Thread: Where to start?

Originally Posted by Ziggy

I am confused between shave ready and ones that need to be stropped. Can someone clarify?

Many people are...

Factory edges are considered by most to be lacking, and a bit below the "Shave Ready" standard and I am talking Honing not just Stropping. they have become closer over the years but still they are just not quite there....


Read this old "Beginners Tips" article I think you will understand


http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...tml#post908878

Originally Posted by Ziggy

I am confused between shave ready and ones that need to be stropped. Can someone clarify?

Stropping does not involve sharpening - it performs some sort of magic that gives a better shave. Whether the razor is shave ready or not, stropping is necessary before shaving - the advice you were given to shave without stropping the first time is because newcomers to straight shaving sometimes damage the edge of their razor by stropping incorrectly; so by shaving as-is you will get an idea of how the razor *should* feel and should you damage the edge while stropping you will have the first 'fresh' shave as a point of reference.

Some razors are sold not shave ready and these will need to be 'honed' to sharpen them before they can be shaved with - which is very different to stropping as you will soon find out.