Thread: Third shave not as good as the first...

Originally Posted by guitstik

Are you using a hanging strop? If so, then try laying it on the counter and go slowly applying just enough pressure to keep the razor in contact with the strop all the way across. I would wager that you have rolled the edge or degraded it in some way so it would not be a bad idea to send it out to be re-honed. The mistake that is most often made and exacerbated by the advent of YouTube is going to fast. When you watch someone like Lynn or Glen stropping really fast you get the notion that is the way it should be done, it's not. Go slow and build consistency, speed will come with time, lots of time.

Would anyone else suggest the laying the strop on the counter? Then how will I learn using it while hanging? Update on the irritation my face is now back to normal and I'm enjoying a BBS face on a Sunday, God bless. I think technique was the problem at work here.

Hi Scott: If you cut the strap the edge has been dulled. I strop very slow and try to make sure the entire edge of my blade is in contact with the leather. If I try to gain speed my blade edge loses contact with the leather. It may be time to visit the finishing stone for a few strokes without applying any downward pressure on the blade. Good Luck.

[QUOTE=feltspanky;1382050]Hi Scott: If you cut the strap the edge has been dulled. I strop very slow and try to make sure the entire edge of my blade is in contact with the leather. If I try to gain speed my blade edge loses contact with the leather. It may be time to visit the finishing stone for a few strokes without applying any downward pressure on the blade. Good Luck.

Even small nicks would dull the blade that much? Im worried about using the finishing stone. What would happen if I didn't even need to touch it up? As it still takes the whiskers off my face easily.

Shaving with a dull blade is like rubbing 100 grit sandpaper across your face. Do you have a finishing honing stone. If not a very fine grit of lapping film is an option. Finish up with stropping.

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Would anyone else suggest the laying the strop on the counter? Then how will I learn using it while hanging? Update on the irritation my face is now back to normal and I'm enjoying a BBS face on a Sunday, God bless. I think technique was the problem at work here.

Scott,

I do not see the need to lay your strop flat on some surface. Hang your strop in the usual way — mine is on a hook about waist high — and strop slowly and methodically but not hesitantly — apologies for all the adverbs. Make sure the blade is not lifted off the strop. Also, make sure the entire blade contacts the strop. Pull the strop taught but with a hint of slack. Do 60 strokes on the linen/fabric and 60 on the leather. Earlier, a gentleman suggested using a dull butter knife for practice. That is a good idea, except make sure the edge has no stirration for fear of scratching the leather on your strop.

There are several good videos to watch, especially Lynn's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=
http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...d-me-alot.html
How to Strop | ASR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Just take your time, because proper stropping is important.

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Would anyone else suggest the laying the strop on the counter? Then how will I learn using it while hanging? Update on the irritation my face is now back to normal and I'm enjoying a BBS face on a Sunday, God bless. I think technique was the problem at work here.

Laying it on the counter takes one thing out of the equation for stropping, keeping enough tension on the strop. Learn how to keep the razor flat on the strop first and then try it with the strop hanging. I still place the strop on the counter from time to time depending on the razor or if my technique has gotten sloppy, it gets me back into the rhythm of a proper strop.

Here is a "Beginners Tip" from Gssixgun (AKA Glen) from back in the day. http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ch-2011-a.html

Great advice, and my blade must still be sharp because no way does it feel like 100 grit sandpaper yet. This is my strop damage -.- very frustrating. Any tips on how to not do this. Did you guys nick your strops when you started out? Good thing Christmas is coming up lol!

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Great advice, and my blade must still be sharp because no way does it feel like 100 grit sandpaper yet.

Hi again Scott: This is what I meant to say. It didn't quite come out that way. This is from my personal experience. If my razor isn't quite shave ready and I shave with it. Rubbing my face feels as if it were shaved with 100 grit sandpaper. My face isn't smooth and feels rough and prickly.

The times that I have cut my strops, it has always rolled the edge of the blade a bit - usually a spot about 1/4 of an inch in length. Five travels on CrOx fixed most of them. One of them I had to do ten passes on a 12k to fix. Lapping film will work as well.
Even a little ding on edge can leave your face raw.
Hold your blade in a bright light and turn it until you can see the bevel and edge shining. It should be a constant line of bright white. If there are gaps in the line or spots that are really shiny, then you have rolled the edge.

Scott,

Ed is quite correct. No need to worry about the little nicks on your strop. Certainly you need not think about honing now. Also, you need not lay the strop flat on a surface; it really is not necessary. Please watch the videos carefully and follow direction, because you are receiving advice from the masters. Carefully and methodically will do it. Beyond that, please ask questions.