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I just ordered a Dovo Carpe Diem, Castle Forbes lavender cream and a bunch of related accessories from SRD. I also have a dirty bird scuttle on order as well. I caught my wife in a generous mood, (her recent high end hair style didn't hurt either). Anyway since I have never shaved with a straight razor before and will probably screw up on the stropping should I skip the stropping on my first shave since Lynn will be honing and stropping the blade prior to shipping?
Yeah, skip the stropping for your first shave so that you know what the edge is supposed to feel like.
You don't need to strop the first time since the blade comes ready to go.
My advice is to take things SLOW... The first shave just do a WTG pass on cheeks and see how that feels, then if U feel ok you can go further. When you strop the first time also go SLOWLY, concentrate on slide and flip on spine.... Remember this is a journey not a destination, take the time to enjoy the ride :)
I made sure to shave with my razor from SRD for my first time so that I would know exactly what an edge should roughly feel like when done correctly. Afterwards, Be sure to check out the wiki on this site for info on many related topics. It is a great help for newbies and also can answer almost any question you might have!
There are varying opinions on stropping a freshly honed razor. I believe it is a personal choice; however, when I got my first straight from Lynn, I did not strop it for my first shave. But now I strop before and after each shave.
Speaking of stropping here is a tip that may or may not be of assistance to you. Practicing stropping with a butter knife as a way to keep the blade flat on the leather. I know the butter knife is nowheres near a straight razor, but the goal is to keep the blade flat to avoid lifting the spine and possibly rolling the edge. Other members may agree or disagree with me, but the final decision is up to you as to how you want to approach stropping. When I learned how to strop, I only had one straight and made the mistake of rolling the edge and sent it back to Lynn to get the edge repaired. So while the straight was being rehoned, I practiced with a butterknife to learn to keep the spine down and for me, it paid off.
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Originally Posted by Link8382
I have read in a few of the posts that stropping a butter knife was good for practice and I am going to spend some time doing that. I don't want to mess up a freshly honed razor because of impatience. Thanks for the advice.
You're welcome. I hope it works out well for you.
Just keep your strop taut and start out slow and focus on your technique such as keeping the spine on the leather, blade flat, use the blade's natural pressure on the leather (do not press down on the razor), and flipping on the spine to change directions. Having the strop set at waist high is ideal, also before I forget, based on my own experience, keeping your stropping arm's elbow level with the strop help keeps your razor level and flat on the leather. Your shoulder should remain stationary and your arm's movement should only be from the elbow.
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Originally Posted by Link8382
Good advice!
Pmburk's advice.I second it. Excellent advice for the reasons he gave... Plus... You Don't want to slice your new leather!! I butter knife is a safe alternative if you don't have a spare Dull Razor.
It's really easy to cut it and it's there forever!
I'm pretty sure Lynn actually strops the razor prior to shipping it back.
One thing I would recommend is that you pick up a CHEAP strop to learn on, something like the 20 dollar poor mans strop from whipped dog. that way when you make mistakes you are cutting up a cheap strop and not the nice one you ordered.... Just a thought :)
I agree; when Lynn says a razor shave ready, don't second guess him, it is shave ready.
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Originally Posted by weirdbob
That's a great idea!
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Originally Posted by mcgyver74
That was one of the biggest reasons I chose SRD for my first razor purchase. From reading numerous posts I expected Lynn would have the razor ready to go. I thought I would look at the blade very closely and shave prior to stropping so I would know what a properly sharpened razor should look and feel like. I am actually going to see if I can get a couple shaves prior to stropping the first time since I probably will only be shaving a small part of my face to start. I know I am pushing my luck with that expectation but it wouldn't hurt to try. At least I will know the difference between shave ready and not.;)
I never used a butter knife...
I have one nick in my strop from day one. Just start slow. Remember.... Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. In order to get faster you need the muscle memory of the motion. Start with slow smooth motion, it will just take a bit longer that's all. Keep the spine on the leather at all times, lift the edge as you approach the end of stroke and don't lower the edge onto the leather until you are moving in the other direction. Also you don't need to use the entire length of a long strop, keep the blade away from buckles and rivets...
Enjoy!!!
Great advice!
There's a shooter or a former Marine.....Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffegg2
Have you checked out the shave Wiki?
If not, here is the link: First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Wiki
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Originally Posted by Link8382
Yes I have. Thanks for the info though.
Great!
Just remember, all this takes time and practice. At this early stage, don't get hung up on achieving that BBS; trust me, it will happen before you know it. Focus on your pre-shave prep, shaving technique (take it slow and easy), and take care of your face and your equipment after the shave.
Here's a great tip I use myself, when you are SR shaving, strive make the next stroke of the razor better than the previous one.
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Originally Posted by Link8382
So today I had my first partial straight razor shave. So far so good, still a little awkward, still have to work on skin stretch but all in all not too bad. Not quite as scary as I thought it might be and totally doable. Since I only did a partial shave do you think I can get away with another partial shave prior to stropping. Although I am practicing utilizing the butter knife strop suggestion, I am a little concerned about ruining the edge. I don't want to screw up the edge before I even get started. I am slowly getting the hang of stropping with the butter knife. :)
Sounds like you are following the SR shave Wiki for beginners, GOOD MAN!! Keep it up and take your time, you'll get more acclimated. In my opinion, you are going easy and I think you can get away with another partial shave without stropping. But you are going to have to strop sooner or later.
Okay, million dollar question, how long have you had your razor and how long have you been practicing your stropping? Take your time, don't worry about speed, just focus on technique with stropping by keeping the spine in contact with the leather and do not put any pressure on the razor. Just use the razor's weight on the strop and go slowly making sure the razor is flat on the leather, you'll develop the muscle memory to become more proficient with stropping. If you roll the edge on the strop, find someone here in the forum who will rehone your razor.
Link, I rolled my edge while I was learning to strop and I am sure many guys in this forum have done so too. It can be fixed, but we can possibly avoid your rolling the edge.
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Originally Posted by Link8382
I have only had the razor a couple days, and have not put much time into practicing my strop technique. I will spend more time with butter knife before I go at the new razor.
Go at a pace that you are comfortable with.
Feel free to PM me as well.
Patrick
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Originally Posted by Link8382
Yes a shooter, not a Marine. However my Kenpo instructor was a Green Beret.Quote:
Originally Posted by weirdbob
So far so good. Five shaves down and haven't slit my throat. I can get 50-60% of my face pretty smooth and with minimal nicks. Still getting a good bit of razor burn from multiple passes but my technique is improving with each shave. Still working on strop technique but as long as I keep it slow all is good. I am enjoying the challenge and the very close shaves. I will keep working on my chin and upper lip. Thanks for all the support from SRP. Also kudos to SRD for amazingly fast shipping and quality products.
When stropping, keep it slow for now and make sure your spine is in contact with the leather. When you strop, do not press down on the razor, just allow the razor to lay on the leather. What I do with my strop is take some left over shaving lather and smear it on my strop and rubbing it into the leather with my hand and allow it to dry. It conditions the strop and keeps it supple. You can also rub your hand up and down on it several times for the same effect too. Your hands' oils help with the conditioning too.
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Originally Posted by Link8382
I have about a week in and things are going pretty good. Still a little trouble with upper lip and chin but I am not to concerned about that, it will come in time with more practice. I am however getting a good bit of razor burn. I am not expecting miracles after only a week but after reading some other posts thought I would verify if it is normal. I am watching how much pressure I apply and find it natural to use a light touch. I do have to make several passes to get a clean shave and feel this is the biggest issue. I haven't dinged the blade on anything but have nicked my strop a couple times does this ruin the edge? I am slowing down with my stropping and getting better overall but do I need to have my blade rehoned? I am getting a smooth shave after multiple passes and I do use alum/witchhazel as.
If it's just lack of experience I will suck it up and motor on.
It could booger the edge, but since the leather gives there's some hope that the edge is okay. Get yourself a 10x loupe and take a look at the edge under super bright light. While examining the edge, tilt the razor back and forth real slow to see if there are any bright spots coming off the edge. If there are, then your edge will need either a touch up or be rehoned.
You say how you are watching how much pressure to apply, you shouldn't be applying any pressure at all. It's all about the razor's natural weight that applies any pressure in shaving and stropping.
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Originally Posted by Link8382
I am attempting a zero pressure approach but being new at it and the feeling still a little awkward I am probably still applying a little pressure when I shouldn't. I have looked at the edge without a loupe and I can see the bright shine all along the edge on both sides of blade.
Yes, you are going to see the bright shine along the side, that's normal. You need to have the razor setting on its spine and you use a loupe and strong light to look right down on the edge and slowly "rock" the razor back and forth on the spine to look for bright spots on the edge. The bright spots will twinkle. Get the idea?
Yes, it is awkward at first and it takes time to get the feel of not adding pressure. Just keep at it and you'll achieve the zero pressure.
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Originally Posted by Link8382
Woo Hoo! I got my first full face sr only shave. Its only been three weeks but things are finally starting to get better. Razor burn is down to a minimum, my stropping is getting better and after a lot of trial and error with lathering and pre shave prep it's slowly coming together.
Thanks for all the help from the community at SRP.
Great show!! Remember, this is an ongoing learning experience, so as time continues, you will progress. Keep doing what you are doing and you think things are better now, in a period of time you'll really have some more awesome shaves!
All the best!
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Originally Posted by Link8382
I too work lather into the strop on occasion except that I use the side of a heavy coffee mug. The mug helps even down the high spots in the leather. I also rub my hand up and down the strop a few times before every use. I think that the warmth and skin oils seem to even and smooth the surface too.