RicTic
Well-Known Member
Behold!
It’s been a mere 7 months since my journey began.
I took the well worn and trodden path away from the Mach3 and following a brief flirt (about 2 months) with a DE and it wasn’t long before I dipped my toe into the wonderful world of straight razors.
It was tricky to begin with, but after reading and re-reading the advice of others from various forums, some of whom post here, I finally managed to nail my technique and achieve a regular bbs.
Still learning and still improving.
Was I happy?
Not bloody likely!
It was around this time that the razors I acquired were beginning to lose their edge and the shaves began to suffer as a consequence.
Being the kind of person that likes to do things for himself, along with an inability to leave things alone, hoping to refresh my edges I purchased a Naniwa 12K, an 8K and finally a 5K.
And this is where my straight razor journey took a turn down a honing cul de sac.
OK I know. Such things take time, right?
I purposely chose the synthetic hones over the naturals, because the advice given favoured the synthetics as noob friendly. In that they were deemed to be more consistent than the temperamental nature of the Coticule.
However, no matter how many threads I read on the various forums, no matter how many videos I watched…I just couldn’t get a shave ready edge on my razors.
I couldn’t understand what the hell I was doing wrong.
I accepted that there was nothing wrong with the hones and that it was my technique letting me down.
It was around this time that I was reading a particular thread over on SRP, about a member who was learning to use a Coticule which included the advice of another member (Bart) giving his opinion on the versatility of this ancient stone.
His passion was both obvious and infectious and my interest piqued.
After discovering this forum via that thread and reading the boards, especially the Sharpening Academy along with the invaluable hands on experience of the members here. I purchased a yellow Coticule bout.
On its arrival I set about trying to achieve a shave ready edge using the Dilucote method, from dulling on a glass onwards through the stages…and failed to pass the HHT.
Not to be put off I added a layer of tape and created a secondary bevel.
And…EUREKA!
The first ever straight razor I bought, a vintage Sheffield J&W Ragg has this morning just given me the smoothest of shaves.
After the first couple of passes I found myself staring into the mirror in disbelief!
Do I owe this to my new found honing skills?
Ha…I don’t think so!
My Coticule, this forum, Bart and the members here…take a bow.
Grinning from ear to ear,
Good Wishes,
David.
It’s been a mere 7 months since my journey began.
I took the well worn and trodden path away from the Mach3 and following a brief flirt (about 2 months) with a DE and it wasn’t long before I dipped my toe into the wonderful world of straight razors.
It was tricky to begin with, but after reading and re-reading the advice of others from various forums, some of whom post here, I finally managed to nail my technique and achieve a regular bbs.
Still learning and still improving.
Was I happy?
Not bloody likely!
It was around this time that the razors I acquired were beginning to lose their edge and the shaves began to suffer as a consequence.
Being the kind of person that likes to do things for himself, along with an inability to leave things alone, hoping to refresh my edges I purchased a Naniwa 12K, an 8K and finally a 5K.
And this is where my straight razor journey took a turn down a honing cul de sac.
OK I know. Such things take time, right?
I purposely chose the synthetic hones over the naturals, because the advice given favoured the synthetics as noob friendly. In that they were deemed to be more consistent than the temperamental nature of the Coticule.
However, no matter how many threads I read on the various forums, no matter how many videos I watched…I just couldn’t get a shave ready edge on my razors.
I couldn’t understand what the hell I was doing wrong.
I accepted that there was nothing wrong with the hones and that it was my technique letting me down.
It was around this time that I was reading a particular thread over on SRP, about a member who was learning to use a Coticule which included the advice of another member (Bart) giving his opinion on the versatility of this ancient stone.
His passion was both obvious and infectious and my interest piqued.
After discovering this forum via that thread and reading the boards, especially the Sharpening Academy along with the invaluable hands on experience of the members here. I purchased a yellow Coticule bout.
On its arrival I set about trying to achieve a shave ready edge using the Dilucote method, from dulling on a glass onwards through the stages…and failed to pass the HHT.
Not to be put off I added a layer of tape and created a secondary bevel.
And…EUREKA!
The first ever straight razor I bought, a vintage Sheffield J&W Ragg has this morning just given me the smoothest of shaves.
After the first couple of passes I found myself staring into the mirror in disbelief!
Do I owe this to my new found honing skills?
Ha…I don’t think so!
My Coticule, this forum, Bart and the members here…take a bow.
Grinning from ear to ear,
Good Wishes,
David.