reporting a few happy shaves!
I started this adventure just before vacation so I took my equipment with me to spend some quality time with my blade n' hide. That first week was a little scary and shaving seemed interminable, but I got only a couple of mild cuts and did have lots of fun. :)
Since I've been back I have had a couple of really happy shaves: closer in some ways to my previous DE work, and less close in others, with only mild irritation.
It's clear I'm still a newbie, however, because my shaves this last week have felt worse. More tugging, less slicing. I came to the forum tonight to ask questions, but the Newbie forum had all the same questions with almost all the answers I needed, all on the first page!
I'm going to try more stropping. I have a TM latigo/horsehide strop. I do 30 passes on the latigo side followed by 20 on the horsehide side. I'm going to up that and see if it helps. I've heard of the "draw" on a strop. What does that feel like? My stropping doesn't feel different from beginning to end.
After that, I may investigate a strop with paste. I have a fast growing, coarse beard and maybe my razor could use a touch up. I'm taking it slow, however, trying not to change too much at once.
Thanks to you other newbies for asking the same questions I was having, and thanks most of all to those who answer the questions! :bow
Cheers,
Ray
using CrOx on starter strop
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the answer. Yeah, I got a lucky break and Tony was seeling his combo hide strops just as I was needing my first one. It's a beauty! At best I would say it delayed my SAD by a bit. ;)
I did get a starter latigo strop from Tony and I just ordered some Cr Ox from Chris L. I was wondering if I could use Cr Ox on the starter strop as opposed to buying a paddle.
Would I apply it to the front/finished side or the back/unfinished side? Dare I ask for opinions about a Cr Ox paddle vs. a Cr Ox strop?
Thanks,
Ray