Thread: New Guy

Got My Bismark and my strop today. I conditioned the leather part so I can't use it untill tomorrow. The linen was neat though. I did the soap thing, where you rub in some soap and rub it with a bottle over and over, and it suprisingly feels like smooth leather.

The Bismark came at least half sharp. I ran it over my arm hair and it cut into a few hairs. It just passed over most of it. I did some stroping just for practice and after about 50 passes I started to get the feeling for it. I know it doesn't sharpen the Blade but I can't resist playing with it. I'm going to try not to shave with it. F-that, I'm getting some hot towels ready right now.

Welcome to SRP and good luck with that first shave!!!

Welcome to SRP ! Check out the Wiki at the top of the page for lots of good info.

Allright, the first shave with a dull razor was kind of neat. It felt like the razor was sharp enough to get through some of the hairs but when it would get stuck in one it would try to rip it out.
I learned how to lather a soap thing on the third try. I achieved a thicker froth then I thought was even possible. Burning hot water, a fully drenched brush, and about two minutes of frothing was all it took.
The leather strap is smooth as hell. I have my strap technique down. I practiced honing as well. The smallest grit stone I have is 6000. It‘s a King and it removes metal fast so I didn’t use it too long. I already have technique questions. I’ll also post them in the propper forums later.
In the videos I’ve watched only one hand is used to hold the knife. The other holds the stone or is not doing anything. I feel like when I have the stone resting on a flat surface and put a finger on the point side of the spine that I’m putting less pressure on the stone.
Also in the videos the knife goes from corner to opposite corner across the hone. I’ve always switched angles. Like starting from corner to corner on one pass then switching to a 45.
Has anybody else tried these things and how were your results. I won’t know mine until I get my stones delivered.