Thread: Bought a new razor but...

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

The leather is better for finishing. It smoothes and flattens the edge prior to shaving.

I think it depends on how you honed. If you went up to 12-15K, I doubt that you could notice the effect theat normal stropping would have. These days I strop after honing pretty much out of habit and the times I haven't, I haven't noticed a difference.

When stropping really makes a difference is on a razor that has been used for shaving. Then, it pushes together the microserrations making the edge look thinner (sharper).

For the same reason, I refresh an edge after stropping. Actually, thisis only natural because I would refresh only if stropping didn't resore the sharpness.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

The leather is better for finishing. It smoothes and flattens the edge prior to shaving.

I think it depends on how you honed. If you went up to 12-15K, I doubt that you could notice the effect theat normal stropping would have. These days I strop after honing pretty much out of habit and the times I haven't, I haven't noticed a difference.

When stropping really makes a difference is on a razor that has been used for shaving. Then, it pushes together the microserrations making the edge look thinner (sharper).

For the same reason, I refresh an edge after stropping. Actually, thisis only natural because I would refresh only if stropping didn't resore the sharpness.

Got my ebay blade in the mail yesterday afternoon. It's a real el cheapo, it costed me € 8,50 (shipping from Germany included), about $ 10,-.
It looks nice, it's not as sophisticated as a DOVO, but it has a gold-etching on the blade. And, the blade is absolutely new, no second-hand.

I tried to shave my armhair with the fresh blade (it hadn't touched no leather) and surprised as I was, it popped of the hair, hovering about 2mm above the skin, as a treat!

This mornig I wil try it out on my facial hair. Before I went to sleep I stropped the knife. If it works I wil order more of these blades, if not I could always use it for honing-practice...

As for the other stropping-discussion started: I believe, after reading almost every site on classic shaving, that every person should strop his (her?) razor as he feels right. So, linen first, then leather, or the other way around, it's what YOU belive in and gives YOU the best result.
Also I came to believe its not the shining sharpness that does the job, but the micro-serrations you get from honing. Therefore, I believe a freshely honed blade could give you the result you want. And you should strop after the first shave, to redirect the edge in the right way. This could be my way, but others believe in other ways of stropping. I firmly believe, there is no wrong way to do it, just do it the way it fits you.

Are there more out there who believe the same? Maybe we could make it into a religion

Looks like you got plenty of good advice on the thread already, but I had to say that I am impressed with your English. It always amazes me when someone can speak/understand another language dang near better than I do with just one. Welcome to the group...

Thank you very much urleebird. I consider it a great honour to get this kind of compliments from native speakers! If you wish I can teach you to speak Dutch...
There is an explanation on how we Dutch can speak more languages. First of all most of us are tought English, German and French in highschool. Where as English is obligatory, German and French we could choose from to take an exam in. (those were the early days, I am 41 and in the meanwhile the whole schoolsystem has changed). Second, most part of the internet is in english, so to understand and learn more in my trade (I have a small business in IT) I must speak and understand English. Third, Holland is small country and if want to compete to the rest of the world, we must make ourselves understandable. And fourth, I just like the language, especially the way you Americans use it... (Pls forgive me, all you British out there.. )

To return to the title of this post: I just tried the el cheapo razor and by Jupiter it took the hairs of my cheek!! I was a bit nervous, so I didn't get the correct angle to shave and because I am in a bit of a hurry, I had to finish with the Gillette . Tomorrow I will strop it some on the green strop and see how it goes.

I have no cuts or nicks, so I can present myself in town this afternoon..

Congratulations Pinda. It sounds like you're climbing the straight razor learning curve quite quickly. I'm sure you'll be enjoying the shaves once you get your technique all worked out and razor at the keeness you desire.

Just finished my sundaymornig shave with the el cheapo. It came out like I have never shaved before.
Started out with giving the knife a strop on the green strop and finished stropping on the blank strop. This time no HHT or anything fancy like that, but straight to shaving.

Last night I have melted my soap (Vergulde Hand tablet, a wellknown Dutch manufacturer of shaving soaps for over 400 years ) into a bowl I bought from Xenos (cheap household accesories shop, I'm sure the dutch honemeisters know what I'm talking about). It gave me a great amount of lather.
So I lathered my face, and began to work it in with my fingers, against the grain (something I learned from my grandfather, the man who shaved himself 10 times with Gillette-like blades in the early 30's...ouch), and lathered some more.

Aaah, the shaving itself was a treat. It seamed the knive barely touched my skin, but the beard came off as never before. The rest I won't have to describe, you all know the feeling I guess. And if not, do try another razor .

Thanks for all you advice, it helped a lot.

Grtz,
Erik

Erik, you may want to think twice before calling a good shaver "el-cheapo". 2 of the top 3 shavers in my rotation were in the 7-10EUR range (shipped). They shave as well as or better than a DOVO that cost me a bit over 70EUR (and it was a bargain) and definitely better than some better known names from Sheffield and Solingen. In any case, I'm glad you had a blast. Now you're hooked. No other shaving method will ever feel the same.

Here is a picture of the strop in question. I'm a bit relieved that I only use the guy for a haircut and not for a shave. To his credit he did replace it with a new one for me.

I suppose that it just goes to show that even experienced folk can have a problem from time to time.

Cheers
John

I don't care how experienced he is, this is just BRUTAL I don't know how he'd do this by accident. It would take a conscious effort and I'd rather do it with a butcher knife so I don't ruin all of my honing effort on destroying a strop. I wouldn't let this guy bring any sharp object (scissors included) within 100' of my face. As for his experience.. He is probably an experienced Chilean interrogator from the Pinochet era.