Thread: Straight razor help

Originally Posted by Kal

Is the hand motion for stropping easy to learn? How much experience and feel does it take to dominate this technique?

I read some of the articles in the archive and had a go at it. The motion is very easy to learn. The part that is hard is using light pressure. Just go slow and light, maybe 3-5 seconds for a single round trip on the strop. This really reinforces the feedback from feeling the strop, not just the action. After a while speed comes naturally, but it isn't necessary.

It takes a few minutes to learn and years to be a complete master, where the stropping is truly an extension of self.

I'm a real believer in the concept that as a lost art and a real skill if you want to try using a straight you need to just learn. Its like learning to drive a manual transmission. When you start most are sorry they did but eventually master it and are glad they did. I think few here after their first shave were glad they tried it or were happy with the result. Its something you just have to make up your mind to learn and stick with it and put up with the learning curve.

The honing and stropping part are part of the experience and it comes with time. Remember at one time it was the only way to shave so just about everyone had to master it so if they could so can you.

I just read the old straight razor FAQ by Arthur Boon and it warned against pasted strops. But I am not sure that I understood it exactly. Is there anything wrong with using paste instead of a stone?

Originally Posted by Kal

I just read the old straight razor FAQ by Arthur Boon and it warned against pasted strops. But I am not sure that I understood it exactly. Is there anything wrong with using paste instead of a stone?

I believe that warning is against using pastes on a hanging strop, which will tend to round the edge, making it prone to easy dulling. Actually, although it would be very hard to create an edge with pastes, they seem to be an excellent way to keep a shaving blade in good trim. Just use them on a paddle or flatbed and they should perform as well for you as they do for me so far.

X

I think few here after their first shave were glad they tried it or were happy with the result. Its something you just have to make up your mind to learn and stick with it and put up with the learning curve.

This actually is not true for me. I had a very good shave the first time with a straight razor I got from Lynn. That's one of the great benefits being here is this forum and having great resources availble to people who don't know anything, like me

The best thing a beginner can do is get a razor from Lynn, Tony, etc here that is really shave ready so you remove that variable from the mix.