Thread: My new strop...

Tony,

Thank you for the reply, I feel much much better knowing that. Unfortunatly, after stropping my razor and attempting to shave with it, I realised my razor isn't exactly shave ready. I decided to try the little hair test I hear people refer to, and it wouldn't even cut the hair... at all. Im not sure if its my stropping technic or maybe my strop... More than likely my technic... I found myself appling what I felt was "To much" pressure. Can this ruin the edge? Or Maybe I should just keep trying to strop my blade until I find the desired results?

-Billy

Don't get frustrated yet. Straight razor is a strange beast. If the razor is new, most likely it is not shave ready. Consider sending it to someone for establishing a proper bevel. What razor you have?

As for the strop, it will develop glossy finish in time. Daily hand rub will be sufficient for some time...

Nenad

oh, and I can suggest you get Lynn's CD on straight razors. It should be indispensable tool for beginners, and also for more experienced too...

Nenad,

The Razor I purchased is:

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...013/564217.htm


Nothing real fancy, but I figure its enough to do the job for now. I dont expect to be able to get fantastic results, and I half anticipate to lose half of my face in the process, but I'm sort of bull headed and I already got my mind set on using a straight razor lol... and so it begins =P

Do you have any suggestions on sending it off to get a proper bevel established? I think I read something about people here that do honing?

Also, a friend told me to treat my strop with Mineral oil, so I put on a health coat the day I bought it and let it sit over night. I've been assured by a few people this will not hurt it, but I haven't gotten any type of responses as to wether or not his was a good idea or not... Maybe you have some input on that? As far as hand rubbing the strop... this is done by sort of "Kneeding" the strop with the palm of your hand? Thanks in advance.

-Billy

It is unlikely that that razor is shave ready. The bevel should be good, but the edge needs refining. New razors tend to be close, but not quite there.

I used mink oils to condition my strops. The hand rubbing is done by simply holding the strop taut and rubbing your hand along the length.

I'll be happy to bring your razor up to snuff gratis if you like. PM me if you're interested.

X

Xman,

Thanks for the strop info. I'll try to put it to good use. And thank you for the offer on the razor. I think I will try to toy with it a bit more and see if I can get any sort of desirable results out of it a little more before shipping it out, but I have a feeling I might be sending you a message in the short future.

-Billy

Billy, you have an excellent razor there, high on my wanted list Hand rub is simly rubbing your palm along the stropping surface 5-6 times before stropping. This (the oils from the skin) should keep the strop in good working condition indefinately. When you feel the strop gets a bit dry and looses it's draw, it is time to apply some sort of strop paste (not mineral oil) and it is applyed sparingly, only couple of dabs. This can be found at classicshaving.com

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...944/196060.htm

or DOVO's yellow paste. You can also get the white paste to treat the strop linnen.

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...944/196078.htm

The razor has the needed bevel, but might not be suitable for shaving yet, as it is not tested in the factory for sharpness. Do you have hone yet?

Nenad

Nenad,

No, I dont have a hone yet. I actually have a bid for a CARBORUNDUM razor hone on E-bay, but I dont think Im quite ready to start using a hone yet. I plan on buying another razor here shortly, so I can experiment with one, without having to pick up my mach III after a mishap =P

I actually just left the bathroom, where I have been practicing/experimenting with my strop for the last 20min... I've managed to get it A LOT sharper than it was earlier when I tried to shave with it, but when I took a practice swip over my chin with it, I ended up with about 3 scraps and I felt quite a bit of resistance, so im pretty sure its still not nearly up to snuff... It feels like I get more resistance on the strop when I push the blade away from me, than I do when I pull it towards me.... Im thinking this has something to do with the actual strop, as tony mentioned earlier, I ended up purchasing a strop that is a bit odd. Do you think that it needs to visit a hone before it will get up to par?

-Billy