A Newbies Ponderings

Hi,

This is my first post ever written about 30 minutes after my absolute first real shaving. So I've gathered a couple of questions that came to mind when I was using this instrument.

I bought the things I thought I needed like a razor, a strop, alumpencil, a badger brush, shaving soap, a cup and some strop paste. Tell me if I need to be more specific.

Anyhow, I watched the demo that Lynn (right?) had posted on this website and it was the best start i could get. One thing that I wish he would have showed was applying the paste for the strop. When I applied this blackish goo on the strop it wouldn't really spread out as I thought it would do, but instead become these rather large spots on the strop. What was I doing wrong there?

I then started out on my first shaving adventure and it was pretty smooth I think. I lathered up and started stropping my blade. I got some leather dust on my blade though. Only happens the first time? Started shaving and followed the video to the slightest move. It went well but after a while I experienced this burning sensation on my cheeks. Also a beginner's thing?

Topped it all off with a splash of water and applied some softening cream and it looked pretty good.

Did I forget anything? And, is there some form of test to see if your blade is sharp enough? I bought it off of a Swedish site called Tradera, like eBay.

Thanks / Bjellerup

Welcome,

You did well. My questions would include more specifics about the paste you put on the strop. I'd say you did the most important test already, and given irritation; the razor failed. It may either be overhoned or underhoned. Please wait for more replies . . .

What I am reading is that you put paste on the leather side of the strop? A Diamond paste? Not a good idea if thats the case. On the linen side of the strop you could do it, but not on the leather. Others here will help you out for sure.
Donald

Lynn does have a video where he shows how to apply paste. It's $19.99+s&h :D Worth every penny. Someone loaned it to me and after going through it once, it taught me a few new tricks, mostly about shaving some time off my honing (p.i.).
As for pasting the strop, Donald, you were slightly mis-informed. Here's the 411 that you're missing:
1) You actually DO put abrasive paste on the smooth lether side of the strop, but there are are several "buts"
2) There are various types of strops (hanging strop, paddle strop, loom strop, bench strop) and any of them can hold an abrasive
3) You need at least ONE strop that doesn't have any abrasive and most of us use a hanging strop for that, to align the edge.
4) For use with abrasive pastes most of us use paddle strops (hard backing for the leather), even though some people have hanging strops dedicated to abrasive pastes as well (larger surface means that they work faster than paddle strops)
5) Experts and people who want to look like experts sometimes use a loom strop, one side of which is pasted with an abrasive and the other side being used for stropping. It makes a very nice traveller.
6) Bench strops (bench hones) are not a new concept but they only recently became popular here. They are like paddle strops but you lay them flat on the desk/work bench and get a larger surface to work with (speeds up the work). That's what I use for fine finishing/touchups.

About the videos, there is a few vid's on Google video just type in Straight Razor and there you go, although the other ones are not done by Lynn they should be a pointer and i do not think they are a alternative to Lynn's DVD as these seem well praised on this forum, Good luck with the next shaves and remeber to progress a little slower than your own speed, attention is the key not speed, IMO

You really need to tell us what paste you put on the hanging strop. Then we can tell you what you need to do next.
For your reference you need to strop on a unpasted, hanging strop for 30-50 roundtrip laps just before each shave. The only substance that is put on that strop is strop conditioner. Strop conditioner is a non-abrasive oil or fat type of substance. It is used to keep the leather from drying out and cracking. It is used very infrequently, maybe 1-2 times a year and then only sparingly.

If you applied a black type of paste then that is probably a very mild abrasive. It will nedd to be removed from your strop. Use the automotive hand cleaner called GOOP. Get the non abrasive version. Usually a white tube with blue lettering.
Put some of that on your strop, work it around, and wipe it off with a paper towel. Repeat until it appears that all the black paste is gone. Then your strop will be close to a plain leather hanging strop again. It will be good enough to use for final stropping.

Hope this helps,:)

I don't know if that process will dry the leather, but if it does and you don't have any other non abrasive strop paste, you can use mink oil or dubbin or glove oil or any of that leather conditioner stuff to make it supple. To keep it supple, simply rub your palm across the leather each time you strop and the oils from your hand will do fine.

I've been thinking about cleaning mine recently. Anybody tried the old brush and soap routine on theirs? How did that go? Any reconditioning after?

X

PS. Leather dust the first few times only.