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Hello, I am a new member. I have been using a Dovo Shavette to start. I bought the Dovo Bismark and received it yesterday. It has been honed and arrived with a coating of oil. My question is, do I need to strop it prior to shaving? Also, what is the best strop for the bismark. Any tips on stropping will be appreciated. I don't want "round" the edge due to improper or over stropping. Thank you
Welcome to SRP. Why not wipe the oil off and try it out as it is. You can always strop it if you feel it is necessary. Chances are it was stropped after honing, though you could check with the vendor on that to be sure. For strops Straight Razor Designs, Vintage Blades, Tony Miller. In the UK Neil Miller at the Strop ShopUK is about as good as they get. :gl:
I just bought one, too. I'd strop it if you're confident that you can do it OK. If you're not then you can always shave first with it, but the stropping will come soon. Mine benefitted quite a bit from the stropping.
If you're new to stropping, two rules...well three...well 4
1) get a strop that is ready to use out of the box and smooth
2) light pressure
3) pull the strop tight if it's a hanging strop
4) while the razor is in motion, never let the spine leave the leather
Ignore the fact that the bismarck likes to scuff up the leather a little because of the stuff on the spine, it'll make no difference in what the strop does to the edge.
Welcome! If it's your first straight, I would personally shave with it first - just to get a feel of what a honed & shave ready razor should feel like. Hence, it can be easier later to find out whether you've rounded off the edge during stopping.
You've already been given sound advice above regarding the strops and stropping itself. I might add that for your first strop, not to buy a pricey one as you're more likely than not to nick it as you're learning. Then again, that's what happened to me, it does not necessarily mean it will happen to you.
The other thing is as you're perfecting your stropping technique it is important to pay attention to the stropping strokes rather than aim for speed, speed comes with experience as you build your muscle memory. Not doing so can easily end up in a rounded edge.
Whichever strop you use is really up to personal preference, there is no one strop for one particular razor. I started off with a paddle strop and then moved on to a hanging strop.
Regards,
Ash
Welcome Rixx,
Go into the stropping forum. There is a video by AFDavis, watch it 10 times. Practice on a old hunk of leather with a butter knife before attempting on your new strop. I think everybody cuts and nicks their first strop. Don't try to go fast.
If it's just been honed, I would just wipe off the oil and shave with it. After the first shave, then I would start stropping. Straight Razor Designs has many strops to choose from. Watch this video on how to strop Straight Razor Stropping for Beginners - YouTube
I want to thank you all for the responses to my question. You have been extremely helpful. I will shave wipe off the oil and shave with it tomorrow for the first time. Looking forward to it and I am sure I will have other questions after my first experience with a REAL razor. Thank you again!!