Thread: Here's my first straight razor! Now what...

Most of us use the same method as you to remove the soap from the blade.

Some rinse the blade with water before wiping but I do not. I want to keep water away from the blade at all costs. Also, putting the blade in the faucet area increases the chances of dinging the edge on metal. Best to keep the blade away from the sink.

That is exactly how I do it.

Leave the razor open so it will dry thoroughly. The next day strop on linen to clean the dried soap from the edge, then strop on clean leather.


When using your loom strop, be careful to not use too much pressure.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

The next day strop on linen to clean the dried soap from the edge, then strop on clean leather.

The loom strop I have has no linen side. It has the fine leather side, and a green side which is also leather but coated in green paste with probably coarse particles (which I guess sharpened the edge).



I suppose the green side acts as a light honing surface, is not to be used excessively, and therefore this strop isn't providing me with a surface that does what a linen strop does. What do you suggest?

You will need a proper strop for maintenance, preferably a hanging strop that includes a linen. Also, a wider strop will make stropping easier.

Until then you can hand strop or strop on a folded newspaper or piece of cardboard, inside of a shirt or cereal box. This will clean the razor of soap, skin and oxidation and keep that off your leather strop.

Yes, the green side, may or may not be pure Chromium Oxide, some “Green” paste contain other abrasives. It is interesting to note that their description of the paste does not claim it to be Pure Chrome Oxide, usually an indicator.