Thread: Wow!

First shave with a new razor. Stropped it slowly and only on the undamaged section of the stop (couldn't wait for the strop oil to be absorbed by the new strop). Was like night/day compared to the old (and soon to be rehoned) razor. I'm thinking at least some of the problems I've been having were the result of having to "drag" the blade through my beard. I've been told to strop the razor with CrO (I'm waiting for some 0.3 mic paste) to freshen the edge. Should I do that or send it out to be rehoned?

Glad you finally got a great shave
A damaged strop is a sure fire way to damage a razor...
If you have to "drag" a razor across your chops I doubt refreshing with cro ox will do much good. Best send it out to a pro and go from there.
If you haven't done so already, digest everything from the library, it contains everything one would need to know about this sport.

I can't help but be left feeling the same as Mr. Kelly. I am wondering also why you are putting so much oil on a new strop that you have to wait for it to be absorbed. I new strop should not require any oil and the few that do require very little. Also when you receive a shave ready razor you should shave with it before you do anything else to it. When shaving keep your angle low and your skin tight.

The directions on my strop oil say to wait 24 hours.

What strop and oil are you using??

Originally Posted by RezDog

I can't help but be left feeling the same as Mr. Kelly. I am wondering also why you are putting so much oil on a new strop that you have to wait for it to be absorbed. I new strop should not require any oil and the few that do require very little. Also when you receive a shave ready razor you should shave with it before you do anything else to it. When shaving keep your angle low and your skin tight.

I don't know about a lot of different strops but the ones I use I don't oil at all. I just rub my hand up and down the length several times before I strop a razor. I know there are many different strops and products out there but this is what I was told to do by the old timers and old barbers.

Using "Country Gent" strop dressing. The strop is a bison strop that I got on eBay. To be honest, it looked like the dressing was soaked in within a half hour.

As mentioned you should only oil old strops that have dryed out, oiling a new strop will increase the draw and too much oil can attract dust. Once on oil cant be removed.

If the oil starts coming out and getting kind sticky, you could clean the strop with saddle soap. I have a Latigo that seemed to exude grease and had to wipe it down every week or two with a damp cloth. A few weeks ago I cleaned it with saddle soap and it has been great ever since. My strop has never kept my blades so nice and extremely sharp.