Thread: first straight shave... hmmm

Ivan,
I use both the linen and then the leather. Just take you time working the "X" pattern on both. remembering to keep the strop taut thoughout the stroke, but you do not need to feel like you are trying to pull you hook out of the wall. the quality of the passes on the strop matter more than the quantity.

slow and steady Jim is correct. I have always used the linnen side first. then the leather. Try again when you can, you can get it. we all had problems at first. Keep at it.

Phil

Thank you Gentlemen,

I am pretty sure I keep the strop tight enough. I also used the leather band Jim sent me to make a knot(or a hook) around my towel rail, and the smaller spring constant of that leather band helps very nicely to have the right tenstion (ok, I couldn't resist it).

At the begining I had problems with the x-pattern and keeping the blade horizontal, meaning the axis of the razor/edge. I was mostly worried about not folding the edge into the leather and was trying to keep as little pressure as possible on the edge.

The low speed was a bit challenging - I managed to get few small nicks on the edges of the strop while turning the razor. Basically lacking the flow of the motion at the turning point I was trying to control firstly the contact of the edge with the leather (not to put too much pressure) but that means less control over the horizontal motion of the razor. This isn't a problem during the stroke since the razor is moving spine first, but at the turning point a slight motion in the wrong direction makes a nick. With a rhythmic stroke this isn't a problem, but when I was trying to learn it in super slo-mo i got few tiny surface nicks on the strop edge. Smoothed it off with a sandpaper as i saw in another thread.

Anyways, not sure why I'm blabbering so much, may be it's the 4:30am thing.

OK, I think I'm in a pretty good shape to give it a try tomorrow - now that I've got a better handle of the motion I will certainly do it slowly and carefully.

Again, thank you very much for seeing me through

ivan

Yes, two more shaves after I am glad to report that I haven't dulled the razor, at least not trrribly.
I think the pulling was to some extent due to learning how to strop but more due to learning a new shaving technique. Also I think my beard is tougher than I was giving it credit for, especially on the chin. Momentum is quite helpful, but not being confident in my motions along the curves makes it almost impossible to have momentum there.

The shaves haven't been very close, but I still don't have the skills to go everywhere XTG and ATG. However I am happy with using the straight and getting better is just a matter of time.

Anyways, just thought I'd report back.

Cheers,
Ivan

Ivan,

Good to hear that the shaves are progressing, you might want to pick up a copy of Lynn's dvd over in the b/s/t forum, it is a sticky...
in hte long run short strokes will serve you beeter but the first few weeks of shaving are usually hte worst as you skin gets used to the attention. in fact if i were you i would not be worried about the xtg and atg yet... if needed try a second pass withthe grain... the shave might not be BBS but will look decent.

Ivan,

Glad to hear things are improving. No matter how many razors I hone, there's still that nagging insecurity...

The coticule makes a nice edge, and for me it's plenty sharp. But there are ways to get your razors sharper. Various combinations of pastes work well for some guys, and there are always the 15K and 30K Shapton hones, which get the edge pretty close to Feather sharp...

For right now, I'd suggest that you concentrate on learning to shave. Once you have the skills down you can experiment with different edges and make an informed assessment.

Josh

Yeah Lynn's DVD has been on his way to me for few days now, so it'll get here soon. Yes, I think now I will concentrate on just getting proper technique on the wtg strokes, this is a good idea. Of course first thing I wanted from a new toy to try it in all kinds of ways, but now I'm going to be mature

Josh, I never had any doubts that the razor was perfect when you send it to me - reading some old threads I was just worried that I had managed to damage it.

Anyways, thank you again for helping me

ivan