Thread: First few attempts with SR

Hi, I made a post about some SR's that I recently bought. http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...se-usable.html

I was in Tampa last weekend, and I had two of them sharpened by Green Sharp LLC, He said that he was recommended on here, and that he does SR's all the time.
Day 1 - So, I stropped my razor, and made a few strokes to start on each side of my face on the cheek. Felt ok. Seemed to cut the hair pretty well.
Day 2 - Stropped, few strokes on my cheek again, but much more pulling and tugging.
Day 3 - stropped, could barely do any strokes, due to pulling and tugging. The SR was not cutting my hair at all. My DE with 3day old razor works much better atm.

I'm a whole-head shaver, and I tried using the SR to touch up a couple of hairs I could see right on the top of my head. Just to see if it would cut. The SR wouldn't cut them.

Now, I admit I'm a bit nervous, maybe I'm not holding the SR firmly enough? Not having enough confidence? I'm pulling the skin tight, doing my prep. I've been cold water shaving with my DE, so I've continued that while trying the SR. One thing I've noticed is that my shave cream dries out really fast. Maybe I'm not stropping correctly? I've watched several videos on stropping, and I'm following the instructions. Could it be that the blade was not honed good enough?

Poor stropping technique might be causing your problem. You should use virtually no pressure, use enough tension on the strop, keep the spine in contact with the strop at all times. Do you think it could be something with your stropping technique? how many passes do you do?

Since you are new to this it takes you longer to shave which causes the lather to dry out. Only lather up small portions of your face at a time, that will keep the lather from drying.

Well, I've tried to do at least 30 full strokes, but I don't always hear the good-blade contact sound. If you know what I mean. I'm probably not stropping correctly, not keeping the spine and blade in contact with the leather. Should I try practicing with one of my unhoned razors?

Originally Posted by poboy975

Well, I've tried to do at least 30 full strokes, but I don't always hear the good-blade contact sound. If you know what I mean. I'm probably not stropping correctly, not keeping the spine and blade in contact with the leather. Should I try practicing with one of my unhoned razors?

It sounds to me like you may be rolling the edge whilst stroping by not having the spine flat or too much pressure.
It took me a while to get this right and it's worth practicing with an old razor. Try and get the flip right where you just use your finger and thumb to roll the blade over at the top and bottom of each pass on the strop.
I found practicing rolling a pencil really helped.
Keep the strop tight, use little to no pressure and make sure you roll the razor on the spine NOT the blade. Start really slowly until you've got the technique right and the speed will follow.

Who is Green Sharp LLC and who on here made the recommendation?

Bob

You're at the point where you're inexperienced and have no idea if it's shaving technique, stropping or the razor itself - possibly all three. The good news is we've all been there and had to figure it out. It's why SRP exists, to help new guys go through the growing pains

I strongly suspect it's both poor shaving and stropping techniques. BUT.... I have to agree with Bob, I have no idea who/what Green Sharp is: I've never heard of them personally nor have I seen anyone at SRP endorse them so to me that is a big red flag that your razor could possibly not be shave ready after all. You might want to send it to be evaluated by someone reputable at SRP (if you're in Florida we have many senior members/mentors/mods that live there), which would at least eliminate one variable.

Not my style..Sharpens EVERYTHING? Blade Sharpening Service | Green Sharp LLC | 813-369-4117

Originally Posted by BobH

Who is Green Sharp LLC and who on here made the recommendation?

Bob

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Not my style..Sharpens EVERYTHING? Blade Sharpening Service | Green Sharp LLC | 813-369-4117

That is exactly why I asked, I can't imagine anyone from here recommending that. I have never heard of them nor anyone recommending them from here but I have not been here that long. Really wondering if anyone from here has used their service before I call BS.

Bob

Yup, they're knife sharpeners after all. I see razors aren't mentioned in the large list of edges they service....

To be honest, he is the one who told me that he was recommended on here. I did not find him myself through this forum, I was looking for a sharpener in Tampa, and this is the site I came across first, Mobile Blade Sharpening - Green Sharp, L.L.C. - Tampa, FL which does mention straight razors and surgical equipment, I figured if he is sharpening surgical equipment, he should be able to sharpen a straight razor.

I don't think it's the razor itself, I'm using a Robeson ShurEdge 35-H-350 I found in an antique store.
Probably not properly honed then, and not properly stropped. I'm not using enough strokes on my face to tell if it's my technique yet. I'm following the guide on here of only doing a little bit each day. Just a few short strokes, on each cheek at the moment.