Got my first razor as a gift

[kalderon]

after talking about it for a while.
just got a razor ... and have a few questions.

with it I got a wooden strop.. with two different wood types on each side
do I use it as a leather one??
can any one help?

do I need to buy a water stone? which grit? (4000/8000)

thanx

[LegalBeagle]

First off, welcome and congratulations! Second, I highly encourage you to read the wiki. I've never used a wooden strop myself, so I'll leave that to others. I will tell you to hold off on buying a hone of any sort for a while. Learn to shave first.

When it comes to shaving start slowly, and remember to keep the blade angle low, the pressure light and have fun!

Let us know how it goes and good luck!

[TheGeek]

Howdy and welcome to SRP

If you could, then pictures would be greatly appreciated

i would agree however that a stone is not an immediate requirement and if honing is needed and you are new to the straight scene then a professional honemeister would be a good idea for your first honing or two.

Geek

[nessmuck]

First off, welcome and congratulations! Second, I highly encourage you to read the wiki. I've never used a wooden strop myself, so I'll leave that to others. I will tell you to hold off on buying a hone of any sort for a while. Learn to shave first.

When it comes to shaving start slowly, and remember to keep the blade angle low, the pressure light and have fun!

Let us know how it goes and good luck!

+1 to the above,and you will need a leather strop to maintain a sharp edge.Watch all the videos on shaving and proper stropping and get your razor honed by a pro,so that you will know what SHARP is.Another good idea is to have 2 razors honed by a pro,so that when you f-up a razor,you will have a back-up.We all have f-uped a razors edge when starting out!! And welcome aboard

[metalfab]

Just to clairify the reason to worry about a hone later is to learn to shave first. If you start with a shave ready razor you'll know that your technique works or not and the razor is not to blame.

[thebigspendur]

Wood only strops are few and far between. Usually it's wood with leather coating it and it's two different leathers. I've never heard of a wood strop with two different woods. Usually one side is for daily stropping and the other side has CrO or another paste for touchups.

Welcome to the site and definitely read the wiki to guide you on the hone decision.

[kalderon]

I have just spent a few hours reading and learning.

got the messege on the honing..you have to walk before you run!

as a metter of fact I'll delay the experiments and learn a bit more.
I think my equipment is far from perfect.

as for the strop I am sure one side is balsa. the other I'm not sure of.
will attach a picture later on

thanx again