another new comer

Like most others around this time my wife had bought me a straight razor kit for Christmas. Shave Ready - Gold Dollar Straight Razor With Premium Shave Kit - StraightRazor.com
I've been talking about it forever and now that I have one I am stubborn to get it right. The first shave actually was very close and felt great. Next shave, I stropped it and gave it a shave, good but not as good as the first. Somewhere around the 3rd or 4th go, it just quit shaving. I continued to try for over a week trying different techniques and pre-shave etc. I'm beginning to feel dulled it by poor stropping technique or cheap strop. I've attempted many different ways. It will shave the hair off my shoulders/arm (yeah I said shoulder lol) but pulls bad on my face and doesn't shave well at all.

My questions. I would like to send it off to someone to be honed/stropped to "shave ready" and also purchase a better quality strop so I can start over. Who is recommended and what strop?

Thanks in advance

You have hit a trifecta of yes, likely poor technique, and poor strop, and poor razor. For it to go bad that quickly it is most likely your technique. Have you watched any stropping videos? If not, then you should do so. Make sure you keep the spine on the strop the whole time, come to a complete stop before flipping the blade, and keep it slow till you get the hang of it.

For a rehoning, your best bet is the member services section in the Classifieds. You might want to check the Razors section while you are there.

I'm serious about getting this down. So I've read the gold dollar 208, which I have, isn't necessarily a garbage razor. With that being said, I don't mind spending money to buy a quality razor and strop if y'all think it is necessary. My wife's gesture was great because it pushed me to finally do this but if what she bought isn't usable, I was hoping some of y'all OGs point me in the right direction on where to start.

If you were able to get a couple shaves in your technique is better than mine starting out. I was a serial strop slasher.

Try a pro honed Dovo or Ralph Aust from Straight Razor Designs. That will at least put a consistent razor in your hands. As for your wife's gift, never part with it. You can use it down the road for practice honing and shave with it on special occasions.

Welcome! and congrats on not slicing yourself to death like some newcomers do.

I would recommend snagging a razor off of the classifieds here Main Index - Straight Razor Place Classifieds. You can get a solid shave ready straight for <$100 pretty easy. As far as a strop I sill have my modular paddle strop from SRD. When you whack a hunk out of it (and we all do at least once) you can swap the leather face out.

Matt

Welcome. Good advice given already. Personally would lean towards forum classifieds simply because prefer old things. Am also still learning, hope you have just as much fun as I'm having.

Hi and welcome. A good strop and razor can make a huge difference. As said check out the classifieds for a vintage blade. Often can pick up one for under 50. There are many strops to choose from but one that has replacement parts available is a good idea as you will likleynick up your first. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

I'm curious how you would nick up or slice up your strop? If your running your blade backwards I find that difficult. What mistake causes it so I know better to avoid it.

I hear Tony Miller makes great strops. any other recommendation? Also, How do I know if I'm getting a better quality razor than I already have when searching classifieds? Any tell tale signs I should be looking for?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stfuracing

I'm curious how you would nick up or slice up your strop? If your running your blade backwards I find that difficult. What mistake causes it so I know better to avoid it.

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I have never nicked a strop, but I have read from others' posts that it seems to most commonly occur when the razor is turned over before coming to a complete stop when changing directions at the end of the stroke.

So, to avoid nicking your strop, don't do that!
:w

[QUOTE=stfuracing;1444263]I'm curious how you would nick up or slice up your strop? If your running your blade backwards I find that difficult. What mistake causes it so I know better to avoid it.

QUOTE]

Like utopian stated, mostly happens during the "flip". You end up going to fast or not paying attention and don't complete the flip before changing directions. I would recommend a cheap strop to start with. Maybe look at the poor mans strop at Whipped Dog as a starter or like I said earlier the modular paddle strop from SRD.

To answer your question about razors in the classifieds. I would say anything is better than a GD razor so you can only get something better

Welcome aboard!

I see there are already some valuable tips given (by incredibly talented folks) so I will just add this regarding "How to nick your strop." If you think about not doing it, you probably WILL do it. All it takes is about 2mm of movement - or less - to cut into the leather or worse yet THROUGH the brand new Kangaroo strop you got as a gift*.

*no, I did not.

Again, welcome to SRP. I love this place.