Thread: Finaly

1) Is it normal to not get a perfect smooth skin the first time?
Yes. It takes practice to get a close shave without irritation.

2) How can I check if the knifes are ready to go?
It should shave off arm hairs very easily. If you can cut the hairs even at a distance from the skin that is preferable. Look for info on the thumbpad test (TPT), I expect you have access to some disposable razor blades so that gives you something to compare to.
If you bought the razor from a typical supplier it will probably not be as sharp as you want it to be. As they come from the factory, razors tend to have a mediocre edge at best.
Your best bet is to send the razor to be sharpened by someone who specialises in sharpening razors, if that is not where you bought it in the first place.

3) When to strop or honing?
Strop before every shave. Hone when stropping fails to make the razor work at its best. Or when the edge gets damaged.

4) Shaving with or against the hairs?
With the grain to start with. Once you are happy with your technique and the ability of the blade you can try against the grain.

5) Yes, the V-Max is awesome!

You may find that laws force you to use disposable-bladed razors on your customers. It's a shame, as they don't make the same impression as a "real" straight razor, but at least you don't have to worry about sharpening them.