Strop Scared

I've been shaving with a shavette for two months and have ordered a shave ready razor from hi_bud_gl. Can't wait til it arrives. I've got a belgian blue/coticle combination hone and I just picked up some 4oz. cowhide to make a two sided paddle strop: one side for the inner surface of the cowhide and the other side for the smooth.

I'm already scared about ruining the razor's edge on the strop!

I'm planning on shaving with the razor right out of the box - no stropping. But the next day I plan on doing 30 light laps on smooth side (no pressure, constant speed, roll on the spine).

I don't want to mess this up.

Look up the threads on how to hold a razor while stropping. And practice that with a pencil and then with your razor. Then practice stropping on your strop with a butter knife. Eventually, the fear goes away and the technique will come with practice.
I'd practice with some other razor (or at least a butter knife) before stropping for the first time with a shave ready razor.

I can guarantee you if you fret about it so much it will happen.

Practice with a de-edged straight (meaning garbage cheap straight) or butter knife until you boost your confidence.

Until i got my strop in the mail i was using that old leather belt from the back of my closet that will never if me again. Worked for me.

I'm in Clarkston. If you want to get together, I can show you how to strop properly.

Also, I saw you bought a hone. You probably don't need that at the moment unless you did not buy a shave ready razor. In which case, I can help you with honing.

David

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alembic

I'm in Clarkston. If you want to get together, I can show you how to strop properly.

Also, I saw you bought a hone. You probably don't need that at the moment unless you did not buy a shave ready razor. In which case, I can help you with honing.

David

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Thanks for the offer, David. Sounds like a good idea. I'll keep the hone away from my new razor until it is needed. I've been practicing my honing skills on a evilbay razor. I like the butterknife idea suggested in the other posts.

I am an engineer at the Warren Tech Center. We could meet sometime after work since it's mid way.

You can also practice stropping with your shavvette without the blade in. That way you get the feel for it with something in the shape of a SR. Its what I did before I started on my SR's.

My advice (and im by no means an expert) is to just start off slow steady untill you get the feel for it, I have never nicked my strop because i go slow and steady with it. Dont worrie about being as fast as a barber, you will get faster and faster as time goes on and you get more comfortable.



Good luck to ya


Deerhunter.

Definitely take up that generous opportunity to have someone show you how its done.