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Thread: My first SR shave, does this walk through sound right?

  1. #1
    Member RiseAbove's Avatar
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    Default My first SR shave, does this walk through sound right?

    Ok, i think i'm ready to put my newly acquired knowledge and equipment into action and take my first shave. I just have some questions about the stropping process.

    I bought a honed shave ready straight razor and the Straight Razor Designs Lynn Abrams Modular Paddle Strop. This is what i believe to be the right order and repetition of what i should be doing...please correct me if anything sounds wrong in any way as i would like to use this as my go to walk through every time i shave.

    1st) Wash off the oil on the razor with soap and water.
    2nd) Use the scrub leather to strop...around 20-30 laps.
    3rd) Use the premium leather to strop...around 30-40 laps.
    4th) Wash the razor with soap and water and begin to shave.
    5th) After the shave, wash the razor with soap and water, dry the razor, then repeat the opening stropping process, wash with soap and water again, dry again THOROUGHLY, apply oil and store until next time.

    Does the above sound like i'm somewhere close?

    I have the 2 pieces of hard wool felt that came with the paddle strop...should i incorporate this at any point in the above process, or is this only to be used with the diamond spray when refreshing my razor?

    Is it ok to strop immediately after washing and drying the razor?

    If i polish my razor with a metal polish, how soon after should i use the razor, and would using just soap and water rid the razor of any chemicals the metal polish might have that could irritate my skin during a shave?

    I'm kind of OCD with things, so i want to be sure that i'm doing things the right way so i can hopefully have a good experience with my first shave. Thanks in advance!
    Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength, move on - Henry Rollins

  2. #2
    Senior Member blabbermouth eddy79's Avatar
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    For 1 just use a tissue and wipe it off. Yes to scrub and normal leather. No need to wash just shave. Rinse with water well don't need soap. Dry well with tissue. 10 laps on each leather will be fine but more wont harm if your technique is ok.

    Wouldn't worry with the felt and yes you can strop straight away after drying.

    If you polish the razor stay away from the bevels as polish can harm it. Yes I would wash carefully with soap and water rinse well and dry. Rubbing alcohol is a good way to clean a blade as it dries cleanly and removes all residues.
    My wife calls me......... Can you just use Ed

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    Senior Member dinnermint's Avatar
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    If you haven't shaved with the razor yet, I wouldn't strop the razor beforehand. You may dull the blade a bit with poor stropping strokes. So, an amended list would be:

    1) Wipe off oil with tissue paper. Be sure to not cut the paper with the razor, I do this by light pinching the bevel with my thumb and forefinger. Be very careful as this is risky as all get out.
    2) Shave
    3) Rinse blade off
    4) Wipe blade with tissue paper, if any shave gunk on blade then rinse and repeat. Wipe inside of scales with tissue paper as well.
    5) 10 laps on leather, this is to ensure the very edge is dry, the lightest of strokes will accomplish this.
    6) Before next shave, strop the razor ready

    Felt strops are usually done before the leather on the 'full' strop and the drying process. It's not the most necessary thing, but people like them.

    Since your blade is new, you should not have to polish it. I would avoid any polishing whatsoever, in case you muck up the edge.

    Most of all, good luck and enjoy the shave!
    Longhaultanker likes this.

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    Senior Member quicksilver's Avatar
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    Agreed with what's already been said. No stropping before hand with a new razor. Just so that you can know what it feels like at it's best. Then once you start stropping, you'll be able to tell if you're maintaining that edge or if you're starting to round it. The leather strop is the only thing you need for a while. I usually only use a felt/diamond or web/cr-ox when I'm going through a refreshing process. It's not recommended every time. Besides what's been said, I would just add all the usual stuff like, shave WTG first, then across or against (re-lathering before each pass). Skin stretching. Pre-shave prep with hot towel and pre-shave oil. etc.

    Enjoy!

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    Member RiseAbove's Avatar
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    Thanks guys!
    Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength, move on - Henry Rollins

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