Thread: Pulling and tugging what am I doing wrong?

Originally Posted by ElSonador

Wow! Thanks for all the responses. I live in the Chicago area. What oils do you guys use for post shave cleaning of the razor? I was some what let down because I would hope a straight can take on a 7 day beard with no issues. I will try again tomorrow and see what happens. I have to order a 3 inch strop to help my stropping. Practice practice practice. Hopefully a few bad strops did not dull the blade.

Thanks again everybody. Can a perfectly honed blade still tug and pull with a bad angel/technique? I think I had the angle...I feel like the blade wouldn't cut much of anything right now :/

Thanks,
ElSonador

Your stropping could have Dulled the blade make sure that spine is flat on that drop and go slow take your time it's not a race when stropping I ruined some good strops rushing so go slow listen to music and enjoy this beautiful pastime

I was in a similar position, after getting a razor honed, 2nd or 3rd shave was very uncomfortable. An SRP member has been honing them and helping me out, narrowing down possible problems. We're now suspecting that the strop itself might not be doing much. I'm going to try linen then an old smooth leather belt, while I wait on a better one.

I recently had some issues with irritation and some rough shaving with my new razor as well. This morning, I did a single pass very gentle (and incomplete - I did the chin and under chin with DE) shave and have come to some conclusions (that may also apply to you):
1. prep was not great. I added a pre-shave oil, my face soaked it up - I had no idea it was so dry.
2. angle was terrible - as I have been advised, the spine is almost touching the face. I was nowhere near there until today.
3. stropping incorrectly. I took my time this morning, gave it 20 back/forth on pasted linen, 60 back/forth on the leather. I *really* paid attention to the feel and sound of it, and took my time. Spine and edge flat on the strop - no pressure - taught pull on the strop.

I instantly noticed a huge difference and now I realize what people mean when they say "no pulling": it's really none, zero. Good luck, and happy shaving!

As far as oils go u can purchase camellia oil and an applicator from straight razor designs both for around twenty bucks. The amount should last u years and srd is really fast. Just use a light coating on the blade when you're done drying it out. That should help cure your rust problems.

Any mineral oil (gun oil, pharmacy "mineral oil USP", baby oil, anti-corrosion oil) will work on the blade.

Clean it after shaving, strop it 10 laps to dry the edge, put a drop of oil on the blade and spread it around with a tissue.

Occasionally, put a drop of oil in the pivot area, and wipe off the excess.

. Charles

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

gun oil
. Charles

Ok, but when my wife complains about how the bathroom smells like CLP Break-Free, I'm blaming you!

That is a wonderful smell!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

. . .

As far as rust goes, just dry it as good as possible {I use a stropping motion on some soft terry cloths} and let it air dry. If need be you can coat it with oil on a daily basis. Just make sure the razor is removed from any humid environment.

"If need be" . . . You have some corrosion already --

. . . After you dry the blade and pivot, and do 10 laps on the strop to dry the edge,

. . . . . put a drop of mineral oil on the blade, and spread it around with tissue.

_Then_ put it in the silicone sleeve.

In two years on this forum, I don't think anyone has said:

. . . I oil my razors, and they still rust!

. Charles