Thread: First stop of course I messed it up

So recently started shaving with a safety razor and loved the whole wet shaving process. So boom I watched all of srd's you tube video bought a dovo razor and here I am.

Took it out straight from srd, showered, lathered, did my first shave, not bad but I need more practice. I went to do my first stroping today and I kept messing up when I rolled it over. I'd roll from the spine to the blade but would go too far so the blade hits the leather. This happened 3 more times and I'm about to freak out.

i spent 60 on a strop and don't want to be going through the them like hot cakes. I actually have a cheapie from Amazon for 15 but don't know if that can mess it up since it's cheap.


The places I hit aren't bad just like the color portion came off on the strop not like a slit. Still don't know if that just makes it dead.

It should be fine, little scratches and cuts won't do any harm if you have flaps hanging off then you can fix them back down and sand it or on mine I just carefully cut them off as they were only surface deep. They are also most likely at the ends anyway.
Work more slowly it sounds like you might have finished the flip without reversing the direction of the razor. Take your time to learn proper technique and let the speed come on its own.

Edit : I have just seen the picture, I personally wouldn't worry about the damage however you probably need to flip a bit earlier so you aren't stropping on the embossing.

Go slow and develop your motor skill . The vids show guys doing 2 laps a second which is possible but not the way to start. That takes a couple years to get. By the way the real fast guys in those vids are strop makers :<0)

Use a butter knife or other dull razor shaped object and do a bunch of practice with it and really watch the flipping part of the stroke. You will build some muscle memory and hopefully save your strop. This worked well for me when I learned

I've found it very useful to have a cheap/old straight to learn stropping with. Dull the edge so it won't harm your strop and follow the advice already given. Proper mechanics are key, see if there is someone in your area to spend a moment with and learn face to face. The proper effect on your razor is the priority and it takes a little time to learn that.

Don't know anyone that uses a straight razor, kinda a man on an island here. Don't know how friendly business are to showing you techniques. Seems like you might be able to search people in your area through the forum but not sure if that's creeper style.

In in South Florida, Miami, Ft Lauderdale area.

Chances are your strop will look worse with time. My first strop has several learner marks. Most from not stopping completely before flipping. Just go slow and stop before you flip, work up speed as your proficiency allows. Little ones at the ends are no big deal.

Good excuse to buy a better strop after 8-12 months, that's how I justified my new one.

Originally Posted by Lumberjack55

Don't know anyone that uses a straight razor, kinda a man on an island here. Don't know how friendly business are to showing you techniques. Seems like you might be able to search people in your area through the forum but not sure if that's creeper style.

In in South Florida, Miami, Ft Lauderdale area.

I don't think you need any personal teaching for this. If its convenient, fine. But its not really too complicated. Watch a couple vids, read the advice that's all over this site, and simply SLOW DOWN. Just think about what you have to do and how you need to do it. Then slowly and methodically start doing it.

Not at all creeper style, most of us love to help.

Here's a list of South Florida users:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...sername&order=

Originally Posted by Lumberjack55

Don't know anyone that uses a straight razor, kinda a man on an island here. Don't know how friendly business are to showing you techniques. Seems like you might be able to search people in your area through the forum but not sure if that's creeper style.

In in South Florida, Miami, Ft Lauderdale area.

I know the feeling of learning in isolation so if you can find someone for a face to face go for it & make the most of it but stropping is more about practice & reducing pressure while doing it

& sorry but can't see anything wrong with your strop 'yet'
you should of seen my first one before I passed it on to another new guy to learn on
I had a couple of lapses of concentration in the morning & BOOM strop fillets in nothing flat.

but it is a learning curve, as mentioned start slow & work up to it does take time to train the brain & the muscles
keep practicing with a butter knife & folded paper to get the form right between strops

also remember that you razor will unfortunately need a touch up every time you cut your strop as it will dull your edge, your shaves will remind your quicker than looking at it.

Edit: also Hirlau is a top bloke & may be close enough to you & able to help you out with some mentoring face to face or at least point you in the right direction, you could try send him a PM if he doesn't see this post anyway.