Thread: Second shave a little frustrating

Well the first one went rather well so I was excited for the second one last night but the results were not so good.

This time I needed to strop the razor which I think may have killed the edge. The strop is new, just took it out of the sealed bag. I noticed that there seem to be waves in the leather. If I lay the razor on the strop there are many places where only part of the razor is touching the strop.

Do these things need to be broken in first or something? All the strops I've seen in video's demonstrating seem to be softer and people are able to keep the razor flush across it with little pressure and hardly any effort. The only way I would be able to keep my razor evenly flush with the strop would be to apply quite a bit of pressure with each stroke in order to flatted the strop. I was under the impression that not much pressure is needed here.

Mine was wavy as well...before using it, I put oil on my hands, and rubbed it vigorously into the leather while it was on a flat surface. Following that, I wiped it clean with a towel and while it was on a flat surface, I placed some heavy hard-backed books on it. It's straight now.

As for damage to the edge, someone with more experience here will have to chime in. Good luck!

Personally, I don't know how someone new to stropping can fail to do damage on their first attempt at stropping. It's a delicate skill, with precise motions required. I read everything first, watched all the videos, had three different strops, but my first time was not successful. It just takes time, practice, and more time. The combination of a Newbie's face, debatable preparation, a delicate edge, maybe sharp, maybe not, and a first shot at stropping, all combined with little in the way of shaving technique, results in a recipe for difficulty.

But that's just how it is. You can't just decide to break 70 on the golf course and do it. You can't just decide to do everything that is required correctly in a straight shave and knock it out of the park. I think the experienced shavers in this forum tend to forget how difficult it was for them at first and unintentionally deceive Newbies regarding how easy it will be. It doesn't look easy and, without lots of work put in, it ain't.

But keep at it. It does get better, and it is worth doing. It's just hard to see that at first.

I guess it depends on the strop you buy. I have an old vintage one, that I got on Ebay that's like the one you describe, but my other strops, SRD's, Kanayama, Tony Miller, even Kenrups are all flat, and supple. They're all quality leather. You may try breaking yours in by rubbing it vigorously with your hand. You may even try rubbing some Neetsfoot oil into it, but very little.

P.S. Exactly like the previous post mentions.....Thanks Elsmooth....

The strop is a 3" Black Latigo Leather that I bought from SRD along with the razor as a set. What I did do is rub it with my hands a bit. Then with it attached to a hook on one end I put my arm under it and pulled down with the handle causing it to sort of roll over my arm with tension. That seemed to flatten out the waves a little, sort of like a break in. Right now I'm at work and it's hanging, maybe it's own weight will help straighten it out too. I don't have any of the oils mentioned above so for the time being I'll have to settle for whatever natural oils come out of my hands while rubbing it.

I suppose at least I didn't nic the razor on the strop.

I'm not really worried about my prep or lather, when I finished off with my DE everything went perfect.

That's a good strop, but I'm sure if it's black latigo, it's stiff. Continue to work it with oily hands. Don't wash them first. Also, try, (As previously mentioned) putting it in between a stack of books. This too, will help flaten it. It will take time to break that bad boy in....

Remember....It is always the equipments fault and never yours!!!

A lot of times new guys when stropping mistake little pressure for no pressure. No pressure does nothing when stropping. You do need a little pressure to keep the spine and edge on the strop. You also need to develop a not too slow and not too fast stroke and roll the razor on the spine when changing direction. You also need to make sure you are not using too much pressure and bearing down on the strop either. This is something else that just takes a little practice.

Latigo strops start off pretty slick and then when broken in, have a really nice draw. There is a layer of wax and oil on this leather and once you're past it, your good to go. You do need a lot of hand rubbing daily and maybe even a touch of neatsfoot oil in the process.

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by Lynn

Remember....It is always the equipments fault and never yours!!!

Always! (Yeah we use the same saying with computers)

Thats why I'm glad I found this place, great for sanity checks. In my pre-straight research I never really came across much info about new strops or any possible break in for them.

At this point in my straight shaving experience I've got to work on finding that happy place of not too slow, not too fast, not too hard, not too soft. All of which are very difficult concepts to convey to another with words.