Received My Package Today From SRD-First Attempt Story & Questions.

So today I received my order from straight razor designs. In it contained a Dovo 6/8 straight razor, a 3 inch black strop, brush, stand, mug, SRD Vanilla Bourbon soap, and a Merkur DE open comb razor. I wanted to give DE a shot as well as straight razor because it seems the learning curve is shorter, and it seems it will be quicker on days I dont have extra time. I ordered some aftershave lotion as well but some how got forgotten when the order shipped. A quick call to Don at SRD fixed the issue and I assume it will be in the mail shortly. No worries though, mistakes happen.

I started on the right side of my face with my side burns. I probably shouldnt have been on a 5 day beard for my first try but ive been a bum lately. I stropped the blade as best I've learned from youtube and on here, keeping the blade and spine in contact with the strop at all times and rotating on the spine. I went extra slow. I noticed the razor tugging slightly and i blame that on the fact that i have a thick beard and it has been 5 days since shaving. I continued on with the right side of my face shaving until i felt uncomfortable with a certain are. I struggled with my jaw line and chin. I also did my left side burn and left cheek. I re-lathered and grabbed the Merkur DE and pretty much shaved as i normally did. I also found some tugging with the DE but again blame it on the thick beard. I had to use the styptic pencil on my neck just below my chin but this was not surprising.

My questions are as follows:

1. I lathered in the tub the soap comes in as this seems easier for now. Can i just throw the lid back on when im done?

2. Do i strop razor before and after shaving? or just before?

3. Do i need to let razor sit out to dry? or just wipe off with towel and fold back up?

4. Currently i sit my mug on the sink with the DE resting on the side (making sure the blade touches nothing) and the Dovo folded in its case in the mug. Is there anyting wrong with this? I dont want to ruin this new investment!!

Thanks guys!!!

I used to leave the lid off overnight for fear something would 'grow' if I covered the puck back up wet. Having pucks shrink and crack I began covering wet with no problems.

I strop on linen and leather before each shave and on leather only (20 round trips) after the shave. I never leave my straight razor in a humid environment. Always rinse, wipe with a tissue, strop, fold it into the scales, and put it in a drawer outside of the bathroom. I do not keep it in the original box. Personal preference.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I do not keep it in the original box. Personal preference.

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I agree...if for no other reason than any humidity or moisture in/on/around the razor when I put it in the box, will be trapped in there. I leave it uncovered in the drawer.

In case anyone cares, I strop about the same amount before and after shaving. I believe that if done properly, stropping is never a bad thing.

Be careful wiping the blade...both to protect the edge and whatever you are wiping with. Wipe it from spine to edge (sort of like stropping it).

Have fun:)

@Jimmy-ok so far it seems im doing things some what right (or least have the general idea) I went back and stropped again. whats the reasoning for not keeping in humid environment? also took it out of the box, originally put it in there for fear of damaging blade but then figured thats what the scales are for!! will keep the box for shipping though when it needs honed.

@unit- thats what i did while wiping and for the same reason as you listed. Im worried im going to ruin this new blade from stropping. Im just hooking to a towel bar, keeping it moderately tight, nd leading with the spine making sure to keep the spine and blade in contact at the same time and rolling on the spline. Yea?

Sounds like you've got the basic ideas down, now it's just practice to refine them to suit your own styles. Some strop before and after some just before. I'm just a before guy, but mine is mostly b/c as soon as I shave I throw on a shirt and out the door. I keep my razors in a seven day case from classic shaving w/ a nylon zipper, so no rusting...it works fine for me, but I would eventually like to have a seperate cabinet w/ angled shelves for mine. Over time you will develop your own tastes and styles.

I leave the lid off, or sometimes I put it on. It's your preference.
I only strop after a shave. There's a ton of info. on it available using the search function. Some believe one thing, some believe another. I do it after the shave when it makes most sense to me. Once again, either way will work. I don't disagree with anyone who does it different.
I do wipe the razor dry with a bit of tissue, then linen and leather stropping for any invisible to me moisture, and some other reasons detailed in other threads. Then I store it on top of my dresser drawer folded. Never had any rust issues except with stored razors that don't see use.
I wouldn't leave any shaving tool not made of ceramic in the bathroom. Bathrooms are humid. Water makes rust, and swells cardboard and wood.

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Originally Posted by regularjoe

Never had any rust issues except with stored razors that don't see use.
I wouldn't leave any shaving tool not made of ceramic in the bathroom. Bathrooms are humid. Water makes rust, and swells cardboard and wood.

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So by this statement, I should take my straight and DE out of the bathroom? leaving just my soap, mug, and brush in the bathroom?

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Originally Posted by Hawk60ce

@unit- thats what i did while wiping and for the same reason as you listed. Im worried im going to ruin this new blade from stropping. Im just hooking to a towel bar, keeping it moderately tight, nd leading with the spine making sure to keep the spine and blade in contact at the same time and rolling on the spline. Yea?

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Meh...you will not ruin the blade from stropping. If you do everything wrong, you might sever your strop and roll your edge, but it will not be ruined (unless you get really stupid with it). Worst case, you will have to send it out for re-honing...best case, you will have to send it out for re-honing (but at a later date).

So do not sweat it. Strop with the strop taught but not tight, use the weight of the razor (perhaps 2x the weight)...flip on the spine and go slow and let the speed develop naturally and slowly...this sport is not a race;)

Check out Stroptober thread...that will give you what you need to know about how not to develop a premature need for re-honing;)