Thread: Beginner purchase (suggestions and criticism needed):

There's what I've got so far. Next on the list are the Naniwa superstones, and the paddle strop.

Mind the quality of the photo, horrible lightning conditions.

Originally Posted by Ymir

There's what I've got so far. Next on the list are the Naniwa superstones, and the paddle strop.

Mind the quality of the photo, horrible lightning conditions.

wow, nice set-up!

If I was going to get a paddle strop, I'd get the modular paddle strop from SRD.

I've got two nice strops hanging from my bathroom door.

Latest that I quite like for travelling and also every day use if I'm in the mood, is the Boker paddle strop / barbers hone (dry) (one side English leather, the other a nice barbers hone)...great for a quick refresh on a razor.

For pastes etc...have a CrOx balsa board and linen side of one strop pasted with Dovo white / grey paste...great stuff!

Originally Posted by kwlfca

If I was going to get a paddle strop, I'd get the modular paddle strop from SRD.

The problem is the high shipping cost to europe. The modular paddle costs 89.99$, shipping cost to sweden is about 46$.

Originally Posted by Ymir

The problem is the high shipping cost to europe. The modular paddle costs 89.99$, shipping cost to sweden is about 46$.

Yikes - that is a lot. I need a custom size tamper base for my espresso setup and the shipping from reg barber in Canada to the states is about $24 for that little piece of steel and I get heartburn thinking about it. Sorry as I just got my modular paddle yesterday and it is worth every penny I paid (free shipping). As a beginner, it makes keeping the whole blade on the strop significantly easier than my hanging strop. If cash isn't a problem including shipping , this is a really nice product.

Hello again!

Ok so now I have three straight razor shaves behind me, and I have managed to nick my self only three times so that barely any blood has been drawn. I think my stropping has gone somewhat decent, I learned the correct wrist movement and razor hold rather fast. The lather I have done with Proraso+MWF+Glycerin / Musco Real+MWF+Glycerin has been awesome.

My first shave took like an hour but now it´s down to 20-25 minutes or so, last shave I got no nicks at all which is a bonus.

Now I have a question for you guys. On the very first time I touched the strop with my blade, I managed to touch the polywebbing side with the edge of the blade. There was really no force applied at all, and the strop did not take any damage. It was the beginner mistake, where you flip the blade at the end of the stropping motion, and instead of starting motion towards the spine of the razor, I just layed the blade down on the strop and little twich from my wrist made the blade go towards on the edge side.

The question is; Can that cause damage to the edge? Roll it or something like that? Why I ask you is that I have felt that the razor is less sharp now, I can still shave the beard somewhat ok but there is alot tugging happening and I have to buff more in order to get clean results.

I can also see if I look very closely with a light reflecting on the bevel, two very small dark spots just above the very edge of the razor, like small dark spots on the bevel. What are those?

So basically have I managed the dull the blade already? I have shaven (due to little too much enthusiasm) every day, with a less than day old beard. My beard's individual hair is very thick, does that have something to do with the dull feeling?

Thank you already

Edit: Since the first shave I have done 60+40 on the strop, and outside the exact first time I touched the strop, the stropping has gone quite decent.
-Ymir

Originally Posted by Ymir

The question is; Can that cause damage to the edge?

Yes.

You may be able to correct it with stropping, or you may not.

It is correct to say that you could have done slight damage to the edge? Harsh damage? Most likely not if it was as gentle as you say.

However, if afterwards you stropped it quite a bit and it still felt less sharp, it could also be a symptom of new shaver syndrome. Your not so perfect stropping could have caught up with you. That, combined with not so perfect shaving technique, can decrease the performance of the edge.

Ymir,

Still with us, brother?