Thread: Hello Gents!

Hey guys my name is Ron. I have not started straight shaving yet, however I will be making my first purchase this week. After much deliberation I decided to order from Straight Razor Designs. I look we d at many deals around the internet and found that I could get what I want for just a few dollars more than other places. So my first razor will be the Ralf Aust 5/8 round point. I also decided on a 2" strop. I know it is supposed to be a pain for newbies but I think I will be ok. Slow and steady. I have always wantes to straight shave but I always wondered why. I hated shaving and I wasnt going to complicate things more just to get the same kind of shave. It wasnt until I started DE shaving (only 4 months so far) that I realized there was better ways to shave. Well gents thanks for reading and I plan to post when I get the razor as well as my first real shave once I get to that point.

Hi and welcome. The Ralf Aust is a great razor and the only new one I own. Learing the x stroke should be done no matter what size strop you get so starting with a 2 inch will see you do that straight off. Personally I never found it any harder to use a thinner strop. If in doubt use it as a bench strop for a week till you get used to it. Good luck and any questions feel free to ask

Thanks brother! That does seem to be common advice. I really want to force myself to learn the X pattern due to how important people say it is.

Ron,

Excellent Choice! I too bought my first SR from Straight Razor Designs. I as well purchased the 5/8 Ralf Aust but got the 3 inch strop. The SR will be professionally honed before you get it so it will truly be shave ready. May all your sahves be close and smooth!!

Thanks brother!

Welcome to SRP RonPage. Glad to see you say slow and steady. I hope you have read in the SRP Library, or at least the FAQ - a good condensation of salient points connected to wet shaving. A big word of caution on learning to strop. Be very, very careful of the amount of pressure you exert on the razor as you strop. In essence, it should be nil, the weight of a feather, if any. I've described it before, the stropping stroke should be like landing and taking off an airplane coming in and taking off smoothly. And biggest caution is, if the razor is from SRP and meaning honed by Lynn, do NOT strop it before the first shave. At this point you might dull the edge. It took me several weeks of conscientious effort to develop a good stropping regium. As a bench strop is a good suggestion. You will have to learn a light touch.

I have been constantly reading any and everything I can brother. However I know that you can never learn enough. I will definitely take you advice and go feather light on the strop.

Hi and welcome Ron

Slow goes it and you will enjoy great shaves from a straight. Since we are on a stropping here, pay close attention to the spine of the razor. Try to keep it on contact with the strop. Roll the razor on it not the edge when changing direction. Go slow until it is like second nature and you maybe one of only a handful that does not nick his first strop (I nicked two). Luckily SRD sells replacement leather

Though im timid about the first shave its definitely the stropping that I am worried about. I know it will be learned. I just really dont want to ruin my razor. Time to read and watch more videos I guess. Lol!

I worried about stropping, but after going slow and making a couple of nicks, it's pretty straight forward now. Don't worry too much about it.