Thread: mid shave strop because your razor is going dull

anyone having to re-strop mid shave? i have to before i do my chin and mustache area.
only with my dovo best. my w&b is fine i dont have to restrop at all.

I have a Dovo too, and while I don't have to stop-n-strop for every pass, I do a healthy stropping before the final ATG pass and a quick round before touch up. I think the entry level Dovo requires a bit more attention to the blade than a higher end straight.

I don't need to strop between passes . I simply strop up 3 razors before I shave (I'm goofy like that) . Usually a 6/8 , 5/8 , and a 4/8 or a 9/16 . I do my first pass wtg with the 6/8 , my second pass atg below the jawline / xtg above the jawline with the 5/8 , and use the 4/8 or 9/16 for my upper & lower lip . I gotta do something with all these razors , sooo why not use 3 per shave .

How many times do you hit the canvas ans leather BEFORE you strop. I do 20 and 60. I restrop for my second pass.

Try increasing your number a little. Maybe pay more attention during your prep to your chin.

I do 10-15 passes on the Latigo before the shave, then 10-15 between WTG to ATG. Unless the razor was fresh off the hone, then only 10 passes on the Latigo. I don't find though that stropping really makes the razor that much smooth or even sharper, I think it's all in my head. I think my razors shave best straight off the .5 diamond or CROX.

D

I used to do it early on but haven't had to as my honing skills improved. What I did for a time was do a first pass. If the razor wasn't up to snuff I have a Hand American flat bed hone and I would do 20 round trips on felt with chrom ox before the second pass. That usually did the trick and it was back to the hones for that razor. Now as a rule I go through both passes without having to hit the chrom ox or the strop in the middle of the shave. It gets better.

it depends how your blade has been sharpened.if your dovo has been sharpened buy using tape layes most likely you don't have to strop in the middle. Most dovo has a lot soft steel. Wade and butcher gets so thin sharp edge that is why if you middle strop you will feel razor come back right away sharpest state. lastly if you shave with WEDGE BLADE YOU DON'T have to strop at all. stropping i mean no pressure at all in blade while you strop

I got started in staight shaving with a straight razor with disposable blades. The disposables take great care in shaving as they are super sharp. Yep, I got away with starting with these, but have come to appreciate their performance.

I decided to buy a presharpened (Professionally Honed) Dovo Tortoise and a nice strop. The first shave was OK and I took my time to strop the canvass and leather properly according to the instructions I received from Vintagebladesllc.com after the first shave. First shave impression - WTG - OK, XTG - OK, ATG - for further study.

I am seeking advise on how to keep that fine edge and what should be my expectations with this razor? ATG, it was working, but I felt it was struggling a bit and that fine sharp edge was no longer as fine. Because of the instructions I received, I never thought about stroping during the shave.

Advise is appreciated as I want to move up the leaning curve of being informed rather than trial and error.

Other elements I have covered:
A) softening the hairs and opening the pores.
B) preshave oil
C) Col Conk shaving soap with a Best Badger Brush

Thanks,

Pabster

Originally Posted by Pabster

Advise is appreciated as I want to move up the leaning curve of being informed rather than trial and error.

Have you gone to the SRP Wiki and read the tutorials ? That and the forum archives would be helpful. There are also videos here. Hard to say how long your razor will stay sharp. Depends on how sharp it was to start with, your stropping and shaving technique. If you feel the sharpness and/or smoothness decreasing give it a good 30 linen and 30 leather. I always strop before the shave and then after I finished I rinse and dry the razor and strop it another 10 laps on leather. I wipe it with a rust preventative and put it away until the next time. Eventually you might want to get into honing your own. Either honing your own or sending it out it isn't a bad idea to have a backup razor in case your main one needs work.

I will follow up on your good advice JimmyHad.

Pabster