my new razor came in today

I got a dovo best quality from straight razor designs, its sharp, cuts hair at the skin but fails the hanging hair test, I got the .5 chrome past for my strop so hopefully that can keep it sharp till I buy a finishing stone.(looking at a 12k) also my strop came but looks like it has a small gash\gouge near the top, but it looks like its high enough and close enough to the logo that I'm only going to lose an inch of leather.

while not perfect overall I'm pleased with my order, I think I got pretty much everything I need for a beginners kit. (although I'm pretty sure the oil I got is mineral oil lol) Attachment 146196 Attachment 146197

Congratulations, that's a great starter kit.

Just a couple things -- Straight Razor Designs is sort of a staple business around here, if you're not 100% happy, I'd give the great people there a call and give them a chance to make you a happy camper.

Second - the hanging hair test -- don't get hung up on hanging hairs -- the only real valid test of the edge is how the razor shaves.

Give it a try, and welcome!

Good for you. Enjoy it!

Remember to clean the oil off the blade before stropping. If the razor came from SRD then it's been honed so no need to stropp just enjoy a sharp smooth shave.

I personally really like the Best Quality.

A good way to get rid of the oil, AND get a very mild finishing "stropping" is to put soapy water on your fingers and rub the blade between your thumb and index finger, moving from the spine towards (and including) the edge. Be careful.

BTW this method sometimes works miracles with DE blades too.

so everytime I shave with my new razor I kept thinking I smell cigars, but I just thought it must be in my mind, but I went to put my razor back in the plastic box it came in and noticed the thing smells overwhelmingly of cigar ash. so some ware down the line someone must have been smoking one while packaging my razor. it just brought to mind someone from dovo sitting at a bench smoking a cigar while putting razors into cases lol

also I guess now would be a good time to update how it's been going, so I nicked my strop a few times, nothing major just tiny little ones that rubbing with my finger seem to make them disappear. the shaving is fine but it does tug a little and didn't pass the hanging hair test. and because I was gifted a 12k stone someone on forum told me I could just forgo the chrome paste altogether so the paste and upgraded felt strop seems to kind of have been for nothing. also the oil applicator is kind of weird to use because the cloth tip is rock hard even saturated in oil so I end up smoothing the oil over with my finger so I guess I might as well have just done that from the beginning and not bought that, maybe it will get softer and easier to use with use, also the oil seems to cimbe up the sides of the inner surface of the container and leak out between the rubber seal, even when fully tightened.
the brush is great, it replaced a $14 I got at Walgreens, it lathers well and doesn't feel like sandpaper on my face like the old one.