Thread: BooBoo maybe???

So about 3 or 4 weeks ago I got my straight razor. I popped it opened and gave it an initial strop. I am not saying it is dull by any means but I think I may have messed up the hone. It has been tugging and kinda rough to shave with. I initially thought it was a learning curve but a friend of mine bought a new Dovo and it has been extremely comfy shave no tugging or any issues. It is a big of a cleaner closer shave as well. I'm not sure if I messed it up if the hone wasn't good or what the deal is with the razor. Any help in the matter would be great.

Hi booboo
I also brought a dove razor and stopped it as per a video that I watched on u tube and have since found out that this was the wrong way to strop a razor please look at the video posted on this forum and then you will be able to see if you were stropping the right way or not my razor is on the way back to benign able to shave with must admit I have brought a 3inch strop to use as I found this much easer than the smaller strops using the fig8 method and good luck with your razor and shaving

It also really depends on where you got your razor...

If he bought his razor from SRD, it would have come fully shave ready. If you bought yours from another site, it may or may not have been shave ready to begin.

The best thing I can tell you is to send it out for a proper honing, then make sure that you are taking the stropping nice and slowly with no pressure on the edge, the edge should barely be touching the strop (the spine should be fully in contact with the strop throughout the entire stroke) then flip on the spine and return.

As you go, you will get better and learn different razor holds for stropping, but for now, just take it nice and slow using proper technique! The best of luck to you!

Do you have any pastes or sprays like Crox or diamond? You could give about 10 laps on one or both then go to the linen, mesh or rough leather for about 25-30 laps, then smooth leather for 30-40 laps. If this helps with the edge you may have just rolled the edge a bit (which is ok when you first learn to strop; it was more difficult to learn the stroke and feel than honing for me). If it only improves slightly or not much at all, then I would send it out for pro work.

It is a learning curve, but you also need to be confident your razor is shave-ready. This means it would have needed to be shave-ready when you received it, and also that you have been maintaining it regularly with proper stropping.

The other two major variables that affect your shaving experience are the learning curve of shaving technique with the straight razor, and proper preparation of your beard and skin with a good lather.

Do your homework, keep practicing, and if you are unsure of your razor itself you should consider contacting whoever sold you the razor if it was advertised as shaveready for advice/complaint/whichever-fits-your-situation, or else send it to a reputable pro for a proper honing

My guess is that you have improved your shave technique and dulled your razor at the same time. Which is a pretty common occurrence for new shavers. I would send your blade out for a fresh honing and think of picking up some paste and making a paddle strop. Once your blade is back you should be good to go for a good long time with the paste.

Before using any pastes I would seriously suggest you get your stropping sorted. Adding anything abrasive to the equation simply magnifies the problem.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Before using any pastes I would seriously suggest you get your stropping sorted. Adding anything abrasive to the equation simply magnifies the problem.

This is very true and I should of mentioned it but I was assuming since you didn't destroy your friends edge that you had gotten your stropping in order.

But we all know what happens when we assume.

Never assume.