What Single Edge Did You Use Today

I face lather almost exclusively (unless I am using creme out of a tube) so lathering takes me 20 sec. to load and then maybe one minute to build the lather on my face.  Each pass takes less than 5 minutes.  Clean up is a cold wash cloth compress.  Then pat dry and apply aftershave.....Ahhhhh.......

Clearly you have great skin and are also much more skilled SR shaver. Spend about 20 minutes so say 6:40/pass actually shaving 3 passes. Do you do clean up equipment and strop?  Weekly hone?  I am including clean counter top to clean counter top and allocating weekly hone time over 3 shaves

The passes go pretty quickly.  The SR covers a lot of real estate and I use long strokes-no buffing.  My barber says that his father could shave himself with one stroke, never lifting the SR from his face for a single pass.  I do clean up at the end including rinsing the razor, and giving it a few passes over the linen strop and then the leather stop to clean and dry the edge before putting it away in the den.  Also, I rinse and squeeze out the brush, and rinse the soap off before putting all that away.  I didn't include that in the count so maybe add five minutes for that.  I do my full strop later the next day after the blade has had a time to rest.  One I have initially honed the razor on a 1000/4000 stone I only seem to need to hone once or twice a year.  I use an Arkansas stone (maybe 8k or 10k grit),  followed by a pasted cotton strop and that is all.  Sometimes I go to my 6000 grit wet stone for just a few passes before the Arkansas stone.  I don't keep my SR super sharp.  Just sharp enough to shave.  I rely on multiple passes, and very light pressure for closeness.  Also, I don't chase BBS, but am usually satisfied with a DFS.  Typically, that will last me two days if I didn't miss a spot.

Wish my hones lasted 2 weeks!  Guess my honing not very good either.

Wish my hones lasted 2 weeks! Guess my honing not very good either.

Clearly you have great skin and are also much more skilled SR shaver. Spend about 20 minutes so say 6:40/pass actually shaving 3 passes. Do you do clean up equipment and strop? Weekly hone? I am including clean counter top to clean counter top and allocating weekly hone time over 3 shaves

The passes go pretty quickly. The SR covers a lot of real estate and I use long strokes-no buffing. My barber says that his father could shave himself with one stroke, never lifting the SR from his face for a single pass. I do clean up at the end including rinsing the razor, and giving it a few passes over the linen strop and then the leather stop to clean and dry the edge before putting it away in the den. Also, I rinse and squeeze out the brush, and rinse the soap off before putting all that away. I didn't include that in the count so maybe add five minutes for that. I do my full strop later the next day after the blade has had a time to rest. One I have initially honed the razor on a 1000/4000 stone I only seem to need to hone once or twice a year. I use an Arkansas stone (maybe 8k or 10k grit), followed by a pasted cotton strop and that is all. Sometimes I go to my 6000 grit wet stone for just a few passes before the Arkansas stone. I don't keep my SR super sharp. Just sharp enough to shave. I rely on multiple passes, and very light pressure for closeness. Also, I don't chase BBS, but am usually satisfied with a DFS. Typically, that will last me two days if I didn't miss a spot.

It sounds like you keep your edge very sharp, and that would require regular honing. I only keep mine sharp enough to shave.

Tried taking it down a notch but then cannot get a BBS and much irritation. As it stands, great shave, no irritation but must be quite cautious

Tried taking it down a notch but then cannot get a BBS and much irritation. As it stands, great shave, no irritation but must be quite cautious

Yeah, there is a real trade off between exfoliation and closeness. It is really easy (for me) to chase BBS with extra passes, clean up passes, etc. I try hard not to do that, especially in problem areas. It just isn't worth the extra irritation. I must stop myself after two full SR passes and a clean up pass with a SE razor. If I do that, and concentrate on using very little pressure, my aftershave will not sting, and I know that I did well. I think one of the benefits of SR shaving is that it is hard to use excess pressure (without doing surgery). It is easy to cheat with anything with a safety bar, even an open comb and apply excessive pressure. I know that if I am in a hurry and only use the safety razor, my aftershave always stings.

That is why, all things considered, I have decided to always shoot for a DFS, not BBS. Sometimes BBS happens, but it is not by design.

Growth: 3 day beard
Prep: Warm shower: Stirling Sheep bar soap
Pre: None
Brush: Maggard Razors 24mm premium boar knot with Maggard Razors sky blue 25mm handle
Lather: Van Der Hagen Select Shave Soap
Load Bowl: Old Spice Mug
Lather Bowl: Old Spice Mug

Razor: PAA Starling V3
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE-coated Stainless Steel
Plate: Open Comb
Plate: Solid Bar
Handle: PAA Flare Tip Handle

Razor: Schick 500 Injector Razor
Blade: Chinese Schick

Post: Stirling witch hazel, PAA Mysterium Serum

Tried taking it down a notch but then cannot get a BBS and much irritation. As it stands, great shave, no irritation but must be quite cautious

Yeah, there is a real trade off between exfoliation and closeness. It is really easy (for me) to chase BBS with extra passes, clean up passes, etc. I try hard not to do that, especially in problem areas. It just isn't worth the extra irritation. I must stop myself after two full SR passes and a clean up pass with a SE razor. If I do that, and concentrate on using very little pressure, my aftershave will not sting, and I know that I did well. I think one of the benefits of SR shaving is that it is hard to use excess pressure (without doing surgery). It is easy to cheat with anything with a safety bar, even an open comb and apply excessive pressure. I know that if I am in a hurry and only use the safety razor, my aftershave always stings.

That is why, all things considered, I have decided to always shoot for a DFS, not BBS. Sometimes BBS happens, but it is not by design.

Wisdom there

Ever-Ready Streamline Razor.  A recent acquisition which I thoroughly enjoy.  A truly excellent shaver.

Razor: Wolfman WR3 Bronze .40
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE Stainless Steel Blade
Brush: Teton Shaves Zen Series, Synthetic
Pre-Shave: Proraso White Pre-Shave Cream
Lather: Zingari Man Rogue
Aftershave: Zingari Man Rogue
Additional Care:
  Thayers Facial Tonic Witch Hazel Unscented
  Nivea Post Shave Balm

Yaqi Romulus razor/KAI Pro touch AC blade/ Haslinger Honig soap/Edwin Jagger 23mm SilverFibre 2 brush

Eric

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