Thread: Noob Strop Question

Hi All,

I'm a rank beginner, having purchased a shave ready DOVO, a 2" latigo/linen strop, badger brush, soap & mug from SRD. The razor arrived very sharp and passed the HHT. I shaved and then stropped enthusiastically and likely screwed up the edge. I cannot get a shave ready edge back and have a fair bit of pulling (and nicks) when shaving.

I have since read everything I can on this site about stropping and have reformed my technique. I have stropped the heck out of this razor on newspaper (200x), linen (100x) and latigo (100x) but still can't get back to that original shave ready edge.

My question is regarding the most effective way to get that edge back. Assumption is that my stropping technique is now OK and not damaging blade edge.

Options are:
1. SRD paddle. .5m diamond on rough side and .5m CrOx on smooth side.
2. SRD wool/linen hanging strop. .5m diamond on wool and .5m CrOx on linen.
3. Send DOVO back for re-honing (with coupon!) and don't get into pastes.

Any advice? Any other options I should be considering?

One expensive addition to #1, 2 or 3 above would to buy another shave ready DOVO for comparison purposes but that is getting very costly!!

I appreciate all the great info and support from the people using this site.

Thanks,
David

Welcome to SRP David. The option to send it back to the honemeister is always a good one. OTOH, with relative inexperience in shaving techniques it may not be as bad as you think it is. Sounds like you've already done quite a bit with it trying to get the edge back. Why not try 5 weight of the blade round trips on the chrom ox on the paddle and give it a try. Work on blade angle and skin stretching and see if there isn't an improvement. You can try a lot of variables with it since you have the option to take advantage of the coupon. The chrom ox on the paddle is the gentlest.

I kind of agree with Jimmy (boy ... how's that for going out on a limb. As a not incredibly experienced shaver myself, but quickly getting better, I have seen much of my poor result not so long ago quickly improving more from my shaving technique than anything else. As a recent noob myself, I have found that once you have a shave ready razor, the stroping, face prep including soap/cream quality, and face-stretching/blade angle (30 degrees) has made a ton of difference. Then there's just the muscle memory magic of how the right shaving technique feels and becomes automatic and intuitive ... no matter what, you can't shave your best without experience. I have much less razor burn, a much closer shave, and much more efficiency than I did not long ago.

My other feeling that I will allow others with much more experience than I comment on, is that unless you really butchered the stropping process (like going in the wrong direction, or significantly cutting into your strop, I don't think you would've destroyed your shave-ready edge beyond what correct stropping would correct. As I understand it, the stropping simply straightens the edge and VERY, VERY mildly smooths it ... it doesn't really remove any material. So even if you let your strop bow a lot, or put too much pressure, it seems that you would've only "curled" the edge somewhat. If that's true, it seems that all the stropping you did, if done correctly should've mostly re-straightened the edge. Without knowing exactly how you stropped poorly, I can't say for sure, and again, would welcome comment on this theory from those more knowledgeable than I.

Good luck and WELCOME !

Hi and welcome to the SRP David,

Jimmy already gave you some excellent answers. With them you can't go wrong.
I do not use pastes, so i would recommend you to consider buying either barber hone or cheap Chinese 12K. They are meant to bring the edge back to little less than shave ready razors. Stropping is part of the straight shaving, so sooner or later you have to learn how to do it correctly and the only way to learn is to practice. Barber hone or 12K are very handy if you happen to mess the edge when practicing.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Why not try 5 weight of the blade round trips on the chrom ox on the paddle and give it a try. Work on blade angle and skin stretching and see if there isn't an improvement. You can try a lot of variables with it since you have the option to take advantage of the coupon. The chrom ox on the paddle is the gentlest.

Hi Jimmy,

Thanks for a speedy reply. I don't have a strop/paddle for pastes so would be buying a paddle from SRD to give this fix a try. I'll also focus on shaving technique! I know from golf and skeet that most often errors are found in technique and not with the equipment Old habits die hard though! It's just too easy to blame the equipment!

From what I've read on this forum there are people who use pasted paddles for maintenance from time to time so it seems like I'll see value from the investment in a new paddle over time.

In your opinion, would it be best to paste the smooth or rough side of the paddle?

Thanks,
David

Technique does have a bit to do with my problem. I lathered with more water this morning - the lather had been drying on my face - and I was thinking that without enough water in the lather the blade might not glide as well. That helped tremendously - I had my best shave yet.

Just doing WTG and ATG on R & L cheeks and neck with my right hand and still using a disposable for my chin.

I did order a strop & CrO paste from SRD so will have that option soon.

Thanks all.
David

Originally Posted by boltonguy

Technique does have a bit to do with my problem. I lathered with more water this morning - the lather had been drying on my face - and I was thinking that without enough water in the lather the blade might not glide as well. That helped tremendously - I had my best shave yet.

Just doing WTG and ATG on R & L cheeks and neck with my right hand and still using a disposable for my chin.

I did order a strop & CrO paste from SRD so will have that option soon.

Thanks all.
David

Hey, David... a few questions:

1. Where do you live? Even outside of fixing the razor, it's always great to meet a member in your area who can show you proper stropping so you never roll an edge

2. Can you give more detail (excruciating detail ) about your stropping method before, and now that you've re-formatted it?

3. If all else fails, if you're willing to pay shipping, I can touchup your razor for you... I may not be the best honer here, but all of SRD's dovo's have nice, straight edges, and are easy to clean up, provided you can't fix it... Just figured I'd offer.

Cheers, and good luck!

Jeremy

Hey, David... a few questions:

1. Where do you live? Even outside of fixing the razor, it's always great to meet a member in your area who can show you proper stropping so you never roll an edge

2. Can you give more detail (excruciating detail ) about your stropping method before, and now that you've re-formatted it?

3. If all else fails, if you're willing to pay shipping, I can touchup your razor for you... I may not be the best honer here, but all of SRD's dovo's have nice, straight edges, and are easy to clean up, provided you can't fix it... Just figured I'd offer.

Hi Jeremy,

#1. I live in MA. It would be great to meet someone nearby to discuss technique for stropping (and shaving, particularly my chin).

#2. When I first tried stropping I flipped the wrong way, didn't keep the spine on the strop, and even when I did probably put too much pressure on the blade. I've watched the several stropping videos and thisnk that I am getting better. The one remaining question is "exactly" how much pressure to put on the blade. None seems to end up with just the spine on the strop, so I feel like I need some pressure to get the blade down on the strop.

#3. Thanks for the offer. I have a coupon for a free hone at SRD so if I send it for re-honing that will probably be my first choice. I plan to soldier on and see if it continues to get better with better stropping, lathering & shaving technique as I don't want to be without the razor for 2 weeks for re-honing and I don't want to buy a backup razor quite yet, although I'm sure that day will come.

Thanks for your interest in helping me muddle my way through this.

David

I don't know anyone in MA offhand, but check the Member's Map on the top toolbar under Community.

That would do it.. A flip the wrong way is very common, so no hard feelings :P

Yeah, trust that to SRD, then... They're the best honers you can get. However, if the damage isn't too bad, proper stropping technique along with a TON of good laps should be enough to bring the edge back...

Good luck!

Jeremy

Originally Posted by boltonguy

Hi Jeremy,

#1. I live in MA. It would be great to meet someone nearby to discuss technique for stropping (and shaving, particularly my chin).

#2. When I first tried stropping I flipped the wrong way, didn't keep the spine on the strop, and even when I did probably put too much pressure on the blade. I've watched the several stropping videos and thisnk that I am getting better. The one remaining question is "exactly" how much pressure to put on the blade. None seems to end up with just the spine on the strop, so I feel like I need some pressure to get the blade down on the strop.

#3. Thanks for the offer. I have a coupon for a free hone at SRD so if I send it for re-honing that will probably be my first choice. I plan to soldier on and see if it continues to get better with better stropping, lathering & shaving technique as I don't want to be without the razor for 2 weeks for re-honing and I don't want to buy a backup razor quite yet, although I'm sure that day will come.

Thanks for your interest in helping me muddle my way through this.

David

Thank you Jeremy - I had not yet discovered the map!

Best,
David