Essex England - Stropping HELP!

Hi all,

Had my third Straight-Shave this morning, I'm still just doing WTG on my right cheek, and finishing with my Slim. I think my lather is ok, and I haven't nicked or cut myself so I'm quite happy with the shaving aspect, but my blade has started to loose it's edge (I think) and either way, I'm not confident with this stropping malarkey.

So, please can anyone help? I've seen videos and read articles, but I think I need some hands on help, even if it is just to help me gain confidence.

I have a DOVO Favorit 10 and a DOVO strop. The strop is isn't very wide so I'm trying to do the cross-strop thing, and I have no idea if I'm going fast enough, smooth enough, pressing enough/too much.

Is there anyone local enough, who can meet up with me (I don't mind driving a bit) so that I can make some progress with this. I really dont want to give up just because I can't keep an edge.

Thanks

It took me several months to learn how to get the jist of the procedure. I was told to get a butter knife and practice, counting, much as I would count time playing a musical instrument. Go slow and just push the razor along, no down pressure on the edge, let the strop smooth the edge. Take your time learning this...it will come as your practice improves. And good luck, you can learn a lot from guys more proficient that I am, from this site.

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Originally Posted by imnotCrazy

Hi all,

Had my third Straight-Shave this morning, I'm still just doing WTG on my right cheek, and finishing with my Slim. I think my lather is ok, and I haven't nicked or cut myself so I'm quite happy with the shaving aspect, but my blade has started to loose it's edge (I think) and either way, I'm not confident with this stropping malarkey.

So, please can anyone help? I've seen videos and read articles, but I think I need some hands on help, even if it is just to help me gain confidence.

I have a DOVO Favorit 10 and a DOVO strop. The strop is isn't very wide so I'm trying to do the cross-strop thing, and I have no idea if I'm going fast enough, smooth enough, pressing enough/too much.

Is there anyone local enough, who can meet up with me (I don't mind driving a bit) so that I can make some progress with this. I really dont want to give up just because I can't keep an edge.

Thanks

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Are you a member of The Shaving Room? As it's a UK based site you might have better luck meeting up with someone near you, I'm in East London, but I am just about to have some major works done on my flat so I will be decanting out for a month and packing most of my shaving gear up, otherwise I would meet up with you, unless there is a Pub around that would not mind two nutters waving razors about!
As far as I know the Dovo Favorit 10 is a 7/8 width blade, I find that wider razors are easier to strop, I have to concentrate more when stropping a 5/8 this might just be me being awkward though! Getting the knack does take a while, I remember reading about a technique used for apprentice barbers which was to make a newspaper strop, two layers of paper with a bulldog clip at one end so it can hang up, this teaches pressure, if you tear the paper by bearing down with the blade you're pressing too hard, I have not tried this but when I'm stropping I imagine that it's made from paper, it works for me.
Speed is something you will gain in time I think it's more important to practice getting the flip of the razor smooth, and keeping the stroke even, making sure the spine and edge are in contact with the leather on the up and down strokes.

ATB

John