Thread: Joining the straight razor world

Yes I got the 6/8 with the thumb notch. Thanks for your input so far I have gone through all the stickies, but still googling more info my main concern is to have the least amount of razor burn as possible. Cartridge razors gave me to much razor burn. Also want to make sure I strop properely as well. If I read correctly if I bought the straight razor from SRD it just needs to be wiped with a towel the first time no stropping needed right?

That is correct. It's been honed and stropped.

Pressure causes razor burn, and too high an angle. Start with the blade flat on your face then lift the spine off by about a spine's width. Apply no more force than it takes to scrape away the lather. Whiskers will come off in the lather. If there are still some left, relather and do a second pass, still only aiming to remove lather. Adjust the blade angle if necessary, go slow, do not resort to pressure. Pressure is a poor stand-in for technique.

When you're done--and this might be after a half-hour or more--rinse and dry the blade, then strop it 10 or 20 times. This postshave stropping is to ensure there's no soap or water or debris left at the blade's edge. Finally, if you live somewhere humid, you should probably put a little oil on the blade. Many of us use gun oil or camellia oil. Don't use vegetable oil or 3 in 1, because they can set up like paint. The solvents you'd have to use to clean them might also lift the gold leaf off your blade.

If you've never stropped before, practice a while with a butter knife. Focus on the flip--it should never finish so soon that the blade moves edge-forward on the strop. Sounds obvious, but that's the mistake we all make sometimes. Post or PM if you have any more questions.

Above all, go slow and enjoy your beautiful new razor!

Originally Posted by Ruffrider

Yes I got the 6/8 with the thumb notch. Thanks for your input so far I have gone through all the stickies, but still googling more info my main concern is to have the least amount of razor burn as possible. Cartridge razors gave me to much razor burn. Also want to make sure I strop properely as well. If I read correctly if I bought the straight razor from SRD it just needs to be wiped with a towel the first time no stropping needed right?

I would not wipe with a towel....I might be wrong and someone please correct me if I am but it may cause issues with the blade..use toilet paper instead. I think towels might be a little to abrasive believe it or not.
Anthony

Good point about the towel. I've never worried about that, but I've never had such a pretty blade either. Does anybody have any warnings about specific oils and the trim on Bismarcks?

A cotton bath towel, hand towel, or wash towel will not harm the blade at all if you are using it to wipe oil or shave cream off the blade. Your whiskers are equivalent to a pure copper strand the same diameter & you are cutting a bunch of them...a soft towel that you use won't hurt it unless you use burlap for your towels.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

A cotton bath towel, hand towel, or wash towel will not harm the blade at all if you are using it to wipe oil or shave cream off the blade. Your whiskers are equivalent to a pure copper strand the same diameter & you are cutting a bunch of them...a soft towel that you use won't hurt it unless you use burlap for your towels.

I had never heard/thought of whiskers in that manner... That is really interesting and explains a lot regarding edge maintenance!

Originally Posted by Prahston

I had never heard/thought of whiskers in that manner... That is really interesting and explains a lot regarding edge maintenance!

I try to always wipe the razor like I was stropping it - if you are cutting the tissue/towel whatever you are letting the edge cut/contact the material. This can/will lead to damage.

And if/when you rinse your razor in the sink make sure you don't dink/doink/bang the blade on the faucet/handles/sink....or you will cry...

And welcome to the "Bandaid of Brothers"....you will enjoy it...

Thanks for the details roughkype. Which oil should I buy to protect my razor is there a certain brand you guys stick with. What side of the strop do I strop with also the rough bumpy side or the smooth side. I'm going go do my first shave in a bit and see how it goes.

Do I need the oil I don't live In a humid place?

Originally Posted by Ruffrider

Do I need the oil I don't live In a humid place?

Well, I have never adopted a good blade oiling habit (in other words, I never do it) and so far mine have been fine. That having been said, I would never counsel anyone else *not* to oil their blades just in case they do get rust. This is a good example of do as I say and not as I do, but it probably is a good habit to get in to.