New razor,strop question, any last wishes?

My package arrived today! Question, when stropping. do i just use the smooth leather side or the rough and smooth? Any last minute advice or tips? http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...g/IMG_0109.jpg

Just the smooth side first, try that. If that doesn't work after the first shave use the other side first. You'll probably not need anything but the smooth side.

Use the smooth side . Keep the strop taut , keep the razor flat on the strop , use the "x" pattern , and only use enough pressure to keep the edge and the spine in contact with the strop . 50-60 passes both ways should do the job . Have fun , and be safe :)

Thanks.

Hey.. any tips for holding the stop tight? my hand actually hurt from holding it....

How long does it take my people to strop once they get it down?

My strops do not have handles, so I just pinch the end between my thumb and the 2nd knucle of my fore finger, it shouldnt take more than a minute once you have the technique down pat. Technique comes first, then speed will come on its own.:gl:

First shave with the straight.

1) Shaving with a DE razor definately helped. Shaving with a de taught me about pressure and angle of my face. plus lather.

2) I managed 2 cuts. 1 that bled, 1 that didnt. both of them look like i let part of the razor rest for a second and them moved. very tiny clean cuts. one on the chin, one on the jawline.

3) No irritation at all. Didnt seem to really bother the area of razor burn i had from this mornings DE shave.

4). My WTF didnt really seem that close. Not bad, but i could still feel stubble. Every pass i could hear what i thought were whiskers cutting. I also tried to do some cross shaving, afraid of the atg.

5) need to not get ahead of myself :)

6) couldnt i not be stropping well enough if i'm not getting a close shave on the first pass? Angle/pressure not quite right?

7) i notice that i start out holding the razor with pretty much just my finger tips. but it ends up more around the first line in my finger. is this bad?

8) i did manage to shave some with my left hand. I tried it both ways.. i think i will shave my left cheek with my left hand, but pretty much everything else with my left. did manage to trim that sideburn a bit though :)


Thanks for everyones help! I think i'm done with DE razors. My straight shave didnt seem to take much more time than my DE.

It does take some time to get the angles down with a straight Ben, and gettin' the angles (along with pressure) are what makes a straight shave better than any other medium... or the worst.

Keep practicing and you will see!:D

I think You did great on your first straight shave Ben...

The shaves will get closer when you get the angles right.. If the razor didnt pul or bounce over the whiskers l it was probably sharp enough.. I usualy feel some stubles after the first pass..
You could check the lather on your razor to see if it cuts the whiskers all along the edge. be carefull not to cut your finger :).

well done!

Maarten