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Just received a Lynn Abrams honed Dovo Red Bismarck razor and a Dovo xl strop. I have been reading everything I could find to help me get started.
As soon as I opened the box and pulled out my new toys, all of what I had read escaped my mind.
Do I strop the blade a few times before I use it? If so, on which side of the strop?
Do I shave with two passes from the git go.....WTG and XTG?
I really want to do this well (and right)!
I'll have to worry about honing later.
Thanks.
WaterBoo
I'd say do at least one shave without stropping, so you know what a really sharp razor shaves like. There's a risk that improper stropping messes up the edge, so get a 'baseline' before you strop.
I would go one pass WTG, on as much of your face as you are comfortable with, and then see if you want to go for a second pass XTG or ATG right away.
Go slow, take 'er easy, and push your limits carefully. Be sure to stretch the skin taught, especially on the neck!
I like with the grain and across the grain to start, not against the grain. I would say to strop lightly on the smooth leather side with a very very taught strop, but you can also just try to shave as bad stropping is like bad shaving, very detrimental.
I'd also recommend to start out very conservatively.
After you've whipped up a good lather, shave only your cheeks or sides of your face with the grain and finish up with what you are currently using.
After a few shaves, moving on to your neck, upper lip and chin will be easier and less bloody because you've learned some of the basic handling techniques and now have the general "feel" for the razor.
After you are shaving your entire face with the grain, start experimenting with across the grain--the technique is somewhat different.
I tried to conquer it all way too quickly and have a couple scars to prove it.
Just a suggestion or two.
Ron