My new razor and strop from SRD arrived last night.
A Boker 6/8 silver steel extra hollow ground in tortoise shell scales, and SRD's Premium II strop.
After a long day at work, I thought I would be better off getting some rest and double checking my steps before my first shave - then to try it right after opening late at night.

The packaging was well done, with the strop and razor shipped lengthwise in a longish box. Everything was nicely sealed in bags keeping them weather proof during shipping. Opening the razor, the box seal was broken as expected (since they finished the edge to shave-ready) and a nice coating of oil or petroleum jelly dotted along it (it seemed a little thick carefully wiping it off so I couldn't tell which).

I really didn't want to make a "Did my stropping wreck my new blade?" post as one of my first, so I deliberately skipped pre-shave stropping since the shop most likely did that for me.

I performed a HHT, taking a thin curving old hair from the brush so it was small and bone dry. Nothing happened tapping the edge with the hair in three spots. Then, it seemed to catch, and then it popped in half.

In my near obsessive reading I am not convinced exactly how the thumbpad nor nail tests are supposed to be done or how to read their results. An equal number of posts said they are more intended for honing so I chose not to do anything touching the blade.

blahblahblah

The Shave:
Splashed with hot water.
I lathered up with Mama Bear sandalwood/vanilla soap.
I did 1 3/4 passes re-applying lather in a few spots where my hand felt awkward. I tried a little left hand and some over-the-other-side righty.
Did one spot ATG under the goatee chin area. It seemed to catch, I raised my chin higher, checking low low angle - made it. Whew.

No blood!

There was about double the after shave burn over what I usually get though! I didn't expect that.
Maybe in my excitement I wasn't careful enough with pressure. Experience will teach me that answer. I had just a slight hint of redness in one place that only lasted a few minutes.
This is my first straight, and is an extra hollow ground so it was a little weird and all new to me.

I still have my face!

I'm now going to carefully strop to clean this new edge...