Thread: 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



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

Originally Posted by gtechblues

I should keep the razor completely flat...

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

Originally Posted by gtechblues

I should keep the razor completely flat...

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

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

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 -_-