Thread: Any Advice will be gratefully received

Today I had my 13th shave.

Thank you all for your advice and guidance on my 12th shave. It was definitely worth shaving in front of you all. The guidance you were able to give me made me feel like you were standing there and teaching me.

Todays shave was a lot more confident, my lather was much wetter and felt like wiping Mr Whippy ice cream into my face.

I concentrated on my angle and kept adding lather to make sure it stayed wet.

I had a very comfortable shave, with no blood. I fumbled for the right grip and direction much less.

My neck is not BBS but I am happy with my progress.

I feel that the advice you all gave me was priceless and let me jump much further up the learning curve.

I thank you all and look forward to showing you my improvement and learning more from your generous guidance in another 7 shaves.

My Alum Block still wasn't stinging so I guess I should maybe press a bit harder.

Steve

Originally Posted by STF

My Alum Block still wasn't stinging so I guess I should maybe press a bit harder.

Steve

Not necessarily so. No stinging is usually considered a sign of a good shave all other factors of the shave considered like closeness. OTH a little tingling is no so bad. Be careful with pressure.

Bob

I find as long as i feel i got a close shave, maybe not a perfect BBS, and still get next to nothing from the Alum, then i did great! A little sting is ok too in spots. But you dont want the side of your face or neck stinging as that shows too much effort on that skin. Too close or too much preasure or too many passes. Etc..
Just keep going. Baby steps bro!

Quick question if you don’t mind.

I hear the term “freshen up the blade”.

Can I assume that means sharpen?

I also hear that people do it on the canvas strop with some kind of paste.

What paste and where would one get it?

I have seen a basic horse strop with canvas at heirloom strops. It’s a bit cheaper than a premium strop but looks good for learning on.

They also sell a steer one for the same price, any preference?

They also sell a canvas only strop that can be used for paste etc.

Would that canvas only one as an extra with paste help to keep my razor sharp enough so it wouldn’t have to be sent off for honing as often?

Steve

You touch up a blade when you just start to feel the edge going. This can be done with a few strokes on a finishing hone or some laps on a pasted strop. If you let the edge get too far gone it becomes more of a honing exercise.

You can use pastes on a balsa paddle strop or any paddle strop as well as hanging strops. Some use pastes on linen, canvas or felt hanging strops. Personally, I use Crox sprayed onto a hanging felt strop. There are also diamond sprays you can use.

Best not to spend a large amount on your first hanging strop as most of us manage to mangle them and the edge up by cutting the leather. Can be a good way to learn strop repair though. A decent quality medium priced strop will more than do.

Bob

Thanks Bob,

Does $99 ca + hst & free shipping from the gta sound about the right price for a first strop?

American top grade English Bridle.

Steve

Got a link to the strop?

Bob

Hang on, is it this one?

https://classicedge.ca/index.php?rou...roduct_id=2862


Looks like the first one I cut up.

Tony Miller well known strop maker sells an excellent entry level strop for $50.

https://heirloomrazorstrop.com/

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Tony Miller well known strop maker sells an excellent entry level strop for $50.

https://heirloomrazorstrop.com/

I saw those and his were the strops I originally saw. Horse or steer.

Trouble is that $50 + $37 shipping and that’s $87us. That will come to in Canadian (about $135)

Steve

Originally Posted by BobH

Got a link to the strop?

Bob

Hang on, is it this one?

https://classicedge.ca/index.php?rou...roduct_id=2862


Looks like the first one I cut up.

Yes the classic edge one is the one I thought of $99. Their near Toronto and do free shipping, my razor came from them really fast, couple of days.

Steve