Hi from DC - and a couple questions

Bought a new T&I straight razor from AoS (I know, I probably paid too much...) It seems sharp, but now I read on here (and other sites) that it may not be shave ready. I'm brand new at straight razor shaving. Cut myself a bit the first time, probably because I need to practice and be more patient. Do I need to get it honed though?

And about stropping: I bought a Dovo strop with a leather side and a canvas side. AoS insisted I needed T&I strop paste, but I really don't know what to do with it. Does it go on the leather or canvas side (I've found information on forums that say both). Please help!

Thanks -

Welcome to SRP!
Yes, you should get your razor honed by a pro.
Hopefully someone familiar with Dovo strops will step in and answer your strop question.

Hi and welcome. As said you will probably need to get it honed to truly shave ready. The TI pastes are for touching up the razor when it starts to get a bit dull and it can be applied to either the canvas or leather BUT it cant be removed and you need a clean unpasted strop for daily use so dont apply it to the dovo strop buy a cheap bit of leather from tandy for that. Any other questions feel free to ask

Update - Glen at Gem Star did a great job with honing my razor. He turned it around very quickly.

Here's my latest issues (help, please!):

* I splurged for penhaligon's shave soap in a wooden bowl, and so far it hasn't been worth it. Soap is super thin. I've tried more water, less water, and swirling it for what seems like forever. Any ideas how I can get a good lather that I don't have to keep reapplying?

* It took me a while to learn to strop, and I ended up cutting up the strop that I bought with my razor. Any strop suggestions for a replacement?

Thanks - I appreciate the help.

I think a strop from Straight Razor Designs would be ideal. You can replace the leather or canvas on the hanging strop.
Not sure about the soap problem.

Would agree with the SRD strops. Own 2 and they are well made and good quality equipment. Try loading the brush more at the start and get most of the water out before trying to load it. Add water bit by bit and if you have hard water used bottled water instead. Good luck

gheh388,

I suggest switching to a cream until you get over some of the other newbie challenges. It took me several months before I really learned how to make a rich, thick lather from a puck of shaving soap. Also, as stated above, water quality / hardness can have a major impact on lather making ability.

Good luck!

On the strop, look at SRD's modular paddle strop or regular paddle strop. Using a paddle take some variables out of the stropping process.