Quote Originally Posted by Willisf View Post
Hello and welcome to SRP!


Take everything slowly. When you get your strops..... Learn what they feel like. I used my index finger to learn what the strop feels like. The motions of going back and forth. See what it feels like when you tighten the strop verses when it is slack. With newer blades you'll keep the strop tight. The blades are thinner than a wedge type blade. The thinner blades will glide on the leather too.....so smooth. Listen to it. I would practice on newspaper a few times before going to the actual strop. See if you cut it or nick the newspaper. Always.... always pay attention when stropping a sharp razor. The times when I have cut or sliced into my strop was when I wasn't paying attention. Most times the little cuts or nicks can be repaired....

As far as shaving.....take it slowly. Step by step...... Don't over do it at first. No need to get extra cuts or razor burn when you don't have to. Not a race or a contest. In a matter of no time you'll be doing a complete 3 pass shave like you have been doing it all your life.

Good luck!

Thank you for the welcome and words of advice, Willis! Yep, have had the strops for a bit now. The first I received, had a hard "pimple" on it. Took a pic, sent it to SRD to see if I should worry about it. Dan said he didn't think it would be a problem, but when I ordered the 2nd, he threw in a replacement leather just in case. So I have a practice strop now that I've been running the flats of smaller kitchen knives on, just to get more practice and "feel". Much thanks to Dan! I'd hate to slice up a $100 strop being a noob.

My first choice was the 1/4 hollow. Seems more "sturdy". Plus, I intended to hone it myself. GLAD I ordered the 2nd from SRD, pre-honed and shave ready. MANG, that full hollow looks DELICATE! and SHARP!! A little intimidating looking! But I look at Lynn's face in the video, and he DEFINITELY has more contours to his face than I do.

I'm just going to go really easy, and work in very small areas to start. If I get a poor shave, I'm sure it will get better quickly. I DON'T want to Sweeney Todd myself!

BEAUTIFUL hone and finish, too, SRD! Cutting edge looks like a MIRROR! Gives me something to strive for.