just a few noob questions...

[redelephant]

I got my strop from srd and have a few questions...
first, what order and which side(s) do I use? It has a leather piece with one side smooth and the opposite rough. The other attached piece is a nylon cross stitched double sided piece.
second, do I need any "grit paste" or other additions to my strop?
third, how often do I need to apply Camellia Oil to my blades? After each shave, or only when I dont use one for a while...
lastly, is it a good idea to strop only before a shave or during and after also?

thank you all for the info given so far!!

[swimlikehell]

I do about 40 laps (down and back count as 1) on the cloth side and 50 laps on the leather before each shave, after my shave I do 10 laps on cloth side to dry. You will not need any paste for a while, this is only to touch up your blade. I do not put oil on my blade that I am shaving with currently, I shave every three days, I only oil a blade that is not used that frequently. Hope this helps.

[redelephant]

thank you for info!!!

[Edgeof40]

+1 to the advice above but I notice you asked about which sides of the strop to use. After the cloth/nylon you strop on the smooth side of the leather. Also it is a good practice to place the strop flat on a table or something and rub it with the palm of your hand about 100 times. This will transfer some of your natural skin oil into the strop and that done quite frequently will condition and maintain the leather. When it comes to pastes, they are applied to the rough side of the leather but as said previously you need not worry about that just yet.
Good luck and enjoy your new hobby.