Howdy,

I learned to "straight" shave with a shavette that takes 1/2 a DE blade. A couple days ago my first straight arrived, pre-honed with a strop. Now I have a few questions about my new toys, if anyone cares to share a bit of their knowledge.

1) My strop has canvas and leather. Which one do I start with and which one's a finisher?

2) My leather strop is ever-so-slightly curved from side-to-side. If I lay the blade across it as if I'm just about to do a lap, only the middle of the blade touches. Normal? I know by using an x-pattern all parts of the blade will eventually pass over the high part, but only for a second (or less). Might it take a heck of a lot longer to strop? Or could I even damaged the blade slightly?

3) What kind of store would sell chromium oxide paste or powder? I'll buy it online if need be, but I'd like to avoid shipping costs. I have a thick beard and I can tell already that I'm going to need some sort of maintenance abrasive. I thought I might paste the canvas. I've read about that elsewhere at SRP.

4) A technique question: do you rinse your blade under water to get off the cream and whiskers or do you wipe it off with your finger (carefully) like my barber did when I was a kid? Why?

Thanks in advance.

Peace,
Tom