am in Norman, OK, and thank you for that link. Seems to be what I was looking for.

PS I was trying to use the quotes, and there were too many smilies, so I just deleted you guys.

Silver · 08-18-2008, 01:05 PM

I wish!

Don't worry about the quote thing at the moment, I usually delete all the smiles out of a post I want to quote, makes life a little easier

Freebird is in OK, he's also a stand up top notch Gent too, you really are in good company.

ehurt · 08-19-2008, 02:01 PM

Oh I saw he was from OK. I thought it was kind of a crazy coincidence that a local(ish) guy was the first to reply to me.

Ah I was trying to look on classifieds, but don't know which one to get (if any). So sad. I do like how some of them are $35 though haha.

LilithParker · 08-19-2008, 06:28 PM

Welcome! I'm so glad to see our little sisterhood growing steadily.

I've discovered that for fitting into curvy areas, blade width is not nearly as important as blade/scale length. The difference between a 3/8 and a 4/8 isn't all that noticeable to me, but the difference between a 2.5" blade and a 3" blade is huge, especially if we're talking about areas like armpits and genitals. Once I have a steady income again, I'm thinking of asking one of the gents here to make a custom razor for me... I think my ideal right now would be a 4/8 that's only 2" long.

Weight is also a factor. My Wapi, with its stainless steel scales, is pretty heavy, so it handles differently than, say, my Korn, which is super-light with plastic scales. The Korn actually has a bigger blade (width and length), but it feels more maneuverable, which is why I use it more than the Wapi.

Everybody shaves differently and has different preferences, so what works for me may not work for you. I strongly suggest borrowing as many razors as you can for test shaves, just to get an idea of what's out there and how the handling varies.

ehurt · 08-20-2008, 12:52 AM

Eep borrowing? Is that sanitary? That kind of freaks me out. I guess a lot of the razors here are used though huh?

I think I'd end up going with a heavy razor since I try to avoid plastic when at all possible (like on the danged handles). I guess wood is lighter than steel though, so it's still light? Whooo knows...not me, since I don't have one 8(

LilithParker · 08-20-2008, 01:45 AM

Sterilize (or at least sanitize) your blades and you'll be fine. And yes, wood is about as light as plastic when it comes to scales.

kevint · 08-20-2008, 12:42 PM

Welcome to the forum neighbor ehurt!

I was trying think of any decent looking, reasonable priced pieces I've seen laying around in local shops, then I realized I probably bought 'em.