Thread: Newbie needing advice

OK guys, here is the deal. Only shaved about 4 or five times with a Lynn Abrams honed straight razor, Dovo 5/8 Special. My shave yesterday took on a whole new dimension of being difficult. It seemed very difficult for the razor to cut my whiskers. I even shaved after only two days so my beard would not be as thick because last week I had waited four days and it took a few passes to get it looking right.

Is this in my stropping technique? Did I dull the blade by improperly stropping? I am trying to be careful and slow. I have been looking at Lynn's DVD which is awesome info to make sure that I am not missing something. I do not have a hone but am wondering if I don't need a couple of swipes on one to straighten it out? Which one to get?

Please help? Thanks!

Craig

Originally Posted by CraigSmith

Only shaved about 4 or five times with a Lynn Abrams honed straight razor, Dovo 5/8 Special.... It seemed very difficult for the razor to cut my whiskers.....Is this in my stropping technique? Did I dull the blade by improperly stropping? .....I do not have a hone but am wondering if I don't need a couple of swipes on one to straighten it out?

You wouldn't exactly be a pioneer if you stropped it poorly...been there, done that. Got the tee shirt and the group photo. Got out a table knife, worked on my stopping for a day or two, did a bunch on the linen, then much more on the leather. Results: A passble shave, with <2 days growth. A number of other factors could be involved. I'd go there first if everything else is kosher. If that didn't work, I might consider 5 - 10 passes on a pasted balsa / strop. If THAT didn't work, I'd send it back out for a re-hone. Not worth the frustration to question my stropping ability AND my shaving ability AND my honing ability AND my perception of what does or doesn't constitute an acceptable SR shave pass or edge AND my career choices AND why I called that woman back after I...well....AND...

You get the idea.

Cheers
Scott

Chances are Stropping is the issue. I would be reluctant to take it to the stones on your own for the first time as that is a skill that can take a few trips to the well to get right. Do you have a Cr02 pasted strop? When I had the same issue Lynn suggest I give it a few passes on that and then leather. Brought new life back to the razor for me.

It's probably a combination of stropping technique and use of pressure while shaving. Don't worry...it's completely normal and will get better.

I know when you watch the videos of these guys it's like "yeah, I can do that, no problem" but then it never seems to quite work as easily as they make it seem. They probably made all the same mistakes (and a few more since SRP didn't exist when most of them started).

If you have a barber hone or some crox, try refreshing if it's not cutting at all and keep practicing your stropping. There is a video in the sticky section of the stropping category where a guy has pretty impressive technique and shows from a lot of different angles what proper stropping looks like...might be worth watching if you haven't. The big key is just practicing...it's hard to over-strop a razor.

Also, just out of curiosity, how much pressure are you using while stropping?

Where ya from Craig? I ask this because the most simple way to learn a bunch in a short time is to find someone within driving distance and go meet them. Just a few hours with a veteran shaver will be a great help. This way they could check out your razor and maybe even take it to a barber stone or re-hone it if it needs it.

Wow! You guys are awesome!

Scott, you're right! It could just be that I hosed up the stropping due to being a total amateur! I will reevaluate my technique.

Dyimages, is that Cr02 pasted strop diferent from the one that I normally use and where can I get it if needed?

Ryan, so true! I have been watching Lynn's video and he makes it look WAY too easy! I am only trying to use the pressure of the blade but when I first tried it, I may have used more! Know what I mean?

Shooter, I am from August GA and you are right, that would be a great way to learn. I saw somewhere on here that people were meeting to help each other out. That is great!

Thanks so much guys for all of the wonderful advice. I am going to try and restrop extra carefully on my next shave and see what happens. Does everyone shave everyday with a straight razor? Is it cool to do so? Just curious! Thanks!

Craig

Yep, shave pretty much every day...

Have you checked the edge of the blade under a light? If you can see the edge reflecting the light, you might need to get a stone or send it in. If it was shave ready 4 shaves ago, and you don't need to reset the bevel, something like super stone 8k would be all you need plus maybe two strops, one with paste and one without.

When stropping, try using very light pressure. Heavy pressure tends to round the edges.

Strop light, but not too light...another new guy was stropping so lightly it wasn't really effective and the blade quit cutting.

Make sure the strop is taut and when I use a hanging strop I use enough pressure where there is a little give in the tension of the middle of the strop. But I am not PUSHING down...I hope you understand what I'm trying to explain...some guys are so worried about rolling the edge while stropping they act like the razor is a feather they are running over the strop. That will decrease cutting ability pretty quickly as well...

Originally Posted by ryanjewell

Strop light, but not too light...another new guy was stropping so lightly it wasn't really effective and the blade quit cutting.

Make sure the strop is taut and when I use a hanging strop I use enough pressure where there is a little give in the tension of the middle of the strop. But I am not PUSHING down...I hope you understand what I'm trying to explain...some guys are so worried about rolling the edge while stropping they act like the razor is a feather they are running over the strop. That will decrease cutting ability pretty quickly as well...

Yeah, that might be me. I was a little scared of doing it to hard and now may have lightened up way to much. I know it's not all rocket science, but an acquired feel and mistakes being made. Thanks!