Greetings from Florida!

[elsmooth]

Hey all! Just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself...name's Eric, and I'm very new to the world of straight razor shaving. I've been a member of B&B and a DE shaver for about 16 months, and somehow, some way, I've been bitten by the straight bug (so I figured it would be a good time to join this site). On the way to my house right now (may already be there!) is a shave ready 11/16 Westor Brothers blade and poor man's strop from Larry over at Whipped Dog. Can't wait to take a few strokes this weekend with it (I'm fine starting w/ just cheek area to start and work up to the rest...my neck's a tricky place anyways)!

Question...I know I should not strop before the first shave (as Larry's sending it shave-ready), but how do I go about sanitizing the blade before first use w/out ruining the edge (as it's a vintage blade, it's probably drawn blood in the past)?

[JimmyHAD]

Welcome to SRP. No worries about sanitizing the razor. Any blood borne pathogens will be long gone if they ever existed.

[GreenLightJerky]

Welcome to SRP!
You are going to like it here.
Razors purchased from Larry at Whippeddog.com, will come sanitized.
He sends his first timers, the razor and information on the 2 ways it was sanitized after honing. You will also receive documents on what to expect during your first straight razor shave and how to care for your razor before and after each shave.
Let us know how the first shave goes.

[ScottGoodman]

I agree with Jimmy, however just to be on the safe side I wipe mine with 90+% alcohol to be on the safe side. It's carbon steel, so nothing can really live in that environment...much less adding the air we breath & soap we shave with...

Oh ya, welcome aboard!