First try with the family heirloom.

Got my Great uncles Case back from Larry at WhippedDog the other day and decided to give it a go this morning. Took a nice hot shower and lathered up like I always do when using my DE/SE razors. I was in a hurry yesterday morning and just did a quick WTG pass with DE89, so there was a little more growth than usual. Sat the blade flat against my sideburn area and slowly raised it up till it started to act like it was going to cut stubble (probably 1-2 widths of the spine). Nothing but tug. Wouldn't cut through the hair without more force than I was comfortable with. Tried several different angles all with the same effect. So, in an attempt to help things along and did a very light WTG pass with the DE again, and then went back with the Case. Still some tugging, but much better. I tried running it on the strop for 20 passes or so at this point and that seemed to help quite a bit. Did my sideburns and parts of my cheeks before finishing up with the DE. Not the best of shaves, but then again I was just happy I didn't cut myself or have any irritation. Gonna give it a go tomorrow again.

I'd like to thank all who give great info and advice to us new to the world of straights, it's really very helpful.

Just go slow. It's a different way of whacking whiskers than you're accustomed to. It's take a bit for it all to come together but the learning curve isn't too steep and you'll enjoy it.
Willie

If 20 on the strop helped try doing 50 more on clean leather before shaving. I have been more guilty of understropping than overstropping.

I felt the same way when I got my razor from SRD and got alot of tugging but after keeping at it I found my razor angles was not up to par. Also I was not stropping enough. I was on doing about 25 laps but learned from another member I needed more. After better stropping and angles the tugging disappeared. Also I started using Tabac and that makes a huge difference. I think soap has alot to do with it. Good luck

Here's what I did last night and tonight. Hot shower, rubbed shaving cream on face with fingers, steamed face twice, reapplied cream with brush. I also tried stropping the razor on some newspaper wrapped around a DMT hone then on the Poor Man's Strop I got from Larry flat on the table edge before I got in the shower. It was fairly good on the sideburn area on one side tonight, just slight tugging, but not as bad as any time before when I tried without using a DE first. Then the edge seemed to go to hell and that was it. I could tell the difference just lightly feeling with my thumb. It went dull really quick. I don't mind the taking my time, enjoy the experience mindset. I was actually looking forward to it, but I can't see stropping every third stroke of the razor. Maybe once during the shave.

Sorry if I sound negative, but after watching tons of videos and reading all I can, I wasn't expecting it to be this unenjoyable. I expected bad shaves as far as smoothness of skin and the actual end result as I never get BBS with a DE (I'm a WTG/XTG shaver only). I just can't imagine I'm screwing up this bad :( as it really hasn't changed since the first time I tried it.

I appreciate all the encouragement fellas!!!! I guess I'll get a hold of Larry and see what he recommends.

Taking a stab in the dark , but bad form on your stropping could be the culprit. Recommend send back to Larry to check it and re-hone if needed. Good luck Double O

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Double0757

Taking a stab in the dark , but bad form on your stropping could be the culprit. Recommend send back to Larry to check it and re-hone if needed. Good luck Double O

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That is most likely at this point. Although it seemed worse the first time I tried the razor than after I had stropped it.

I got a hold of Larry this morning and he gave me some suggestions to try, including lending me a loaner razor if those suggestions don't work.

I can't say enough about Larry's quality of customer service from the initial order to his willingness to help make using a straight work for me. A truly stand up guy IME so far!

Good luck with everything, in my short experience I found to my surprise that for me there is actually a a point at which some razors can be too sharp I know it sound counterintuitive but there it is. Each razor is different, even with modern metallurgy there is still a bit of magic, alchemy or just luck that goes into a good cutting edge. I've noticed that particularly with tools like a plane iron for instance some will take and edge real quickly whilst others are never quite rite even though their manufacturing process were identical. So don't give up I'd recommend another razor or two you'll have your "aha" moment.

Followed Larry's advice and went through the chromium oxide (20 times), the the iron oxide (20 times), and then the leather 60 passes. Did my usual prep, but used my C&E soap because it tend to be a bit thinner and slicker for me.

TaDa!!! Not super smooth, but with deliberate strokes WTG starting with the spine just barely off my face I was getting the resistance I guess I was expecting. Maybe it should be better, but I can't complain. Did two WTG passes on both cheeks with only minor irritation that was gone in 15 minutes and zero nicks. Not a great shave with a little stubble left, but with only WTG passes I expected that and I decided that I would end on a good note and stop there.

I will see if I can repeat it tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone again.