Thread: Taking the plunge for real

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Damn! I must be getting old! Ya beat me to it Mike!

Haven't got a reply from him..yet.!

I got two nice 11/16 German blades here, a square and round point that I will need to make scales for, and give um a skip.across the stones.

Hmmm....no brained, for me.!

Maybe it's scraping because of you, but your using a feather maybe not, but maybe WSP doesn't hone so well. Plus the choice of razors. Plus your stropping at this point more than likely ain't great. Take up mikes generous off and use one that's goned right, and isn't a GD. Tc

Originally Posted by Badgerstate

I figure why not tear up this $12 one while Im learning and then get a better one when I get more experience.

If you're happy to tear up you're first strop you'll get lots of experience shaving with a different razor while your stropped one is getting honed.
People don't seem to realise that damaging the strop damages the razor.
Practising on a single piece of newspaper, the width of your strop, held by a small bulldog clip, is good. Too much pressure will make the paper slip from the clip. Also try using a butterknife or similar to develop manual dexterity. Actually, even a tooth brush will work. The motion is similar to twisting a volume knob but use your other fingers to assist.
Once you can comfortably flip the butterknife 180º back & forth try with your razor then finally move to your paper strop. If you feel you have it wired move to the leather but go slow. A little practice can save a lot in honing fees.... & leather.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Maybe it's scraping because of you, but your using a feather maybe not, but maybe WSP doesn't hone so well.

The honing is not quite as true as claimed.

Originally Posted by outback

Haven't got a reply from him..yet.!

I got two nice 11/16 German blades here, a square and round point that I will need to make scales for, and give um a skip.across the stones.

Hmmm....no brained, for me.!

Thanks but I'll pass. I like my Gold Dollar, I think it just needed to be stropped.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

If you're happy to tear up you're first strop you'll get lots of experience shaving with a different razor while your stropped one is getting honed.
People don't seem to realise that damaging the strop damages the razor.
Practising on a single piece of newspaper, the width of your strop, held by a small bulldog clip, is good. Too much pressure will make the paper slip from the clip. Also try using a butterknife or similar to develop manual dexterity. Actually, even a tooth brush will work. The motion is similar to twisting a volume knob but use your other fingers to assist.
Once you can comfortably flip the butterknife 180º back & forth try with your razor then finally move to your paper strop. If you feel you have it wired move to the leather but go slow. A little practice can save a lot in honing fees.... & leather.

I wouldnt say that Im happy to damage any strop but if Im going to while Im learning, Id rather do it to a $12 strop instead of a $100 one.

Originally Posted by Badgerstate

I wouldnt say that Im happy to damage any strop but if Im going to while Im learning, Id rather do it to a $12 strop instead of a $100 one.

True enough, but the point is that if you are damaging your strop while stropping you are degrading the edge not maintaining or improving it.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

True enough, but the point is that if you are damaging your strop while stropping you are degrading the edge not maintaining or improving it.

Bob

Obviously. The point is not that I intend to damage the strop but if I do, better it be a cheap one instead of an expensive one.

Originally Posted by Badgerstate

Thanks but I'll pass. I like my Gold Dollar, I think it just needed to be stropped.

I don't think I'd be too quick on turning down the offer of a free vintage razor honed by someone that knows how to hone. If you took the offered razor and shaved with it without stropping it that would tell you how your GD compares. Should the offered vintage razor shave better than the GD then you know that either the GD's edge was not up to snuff in the first place and/or your stropping hurt it. Then strop the vintage razor before the second shave with it and if it shaves worse than the first time you will know that your stropping is hurting the edge. Anyway, it is your choice.

Bob

Id say you should take Mike/Outback up on his offer. He even lives in the same state as you. And what Bob said is right on the money. Its the best way to test. These are very helpful folks and want you to learn and enjoy this way of shaving.

Its up to you to make the choice.