Hello everyone!

I am very happy to be a part of the site and I hope it'll be an enjoyable experience for me, learning to straight shave has been fun and difficult.

I have been a member of B&B for some time now and have been de shaving for well over 6 months. I get really nice BBS shaves with my Gillette 1926 NEW improved gold model a long with Feathers. I have always been interested in the straight razor process and I gave in about a week ago.

I bought a Wapi from Ken at Ruprazor last week and I have been learning with that. So far everyone seems OKAY but I can't get super smooth shaves (Duh). I also bought the Jimmy strop from ken to go along with the razor. The wapi has been tugging and getting snagged on my neck and chin a lot. Only when I go ATG, so I am thinking the razor isn't the problem, just my lack of technique. Only had one cut so far on my chin trying to get BBS too early on. The chin is very hard.

I have nicked the hell out of my strop though. Stropping is harder than it looks. I go in the right direction, spine first, but I guess I don't stop before flipping the razor and thus nicks have happened. Will a nicked strop damage my blade? Will stropping over it ruin the edge? There is still a smooth area on the strop, so I ten to stay in there when I strop now. I am affraid I'll ruin the razor going over nicks. I'll need a pumise stone.

I take a shower and use the usual prep. Hot water shower, hot water rinse, oil and then a lather with Tabac. I have never had problems with my lather, it is rich and full, also wet. I work it into my face for about 3 minutes before I shave. I just can't get a close shave when I rub my face against the gain. It still feels rough. The razor literally gets stuck in my hair on my chin and neck when I got ATG. IT has been like since even before I have stropped the first time I used the blade.

I also just purchased this razor from OLDSCHOOL yesterday (RAD):

Gotta 120 Hamburg ring. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

I am thinking maybe the wapi isn't what my face needs as far as a razor is concerned.