Thread: Bought a used strop

So I have had about 3 shaves from my straight razor so far (just cheeks and sideburns still) and I'm feeling a bit down in what I've been getting.
I bought it shave ready and just started shaving that first time, but have stropped before (about 20 laps) the other shaves. It hasn't been the closest shave.
I think I can put some blame on my technique, I think I'm still stroking too awkwardly as I'm still really new. But then I got to thinking maybe it was my stropping too.

So the strop I bough is a Dovo Best Russian Leather strop with Linen on the other side. And since I've never owned a strop before, I was wondering how it should feel? The leather side is really light and smooth:
Picasa Web Albums - Frank
Not a rough feeling at all. Is this okay?

I haven't used the linen side yet, since I'm under the impression I should not be doing that everyday.

Yes that is fine. I've never owned that particular model but I've read good things from those who do. I do 50 linen then 50 leather. After the shave once the razor is rinsed and dried I do another 20 to 30 on the leather to throughly clean the edge. Here is a good tutorial on stropping in this barber manual excerpt from the SRP Wiki. It is in the last couple of pages after the excellent part on honing.

sweet book
I tried the thumb test, and I don't feel the stick. I am just supposed to place the thumb right, not actually move it along the blade? I feel the stick if I put some pressure (not too much) but the book says to touch it lightly, and I definitely do not feel anything with a light touch

If you have a new DE or SE blade (double or single edge) do the TPT (thumb pad test) with them to get the feel of it.

When I do it I just lightly slide my thumb pad on the edge and if it is sharp it will sort of grab. I lift it off and go up the blade and repeat. Not with enough pressure to slice my thumb but just to feel whether it grabs or slides.

If it slides obviously it ain't sharp.

Learn to use your strop, but have you considered having your razors professionally sharpened? Usually "shave ready" is not the best edge for a blade. Once you have used a professionally sharpened razor you'll have a standard to measure everything else.