Thread: Strop recommendations

Ahh forget it, Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, Thank you all for the Help it was fun. But dang I could have trained to run a 5k during this time or spent some time in the gym or on my bike. Instead witizing with this stuff. It would have been nice if what I bought would have been delivered as advertised. Oh well nothing is perfect, I will consider my cash out lay as a donation to the shaving community. For the most part this was a pretty miserable and demeaning process... To the rest of you all, Smooth shaves!!!!

Lockwood out!!!!

Make sure blade edge contacts with the leather during stropping, apply a little pressure if needed to achieve this.

Before you throw in the towel, why not sent it out to a hone meister Maybe they can find the problem with the edge. Can you post a closeup photograph of your razor.

I remember reading here when I first started it will take 100 shaves until you start getting consistent results. Some learn quicker, some slower, but it really is something you have to stick with. I would send it out for a re-hone and start from scratch with just your cheeks, and finish with a shavette, or what ever, and slowly build from there. It can be frustrating, and I doubt there is a member here who hasn't felt that, but once you get past that hurdle, you won't look back. A known brand shave ready razor, good lather, and good technique will get you there. Slow and steady on the strop until you get the rhythm, hang in there. Best of luck.

Don't you dare give up. Are you really gonna let it defeat you like that, come on man.
Give it a chance , you owe it to yourself, and we all would hate for you not to succed, you must keep at it.
Send it away to get re-honed give yourself a few weeks off, then come back to it.
Keep at it brother, don't go out like that.

Originally Posted by Lockwood124

Ahh forget it, Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, Thank you all for the Help it was fun. But dang I could have trained to run a 5k during this time or spent some time in the gym or on my bike. Instead witizing with this stuff. It would have been nice if what I bought would have been delivered as advertised. Oh well nothing is perfect, I will consider my cash out lay as a donation to the shaving community. For the most part this was a pretty miserable and demeaning process... To the rest of you all, Smooth shaves!!!!

Lockwood out!!!!

Consider this: Running a 5K is over when its over, futzing around in the gym is nice when you are young, and riding around on your bike is doable when young. Learning to hone properly is a skill that you will have for the rest of your life, and, if you are like me, a skill that is immensely satisfying that can be executed even when your are an old fart (like me). The nuances that need to be learned when running up the honing learning curve are many (as I've experienced), but like any other skill it takes practice and commitment of considerable time (and expense). Like any other learned skill the beginning is rough and frustrating as you develop the skill. The idea is not to give up so that the expertise can develop.... and it will, trust me.

Seeking out and listening to the advice on this forum will help you avoid some of the common errors in learning to hone and shaving properly. The advice I've received from this board has been just wonderful and freely given. (I don't shave, just hone and refurbish and collect razors. I did just buy some really nice New Old Stock razors and two new Dovos, kinda expensive, but just shows how addicted I am to this hobby (or, as my wife says, insane)).

Ok lets a get a few things straight.... I bought a quality shave ready razor, and in my opinion a quality strop. Fact is my strop had a wrinkle in it from shipping, and my razor was not shave ready. I had it rehoned by a different person who did make it sharp, but nothing great. If it were my Shavette I would install a new blade.

I work as an aircraft mechanic, steady hands and fallowing directions are kinda paramount in my field. A bad day for me could mean damaging really expensive hardware or many people could be canceling Christmas, not to mention facing federal charges. So with that said I am pretty through with what I do and how I do things.

Please don't insult me with "a sharp razor may appear dull to a beginner", come on let's be honest we are all human and I can understand that I got a dull razor. Mistakes happen, but horrible customer service is inexcusable, especially in a niche market.

Thanks for all the kind PM's I think I will wash this off like a date and move on, still kicking myself for not getting a Feather Artist Club...

Ok, well next possible move is to find a mentor in your area. Most problems at the start are, believe it or not, operator error. I rolled the edge of my first shave ready razor before my first shave. I have gone from that to getting 70+ shaves out of a razor with just a strop, no crox or touch ups of any kind. You can't compare shaving with a straight with, for instance, a DE, a shavette, or a cartridge. it is a new game. This is where technique and learning comes in. I can get a closer shave now than from anything else, and you have better strops and hones than I do. Enjoy the ride, it won't happen overnight, but it will happen.