I've bought a straight razor from straight razor designs, which is supposed to be ready to use. However, it does have oil on it. What should I do prior to shaving with it? Do I still need to strop it before use?
TIA!
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I've bought a straight razor from straight razor designs, which is supposed to be ready to use. However, it does have oil on it. What should I do prior to shaving with it? Do I still need to strop it before use?
TIA!
I would not strop it before the first shave, since it will come stropped. Wipe the oil off carefully with tissues and rinse the blade with hot water. You can also wipe it with alcohol to remove the oil if you like. Good luck!
Another thing, what is the best way to clean the leather strop? It has accumulated some "dirt" (cat hair and some sticky something).
Wipe it down with a damp (not wet) cloth and then let it dry. Avoid cleaners that will strip the oils from the leather - plain water should work fine. Rub the surface with your palm before use to replenish the oils and warm the surface up. And find a storage place where cat hairs and sticky stuff won't get on it. The edge of a razor is very delicate and you want to keep the surface of the strop pristine.
I have used Lexol leather cleaner with success.
I have found that saddle soap works for cleaning leather strops as well.
Bob
Sticky stuff and cat hair causes me to recall a convo with the fiance after moving in with her and finding a sticky spray pattern on the wall where I wanted to hang my strops. Luckily she has a separate bathroom now. Regardless, hair spray is verboten in the shave den. If there's no other option you could hang a towel over them or use a strop cover.