Thread: The great experiment

After a week on the road (again), I got home Friday and sent some time stooping the FBU. 20 SRD premium fabric, 30 on SRD English Bridle on the paddle strop, 30 on SRD Premium 1 leather and 30 on my favorite Roo strop. Bowl lathered with the Castle Forbes and went to work. I'm happy to report that my problem was ME :banged:and with attention to lather and angle, I got an easy 2 + pass shave that was good for two days. No pull, no irritation, no problems.

Guess that proves the devil is in the details!

Those old heavy Sheffields like lots of strop to be optimal after honing, FME, Harold.
I have found that lots of strop for the first 10 shaves or so gets it there and then, you can ease off some and see.
Seems there are some with which you cannot ease off on but for a few shaves, if you get my drift.

Tom, are you saying more laps or loosening tension on the strop to let it flex more?

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Tom, are you saying more laps or loosening tension on the strop to let it flex more?

Oh! More laps!

I have been getting that feeling from most of my razors. I've upped my routine to 25 fabric/50 leather on my SRD strop. Plus, with a some hand rubbing to warm up the leather, the draw feels magnetic. I absolutely love stropping my W&B on it. Taught me a lot about stropping just using that razor.

I'm back, this being post-Easter. My wife and I agreed, painfully, to give up the internet for Lent except for business and banking....:drop jaw:

It was painful, as I had become addicted to SRP and a number of non-shaving forums to do with my other hobbies -- and also Amazon

Anyway, I have been shaving, mostly with SRs and mostly with vintage ones that I have in my collection. I have learned a lot new about shaving, one of which is that most of the soaps I have in my "shave den" (small bathroom) work almost equally well IF enough time is spent with them to strike the soap/water balance. Strangely, while i still have my favorites (most of which are the Sheffield heavier grinds) most of my razors will give me a better shave in 2 passes than a cartridge ever did.

I've also re-learned that stropping is my friend, and, especially on the heavy grinds, more is better in terms of passes on the cloth and leather.

Glad to be back, I have missed you guys, and the learning curve is faster with help from friends' experiences.

Oh, Thank God! I thought you were kidnapped by Gillette. Glad you're back.