Thread: New to SRP

@eddy Cleaned strop (lighter fluid) and applied CrO2.

@Wade Hope it doesn't take 6 months to get a SAS with a SR. It's not my first bite of the apple, I have a Dovo (honed by SRD) in shipping, and have been practicing with DE with left (normally useless) hand,

Stropped 25 laps on horsehide, 50 laps on CrO2, 75 laps on plain leather. After finishing, took the opportunity to treat strops with leather cream (Murphy & Johnson). Working on a Constant Works, Herder & Sons, Solingen 400 Talisman. I was sharp when I got it, but after looking at under low magnification with straight edges, determined it had a small frown, spine was high at the edges high points and there were 3 small nicks in the edge. There are indications that some type of mechanized polishing devise was used on it. Trying to work the spine's high points and the blade high points with a Lansky sapphire hone. It is narrow enough to localize the material being removed. It will be slow, but I can take more metal off but not add more. Checking with straight edges frequently.

Got two Dovos and a new strop in the mail this afternoon. Will set the microscope up tomorrow and see differences betweend SRD Dovo, Dovo from another source which was supposed to be shave ready, and my no name straight.

Flexcut Gold is a mixture of varying size aluminum oxide with titanium dioxide to stabilize it. It's designed for hardened tool steels. I want to think that the alumina particles varied in size from 0.6 micron to 1.5 micron. It's equivalent to about a 10k stone. It's a nice fast cutting paste for wood working tools (gouges in particular), but on thin carving knives I find it a bit aggressive. I suspect that it would be aggressive on a razor as well, maybe not too bad on a wedge, but it would eat an extra hollow.
After FlexGold I follow up with CrOx and/or diamond sprays to get a cleaner edge.

The main point of my post was that a properly honed razor would need perhaps 10 crox laps every week of shaving to stay shave ready. The amount of laps you are doing is generally considered excessive and you would probably be better off trying to refine the edge more before using pastes to get a better egde and a better shave. If its working then great and ignore me im just trying to help you get the best edge possible. Good luck

@eddy Gotcha.

Day 6
Soaked lather pot and brush (mistakenly grabbed Boar). Showered, used Neutrogena Face scrub, shampooed, used hair conditioner. Good lather, shaved WTG with SRD Dovo then neck. Shaved cheeks XTG. Had a couple more nicks. Finished with Feather DE and 3rd day Merkur blade. None of the nicks required styptic pencil.

Since it was a new SR I stropped 10 laps on horsehide and 25 laps on plain leather. No microscope pictures, hardware is not compatible with updated operation. Will need to resurrect one of the junk pile Hackintoshes. The feel on my face was the same as my self honed cheapo.

Most of us on here,,are on blood thinners....I ain't a scared....but I do buy more stypic pens.

Day 7

Shaved again with Dovo 5/8. Routine non-shower day preshave. Full face shave WTG. Cheeks XTG and neck modified XTG/ATG. Was a SAS; finished with Feather Popular DE. A few more nicks, styptic not needed. Felt about the same as yesterday, so I may have stropping relatively good.

Afterward, 10 laps on linen, then 25 on Latigo.

Will probably holiday tomorrow and use other source 5/8 Dovo.

Shaves 8 and 9

Shaved with new Dovo 5/8 from a different supplier. White scales. Was a little disappointed. Was billed as shave ready. Only way to check was to shave. Full face WTG, some nicks, not sharp enough to even get a SAS. Didn't try XTG. Honed on CrOx 50 laps. Then to caborundum for 25 laps, 25 laps on linen, 20 laps on horsehide and 20 laps on latigo.

Day 9 with newly honed Dovo. Full face WTG with little or no pull when razor was properly positioned, SAS, relathered an ATG for the neck then XTG for cheeks and chin/moustache. Large parts that were DFS. Finished with Merkur 25C, large areas where there was no sound from the Merkur. If I get a chance to hone a new Dovo 6/8 from yet another supplier, will use it tomorrow. I know this one is not shave ready and the vendor did not so advertise.

Shave 10

Went back to black Dovo 5/8. Good shave, close to SAS WTG. Finished with Feather DE for a DFS.

Straight Razors