Now that I have my new set from SRD, do I need to strop the razor before my first attempt at a SR shave?
I hate to mess up the edge before my first shave! :hmmm:
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Now that I have my new set from SRD, do I need to strop the razor before my first attempt at a SR shave?
I hate to mess up the edge before my first shave! :hmmm:
I'd say give it a try before you strop. The blade probably has some oil on it, so wipe it with a tissue and go for it. Read Lynn's tutorial on the first shave and take it from there.
First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Library
Strop 20 round trips on leather after the blade has been rinsed, following the shave, and dried with a tissue. Before the next shave begin on the cloth component and then the leather for whatever amount you feel is appropriate. I like 40 & 40. :gl:
Just shave. Be careful if you are going to strop after the shave. Go slow. You will not want to nick that nice strop.
You have good tools, go easy and enjoy them. Stropping is a slow thing to learn and softly softly catchy monkey!
~Richard
Thanks guys, I'll give it a whirl then!
Pray for me! lol
I started with that razor too... you'll do fine!
Definitely shave first. Good luck and strop slow
Good Luck and Welcome.
I got the same razor/strop this week. Just did my 2nd shave last night and it went well. But I do already have some nicks on the ends of my strop, didn't even realize when it happened! However stropping before my 2nd shave went much more smoothly. Have a small water spot on the razor too - going to try switching to a sponge instead of rinsing under running water.
How's it going for you?
It is hard to remember to come to a full stop at the end of a stroke on the strop but it is very important.Quote:
Originally Posted by pwc123
Strop more slowly and maybe do a count until your muscle memory is trained properly to prevent the problem in the future.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...g-strokes.html
Have Fun!
~Richard
PS. Learn to strop with the blade edge up while flipping it / flip the blade while the spine is on the strop.. Otherwise it will bite you later or when you learn to hone. Happens to a lot of guys! And ruined strops or edges are common.
I believe my issue was from being too tentative and slow at the top of the turn when I had the razor flat but not moving. At that point any little wiggle in the wrong direction will catch the leather. Thanks for the pointers!Quote:
Originally Posted by Geezer
that was one of my first straights also. great razor
My second shave was magnificent! I took my time, almost an hour. I lathered each section individually, just before I shaved that area. I was able to get two passes on all areas, and three on the cheeks. I was not comfortable going ATG on my neck so I stopped at two passes. No razor burn, no nicks, just a clean smooth shave. I put much focus on technique: close angle, no pressure and just letting the razor glide and do its work. It was terribly satisfying. I can't tell you all how pleased I am with the results.
Thanks, to Lynn Abrams and all the folks here on SRP that are so willing to share their wisdom!
That is what it is all about. Congratulations. May all your future shaves be as good or better ( but they wont lol) Don't get discoraged when that ugly shave pops up
Thanks for the jinx! lolQuote:
Originally Posted by cubancigar2000
Shave #3 was terrible. I couldn't get past the cheeks. The razor felt awkward and I just couldn't get a good glide, so I put down the SR and finished with the plastic...
It's ok though. No worries. It'll take time to develop muscle training and memory.
Shave 4 and 5 went very well. So far the biggest struggle is to find a soap or cream that glides without drying out...
Shave 4 and 5 went very well. So far the biggest struggle is to find a soap or cream that glides without drying out...
What you are going through is normal. It is going to happen but you are learning on your new journey. Stay with it and it will get a lot better. Make sure to stay in touch with your fellow members and friends, they can and will help a lot
Shaving can be a very basic routine or a nuance filled ritual. Focus on muscle memory pressure angle and stropping. As you get more efficient the drying will be less but don't be afraid to add a bit more water. Adding water never made sense to me when I started , I always wanted to add more soap, but water should cure it a few drops at a time
Take your time, it's a marathon.
And it's ok to re-lather as you go.
The shaves start out taking 45-60 minutes starting out, that time is down to 10-15 minutes for many by the magic 100 shaves.
It is a fine motor skill (shaving and stropping) along with building a lather, a soap or cream that works for you etc. A lot to master, but stay with it and in 20 shaves you will be amazed at the progress.
Smooth Shaving...
The reason it's nice to shave right out of the box is because you've ordered it from a place that you KNOW it was honed and honed right. Meaning it is actually "shave ready." This way when you've shaved with it a couple times you can strop and notice the difference whether good or bad and know if you need to improve.
I don't know, I would probably strop it first.
Because of the high likelihood for a beginner to mess up the edge with poor stropping, it IS best to do the first shave "out of the box." That guarantees that the edge shaved with is the one produced by the honer.
I'm working very hard on stropping technique. At the very least to do no harm to the blade edge. (or the beautiful RL strop from SRD)
So I went whole hog with stropping before shave number 12. Until now, I have only done light stropping to gain technique and muscle training. Today I did 30 laps on the poly and 75 laps on the red latigo. What a difference! I was shocked! A smooth close comfortable shave. I now have no doubt what a properly stropped razor feels like.
:cool:
You just cleared a big hurdle, now do like Lynn says and have fun
Nice! When I'm stropping I'm somehow scraping some leather off with the part of the razor where the arrow is pointing. I guess I'm not applying even/balanced pressure across the entire blade. It's nothing drastic but I have a leather "booger", for lack of a better word, collected there when I'm done. It protrudes slightly where the arrow is. Glad it's going better for you!Quote:
Originally Posted by ChopperDave
http://i.imgur.com/mKjn0N8.png
Stropping before and after a shave is key IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChopperDave
I've found now that I will do 60 on the linen and 40 on the leather after a shave, and 20 on the linen 80-100 on the leather prior to a shave. Really made a huge difference in the shaves for me.
Frequently now, I'll line up a few blades I plan on using next and when I have some time, go down and strop them to be ready to shave, saves some time, and when I not about to shave or just after shaving, it's a chance to go and chill out, relax and do some stropping.
My psychiatric wife nurse now has all the kids laughing when I do this, she say's I'm downstairs doing some, "self-soothing"....LOL...stropping the razor that is! :p
That is quite a normal problem and is often discussed.Quote:
Originally Posted by pwc123
A quick once over with milady's nail buffer will work to remove the sharp edge.
~Richard
Great to know, so it's only partly my fault!Quote:
Originally Posted by Geezer
I asked the same question and Lynn recommended running the palm or heel of your hand back and forth over the strop vigorously until it gets warm to the touch. It has helped reduce the 'boogers' and keeps it nice and supple. :-)
I do that every time I strop. It does help a lot and I like it because it draws the oil out of the strop and I get some serious drawQuote:
Originally Posted by coryschmidt
Useful tips, gents. Thanks!
I get the boogers too, but I count it as just being a new strop. I always use the hand rub first to oil and warm the strop.
[QUOTE=pwc123;1417198]Nice! When I'm stropping I'm somehow scraping some leather off with the part of the razor where the arrow is pointing. I guess I'm not applying even/balanced pressure across the entire blade. It's nothing drastic but I have a leather "booger"
You are not 'scraping' leather off the strop... It is just die residue... Give your strop a good hand rub before you strop, and clean the blade afterward with a tissue. (CAREFULLY). First time I cleaned the strop 'bugger' off my blade, I laid open my finger. lol I didn't know there was a 'Cut of the Day' thread or I would have posted a photo of the blood letting...