Thread: I am getting antsy for my razor and accessories!!!

Tony,

Have you mentioned to JL about the 6 stropping lessons that take a week and require using a butter knife before using the razor???

RT

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

Tony,

Have you mentioned to JL about the 6 stropping lessons that take a week and require using a butter knife before using the razor???

RT

Shhhhhsh, I never tell them that part until they get the goodies in their hands <g>. For the first two days you are not even allowed to take the strop out of the plastic sleeve it comes in. You can look at it but not open it. Same with the razor, you can open the plastic case but cannot unwrap it until Monday.......it's gonna be a looong week JL <g>

Tony

And the first two shaves must be done with
the spine of the razor only. This will be the
unclosest shave of your life but it will be
cut free with ZERO razor burn.


Terry

"The waiting is the hardest part." - Tom Petty

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Shhhhhsh, I never tell them that part until they get the goodies in their hands <g>. For the first two days you are not even allowed to take the strop out of the plastic sleeve it comes in. You can look at it but not open it. Same with the razor, you can open the plastic case but cannot unwrap it until Monday.......it's gonna be a looong week JL <g>

Tony

How about I just pretend I leave anything in the box or plastic for more than 5 seconds after I receive it...

Originally Posted by JLStorm

How about I just pretend I leave anything in the box or plastic for more than 5 seconds after I receive it...

JL,

All joking aside, once Tony's strops arrive, get out a butter knife and work on technique. You'll feel silly, but it is extremely easy to nick your new strop.

And one other thing...the safest place for your razor is against your face. If it's not against your face, make sure it is closed. It's easy to forget what a sharp object you are carrying that can result in a cut thigh, hand or worse.

RT

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

JL,

All joking aside, once Tony's strops arrive, get out a butter knife and work on technique. You'll feel silly, but it is extremely easy to nick your new strop.

And one other thing...the safest place for your razor is against your face. If it's not against your face, make sure it is closed. It's easy to forget what a sharp object you are carrying that can result in a cut thigh, hand or worse.

RT

Since the blade of a butter knife doesnt have the same shape as the razor between the spine and the edge....how should I practice? Just lay the knife flat??

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

All joking aside, once Tony's strops arrive, get out a butter knife and work on technique. You'll feel silly, but it is extremely easy to nick your new strop.

My strop has a few ding in it simply because in the early days, my hands were not familiar enough with the action, The nicks are repaired and the strop works great, but it ain't as pretty as it was a short while ago. Just pretend to strop the butter knife on the strop and pay attention to how smoothly you were able to draw through the x patten: How is your pressure? How's your strop tension? Any "drawing" sensation? Most importantly pay attention to how the centre of gravity rotates through the turn petween passes. This is when the razor ran away from me those few times.

X

JL nicking a new strop is probably done by everyone who starts out, or pretty close by everyone. I know I have in the first couple of weeks. Not right away, but a bit later when I got too confident too early.

The way it happens is you finish the stroke and flip the razor over its spine. Except that without realizing it you jitter the blade in the direction opposite to the stroke just a bit while starting to flip. The edge being razor sharp digs into the leather with no effort at all.

If you don't notice that you dug into the leather and flip it while a small part of the edge is still embedded in the leather you will probably nick the edge. The edge is extremely delicate and any sideways pressure will at least bend it and at worst break it off. Not a major nick, easily honed out but then you need to hone it.

The solution for me was to start flipping the razor a touch before the end of the stroke so the razor is still moving slightly with the spine leading.

The butter knife will not give you the painful feedback of seeing a nick in your brand new strop but it will give you practice of going through the motions.

If you have a cheap razor that is not shave ready but sharp enough to cut leather then you may want to get a cheap flat leather belt and practice with these two. You will get the benefit of seeing the nicks and not ruining your Lynn honed razor's edge nor your brand new Tony Miller strop.

I wish I did that in the begining. The sinking feeling of realizing that you nicked your new strop is not something to look forward to.

Originally Posted by xman

My strop has a few ding in it simply because in the early days, my hands were not familiar enough with the action, The nicks are repaired and the strop works great, but it ain't as pretty as it was a short while ago. Just pretend to strop the butter knife on the strop and pay attention to how smoothly you were able to draw through the x patten: How is your pressure? How's your strop tension? Any "drawing" sensation? Most importantly pay attention to how the centre of gravity rotates through the turn petween passes. This is when the razor ran away from me those few times.

X

Ok, I'll give it a try...hopefully I will figure it out before I ruin one of Tony's great strops!