Thread: 1st Shave: Trying to make it simple

My first shave was without cuts...with my incredible Filarmonica Barbas Duras 14 Round Point (white scales)..honed by LEON on www.Vintagescent.com ..beautifull..and my hand was shaking so smooth..like cutting butter but i didn't do it on my neck..aren't ready..but i will get there.. So i did it with a disposible razor, consequences: cuts and nicks everywhere
The angle isn't perfect..but with practice i will achieve perfection!..I have to buy a alum block for the burns! The Shaving products were from Edwin and from Muehle - awsome ones! Can wait till tomorrow to practice more
For now i want to make things simple: Simple needs for the razor? Strop after using? with paste? Does it work to strop without paste just for maitenance?
I know that all this questions are made over and over again, but people always advice to much things for the begginer ones! "For now i want to make things simple" as possible! Thx for any simple tips

I am a believer in stropping after shaving to help clean the edge of micro gunk and moisture. I keep one strop free of any paste and only use it on a dedicated strop when necessary. Have you read this post here by forum founder Lynn Abrams on beginning to shave with a straight ? Of course the SRP Wiki here has tutorials on all things straight razor related and it is here if you haven't already seen it. Keep asking questions though as that is the only way we all learn. BTW, read my sig line below to help avoid cuts and nicks. Works for me.

Hello,
Don't strop with paste after every shave. If you use paste, it's only needed when you feel the edge needs refreshing.
I agree with Jimmy. Keep your first strop paste free & avoid contamination. I'm another that likes to strop after the shave. I do 20-30 linen, 40-50 leather before & 15-20 linen after.

I strop before and after each shave. Before, 25 canvas 40 leather. After 40 canvas, 80 leather. After about two - three shaves I feel the edge needs a little touch up so it gets 10 - 15 passes on the .50 micron paste before the regular stropping. I do have a separate 4 sided strop dedicated to pastes and that is kept separate from my 3" Strop canvas/leather.

Great job attacking sections at a time. There is also a lot of satisfaction in straight shaving.

Pabster

I strop after every shave with leather only. About 30 or so passes will work fine and keep it in top condition.

You don't need to use the paste after every shave. As for whether or not to strop only before the shave, or before and after, this thread discusses it at length: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...xperiment.html

If you're stropping after shaving only to clean the edge, then you could probably get by with just a few strokes.

Im going to strop with leather 30 to 40 passes..further i will try canvas...etc.. Im just "scared" of ruin this beautyfull razor (Filarmonica Barbas Duras Roud Point)! I've tried a Boker King cutter...dont like it! Further..after i practiced a lot.. im gonna try another Awsome razor: Filarmonica Medallon Taurino 6/8 Square point (all honed by LEON)...i will try 3 DD (Bresduck Lifetime; Wonderedge; Goldedge) to see the diference...so many razors but im sure that Filarmonica Barbas Duras will be my favourite one..lets see if i can treat her wright

Originally Posted by Pabster

I strop before and after each shave. Before, 25 canvas 40 leather. After 40 canvas, 80 leather. After about two - three shaves I feel the edge needs a little touch up so it gets 10 - 15 passes on the .50 micron paste before the regular stropping. I do have a separate 4 sided strop dedicated to pastes and that is kept separate from my 3" Strop canvas/leather.

Great job attacking sections at a time. There is also a lot of satisfaction in straight shaving.

Pabster

Man, that is a lot of stropping!

I also strop more after the shave, just for the wind down factor, I think.

i also strop after the shave, but only a dozen laps on canvas to clean the blade off