Thread: Good evening gentlemen

Hi folks,
I'm a newbie and have jumped in with both feet. I purchased a couple of DOVOs, a silver steel and a best quality (Col Conk). I have been using DE safety razor(s) but wanted to try something a bit more "old school". Anyway, I've purchased a couple strops and such. My biggest fear is not cutting my mug (might actually help in the looks dept.) but damaging my razor during stroping. I have read about the strop and watched videos, is this a irrational fear? Is this a difficult process, is it easy to roll a blade, etc.? Any advice is much appreciated and I'm looking forward to this forum and the folks.

Cheers!

Welcome aboard mate
due diligence while stropping & and all should be OK, but the chances of dulling your first str8s while learning is higher than not
but all good we nearly all do it
it is a fair learning curve to consider

Go real slow when stropping and you'll be fine. Will you ever cut your strop? Most of us do.

Hello, Rhoadsie. Welcome to SRP!

Yes, plan on nicking the mug.
I did it today using a new razor for the first time. They all have their characteristics. You get acquainted with one and you get your speed up, you try the next one with the same soeed, and it bites you.

Dang it I bleed!

Hopefully us Newbs can osmosis enough wisdom from you senior members here to help avoid or cut down some of the worst of the learning curve and btw welcomed to SRP this is a great and helpful group of people

Just go slow, make your strokes perpendicular to the blade (no slicing motion) and use a very light touch and low angle. You should be fine.

Rhoadsie, expect to make some mistakes. It's bound to happen and it's no big deal when it does....unless you lose a lip or something. Read, listen, ask. And when things go south, just remember that we all have made similar mistakes. The only really bad mistake (minus losing the lip) is not having fun.

Speed kills, go slow, and make sure the spine always stays on the strop.

After I sliced my first strop to ribbons and rolled a few edges, I stopped, re-read everything, back to the fundamentals, and spent a lot of time with a dull kitchen knife with a fairly straight spine and just practised with that until I got the motion and control.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Speed kills, go slow, and make sure the spine always stays on the strop.

After I sliced my first strop to ribbons and rolled a few edges, I stopped, re-read everything, back to the fundamentals, and spent a lot of time with a dull kitchen knife with a fairly straight spine and just practised with that until I got the motion and control.

Best advice I've read to date thanks Phrank I'll have to try the butter knife trick