Thread: Another newbie nervious as heck!

Originally Posted by jmueller8

Well; it's more than obvious the blades are much stronger than I thought! I was given the impression that the edge was very fine and brittle. I have also focused too much attention on the safety issues. Looks like I just have to dive right in and get the feel for it.

My whole perception of the blade, itself, has changed significantly and I finally understand why people collect them; they are just magnificent in every way!

I agree with you on focusing too much on safety. This is because a hesitant shaver is a bloody shaver. Not to undermine the great advice others have given. I personally dove in whole face shaves and I believe that is the best way to learn and get comfortable with your new razor. They are also as expensive as well as truly remarkable in both beauty and simplicity.Good luck and great shaves.

One good shave does not make you less of a newbie. My over confidence showed me that toady!

Still a decent shave but less close due to my inexperience. About a 6 of 10 and just 2 nicks; so the concepts there just not the fine motor skills as of yet. I did feel the blade was not as sharp as yesterday and it may be due to my stropping technique.

I stropped the blade about 70 times back and fourth at about 10 degrees with minimal pressure.... it's another feeling I have to get used to. It looks so easy. I don't think I did that right at all! Back to the videos then. I did get Lynn Abram's DVD so that will help.

Any tips are always appreciated!

Originally Posted by jmueller8

... I stropped the blade about 70 times back and fourth at about 10 degrees with minimal pressure....

I'm not sure if I'm reading this correctly, but are you saying that you lift the spine off the strop, to a 10 degree angle, when stropping? The blade should be flat on the strop with the spine leading, held to the strop only by its own weight. Sorry if I misunderstood.

Dave

No; you had it right! I was stropping incorrectly! I watched a few videos and worked it out. I sort of flew over that part and I felt it today! Ah; failure is so humbling!

No failure here. We're all learning. There is an awful lot to digest when starting with str8s.

My dad once told me, "No, I'm not wrong. I'm just not as right as I normally am."

Have a great shave.

Dave

Originally Posted by jmueller8

No; you had it right! I was stropping incorrectly! I watched a few videos and worked it out. I sort of flew over that part and I felt it today! Ah; failure is so humbling!

Welcome. You're in good hands here.

As punishment for stropping incorrectly I hereby require you to strop correctly for 100 passes on your unfinished leather strop. the first 50 passes with slight pressure and the last 50 with very light pressure. Maybe 150 total. I thought about this kind of thing when stropping this morning. Go ahead, you can quote me on this: "You can strop incorrectly, but you can't "overstrop" a razor."

Seriously though, if you lifted the spine 10 degrees you may have rounded the actual edge slightly which could account for the razor feeling less sharp than your previous few shaves. I do recommend the above as a corrective measure.

Keep reporting in though; we like to read the progress.

Chris L

I'll strop it another 15 minutes tonight just to get some more time in. My face was so sore this morning, I decided to skip the shave. What's the best position to mount my strop? I tried it waist high and shoulder high and it still felt funny! Even tried it with the other hand. (The down side of being an ambidextrous left hander.)

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I have never ever drawn blood with a striaght ever.

Famous last words

Originally Posted by jmueller8

I'll strop it another 15 minutes tonight just to get some more time in. My face was so sore this morning, I decided to skip the shave. What's the best position to mount my strop? I tried it waist high and shoulder high and it still felt funny! Even tried it with the other hand. (The down side of being an ambidextrous left hander.)

I bet you'll get some varied answers for this 'un.
Around waist high is good for me

Originally Posted by jmueller8

I'll strop it another 15 minutes tonight just to get some more time in. My face was so sore this morning, I decided to skip the shave. What's the best position to mount my strop? I tried it waist high and shoulder high and it still felt funny! Even tried it with the other hand. (The down side of being an ambidextrous left hander.)

I fastend my strop to my doorhandle. Works for me... (fun to see there are more ambidextrous left handers here).