Thread: Recommendation?

Originally Posted by netsurfr

First, welcome to SRP!!!
You are way ahead of most with your experience.
No, you do not need a strop with a canvas side.
Razor styles are very much a personal thing. I have found that I prefer a spanish or french point but that is just me. The only style that I don't particularly care for is the spike point.
I have a number of 5/8 full hollow blades and enjoy them but my favorites are either 6/8 or larger with a quarter hollow grind.

Thanks everybody for the welcomes. ...jees, I spend most of my life on the internet and just never thought to look for straight razor forums until I got to the bottom of my (bulk purchase years ago) cartridge blade supply

Haha, I'm thinking of the Black Micarta for my backup razor

Strops:
I saw that 3-1/8" XL strop and thought that's the ticket... no need for an X pattern. Then I saw someone's comment that they tend to cup at the edges slightly when pulled taught. That made sense. Anything to that?
I'm guessing that a regular strop has the advantage of being longer and the downside of having to be held taught and afixed to something solid. What about a paddle strop? With the exception of being short, wouldn't it be pretty much fool proof for being flat (side to side as well as lengthwise)? Or isn't the problem of the strop sort of "wrapping around" the blade that big of a one?

My heresy on strops:
2.5" is plenty. Don't fear the X pattern it is your friend.
My favourite strop is my horse hide traveller 3/64" thick X 13" L X 1.5"W. Yes! tiny.
Paddles are fine as are short strops. I find hangers more versatile tho.
Don't worry about wrapping your strop round the blade. Worry about lifting the spine & rolling the edge. - far worse
I don't pull my strop that taut but I keep the distance & tension even by locking my elbow to my body.
Appropriate, not light pressure is the key.
The wide strop users may help you on the XL's cupping.

Buy the razor that you like. You can probably get better razor for cheaper if you go vintage, but that doesn't mean you'll be happier with it. Your tastes may change as the time goes and you may end up with completely different razors than you start with, or may be you'll just stick to the razors you get, avoid all the disorders the rest of us suffer from and live happily ever after.
Likewise for paddle strops - they will work, and you will either find the shorter length too short and get a hanging one, or just stick to the paddle.
Most people here like Tony Miller's strops form thewellshavedgentleman.com, I think they are much better option, but at the end of the day almost any strop you get will do the job.

have fun

Wow, I paid attention when shaving this morning after all the reading I've been doing (I'm still using my old L.&A. straight that takes cartridge blades).

I have a course beard.
I have very non-sensitive/non-delicate skin.
I shave after showering.
I use Roffler Gentle Shave cream -- (doesn't foam so I can see for the detail work)

I found myself shaving at about a 45* angle. Probably more when doing my under lip. I've always shaved WTG and occassionally a second pass XTG on my cheeks.
I figured my blades aren't very sharp so out of curiosity I tried the hanging hair test... lowered the hair onto the blade about 1/16" away from where I was holding it. Didn't "pop". Didn't even feel like it grabbed the hair. Tried bringing the hair down on the blade with some speed/force. Nothing. Tried whacking the hair on the blade with no effect. Finally tried running the hair up and down the blade to see if I could saw it in two. Fail. Conclusion: My cartridge blade is pretty dull... Visually, the shave looks good. Rubbing my finger on my face WTG feels absolutely smooth. ATG you can feel (and hear the stubble). This is my normal shave that lasts from morning into the evening.

This got me to wondering if I'm going to be really shocked or in for a major surprise (not the good kind) when I get my conventional, shave ready blade? I'm expecting to use less angle, less pressure, and more care resulting in a somewhat better shave. That sound about right? Or should I be preparing for something way more radical?

Sounds about right but I'm a sceptical about the shave cream if it doesn't lather.
A good lather is a must IMHO.

Hi Quick. I'm new to straight razor shaving as well. So for me to give experienced advise is weak. But, as Far as razors go, have you veiwed the reveiw razors section in this forum? That is where I found the new razor that suited me. I have a brand new DOVO BERGISCHER LOWE pre-sharpened by Lynn Abrams. I purchased it at Classic Shaving.com I also purchased Lynn's dvd, it is very valuable to me! I think that is why my beginner, or newbie experience has been a pleasant one! So go and check out the reveiws section on your favorite razor. I love my BERGISCHER LOWE! But once again I new as well. Lynn's dvd is a must though! He covers everything you need to know, you already know how to shave with a straight razor, so you are far head than I am. His section in the dvd about Honing and Stropping are valuable. Good luck, STRAIGHT RAZOR 13

Did that earlier this afternoon! Bergischer Lowe (and the Micarta Ivory, and Lynn's dvd) should be in the mail tomorrow. Then I followed up with strops from Heirloom this evening... and now I've blown my entire Xmas fund -- but I'm pleased about it. Maybe the government will bail me out and I can buy hones and something with a barber's tip on it early next year.

Thanks everyone for all the thoughts and help. (what a great site)