Received my first "real" straight

I had time to shave only once with my disposable blades straight, and today I received the Crown SR that I bought from the classified. So it is kind of my second SR but the first real one.

Wow, I love it. I won't use the disposable blades anymore, at least not at home.

It wasn't really needed because I shaved yesterday, but as I shaved only WTG, it was justified. I just did the face, and went ATG under the chin this time. Now I know what is a shave with a real straight. My skin never felt so fresh after shaving, like if it wasn't touching the skin. And the cuts stopped bleeding faster than with a 3-4 blades cartridge razor. It even didn't hurt when I applied the after shave. That was good for a start.

Jason (Mijbil) did a real good job on restoring this one, and it seems we have the same taste for the type of blades.

One of the things that I like is that it sings when I shave, which is a good sign. And it gave me a better shave than the DE.

I have a few more coming but not all shave ready like this one. I want to try more of them to see what I like best, and just for the fun of it.

Now I need to know what is the best way to strop it to keep it sharp.

Still a beginner, but one step ahead of those who never tried straights...

Gilles

looks great. Im also new to Straight Razors, i had a piece of crap eBay blade but im waiting on my first good one from SRD. i hope my first experience is as great as yours.

Go to ruprazors.com, and there is a $20 strop that is a good beginning strop. Hell, I've had it for over a year now, and still works well

Congrats on the shave, it sounds like you're well on your way!

There are a few options for strops such as Tony Miller, SRD and Illinois. If you were referring to stropping technique there is no shortage of info in the Stropping section, as well as the wiki. Just remember that a regular, unpasted strop doesn't actually sharpen a razor, or keep it sharp, it's more of a "final polish" before a shave.

I already ordered this leather strop

http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...g?t=1263358088

and I have some leather strops for my carving tools, but I am just wondering if I should keep the razor completely flat or more or less tilted.

I'll check the tutorials again.

Thanks,

Gilles

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gtechblues

I should keep the razor completely flat...

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Exactly. Roll on the spine, next-to-no pressure. Like I said before, tons of info here. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gtechblues

I should keep the razor completely flat...

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Exactly. Roll on the spine, next-to-no pressure. Like I said before, tons of info here. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

Congratulations on your first real str8 razor shave. They'll only get better with time and experience.

Heed Ryan's advice. The side of the razor should lie flat on your strop as you move it, away from your body. Roll it on the spine and move it back towards you. That counts as one stroke. Apply next to no pressure to the razor--the weight of the razor itself is almost enough to keep it on the strop--as you employ this back and forth motion to align your blade for shaving.

Take care...

What's bugging me is that with my carving knives, when I stropped them I just need to keep them flat on the strop, but with the curve in a straight razor, keeping it flat has a different meaning because the bevel is not flat but concave.

Gilles

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gtechblues

What's bugging me is that with my carving knives, when I stropped them I just need to keep them flat on the strop, but with the curve in a straight razor, keeping it flat has a different meaning because the bevel is not flat but concave.

Gilles

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Hi Gilles,
Hold the strop taught. Spine *and* edge both in equal contact with the strop. Almost *NO* pressure during the stroke. Do not lift the spine during stropping. Do not lift the edge during stropping. At the end of each stroke, roll the razor on the spine to reverse direction. Use your fingers; try to not roll your wrist when rolling the razor on the spine.

It really isn't all that different.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Thanks for making it clearer.

Sometimes, the needed info is hidden in the lot available.

As an added note, I just shaved my head this morning, WTG and ATG and stropped the razor after realizing that it didn't seem to cut as well as the first time, and it did make a difference. So indeed, it is best to use the strop before each shave. I had a little more problems ATG above the ears, but also more fun overall...

Gilles

Congrats! :)

Glad its going well. You'll be pleased to hear, it just gets better from here..!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Welcome

To be frank, that strop looks a bit like those usually associated with razors on the brands to avoid list. I'm not saying it wouldn't work well, but if the stropping doesn't appear effective and edge disappears fast, that might be something to look into.

Usually newbies are advised to buy their gear from reputable businesses and persons who know what they're doing. At least until they have the necessary knowledge to reliably evaluate by themselves what they're buying into.

Happy shavings.

I admit... it's a cheap strop...

The next one will be a better one, but for now, I figured it would be better than none. I'll practice the movement on this one, then I'll go pro $$$...

Gilles

I received the cheap leather strop with a cheap razor today.

Ok, the leather strop is cheaper than I though...

And the straight razor is even worst. It is a nice.......POS.

After using the 2 good straights I already have, I know what is a good razor, and I wouldn't try to shave with that razor. Well, yes, I tried to hone it and tried the strop I got with it, and then I tried to shave with it a bit. There's no way it will cut any hair on my face, and never cut any of the hairs left on my left arm...

Anyway, I ordered the razor and a couple more to experiment with them, and will use that razor to practice the stroping movement on the strop. But it will never touch my skin again, unless I can make it sharp enough.

So the experts are right, stay away from those.

Gilles