I just started shaving with a straight razor, I purchased a shave ready dovo and paddle strop from Tony Miller, and I am happy with both. I have shaved 3x so far and have had pretty good results, I have not cut or nicked myself yet and I think within 2 or 3 shaves I will not need to finish up with a DE. I have some questions though. My first question is, how soon after you strop do you have to shave ? for example if I were going to the gym and did not want to bring my paddle strop but wanted to shve at the gym after the steam room, would it be possible to strop the razor at home and then shave two or three hours later ? also why are paddle strops not reccomended for newb's ? is it easier to strop with a hanging. I happen to like my paddle strop even though my technique needs lots of work, although I will buy a hanging from Tony in the near future. Lastly I would like to say thank you to all of you whom I have learned so much from on this forum. I have been interested in straight razor shaving for a while now, but have always been a bit afraid, but now that I finally took the plunge I could not be happier, that first shave when I actually heard the sound of the whiskers being shaved was an amazing feeling.