Thread: Jeff's Video Journal: A Beginner Learns Straight Razor Shaving

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

only saw the stropping one, but your definitely lifting the spine, and you will roll your edge that way. just lay the razor flat on the strop, and basically do what your already doing...trying not to lift the blade on the flip either.

Thanks for the advice. It sounds easy when you say "lay it flat on the strop" because I know I SHOULD be doing that. And then I actually get the razor in my hand and all hell breaks loose! Lifting edges, bad technique, etc. LOL

I think the biggest challenge for me is going to be not to lift the edge when flipping it over to the other side.

Originally Posted by SpicyJem

Thanks for the advice. It sounds easy when you say "lay it flat on the strop" because I know I SHOULD be doing that. And then I actually get the razor in my hand and all hell breaks loose! Lifting edges, bad technique, etc. LOL

I think the biggest challenge for me is going to be not to lift the edge when flipping it over to the other side.

Re stropping,i f you actually place the spine down first, then place the edge down as you move at least you can start the stroke correctly.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Re stropping,i f you actually place the spine down first, then place the edge down as you move at least you can start the stroke correctly.

Sound advice. I didnt really notice you lifting the edge as much as your pushing the edge into the strop since the spine is lifted off it. place the spine down...then lay the blade on the strop.

Very nice going on the first shave. You might try a little less pressure and short little strokes as you get used to the razor. You can do a little longer strokes for clean up.

Keep up the good work!

Lynn

Originally Posted by Lynn

Very nice going on the first shave. You might try a little less pressure and short little strokes as you get used to the razor. You can do a little longer strokes for clean up.

Keep up the good work!

Lynn

Lynn - Thanks for watching the video. I agree 100%. One of the reasons I filmed my shave was so I could take comments like yours, and then re-watch the video to see exactly where I need improvement.

I'm not sure if you made it all the way to the end of the video, but there was an "ah-ha moment" in there where the shave became a little smoother when I pulled in a new direction to get my lower neck. I think it's going to take a few of these "ah-ha moments" to get me where I feel really confident in my shaving.

Next shave will be in a couple days, and I will definitely take your advice (along with everyone else) to heart. Thanks for being there for me in my journey!

BTW - The horrible stropping video I filmed was really all the stropping I've ever done in that blade. Given the horrible technique but low frequency of stroking, could you reassure me that I couldn't have done major damage to the blade? You see, in the mind of a beginner, even the slightest thing we do wrong is amplified in our head, and we think, "Oh great! That razor is now RUINED and I can never get a close shave! I mind as well been stropping on concrete because of the damage I've caused."

In reality, I maybe stropped 15 bad passes before stopping the filming. LOL My plan now (and hopefully someone here can stop me if it's a bad idea) is to lay my strop on a flat table surface and strop the blade in that position. That way, I am not occupying my one hand to hold the thing taught, since it should remain pretty straight on the table, right? I figured that would allow me to focus 100% attention on the blade and not lifting the spine.

Originally Posted by SpicyJem

L
BTW - The horrible stropping video I filmed was really all the stropping I've ever done in that blade. Given the horrible technique but low frequency of stroking, could you reassure me that I couldn't have done major damage to the blade? You see, in the mind of a beginner, even the slightest thing we do wrong is amplified in our head, and we think, "Oh great! That razor is now RUINED and I can never get a close shave! I mind as well been stropping on concrete because of the damage I've caused."

In reality, I maybe stropped 15 bad passes before stopping the filming. LOL My plan now (and hopefully someone here can stop me if it's a bad idea) is to lay my strop on a flat table surface and strop the blade in that position. That way, I am not occupying my one hand to hold the thing taught, since it should remain pretty straight on the table, right? I figured that would allow me to focus 100% attention on the blade and not lifting the spine.

The shave will tell you if you've done damage.

Whether you use 2 hands or lay the strop on a table is up to you. You still have to be mindful of the relationship between edge spine & strop but be relaxed whatever you do