Thread: New Ralf Aust from SRD

Because of the high likelihood for a beginner to mess up the edge with poor stropping, it IS best to do the first shave "out of the box." That guarantees that the edge shaved with is the one produced by the honer.

I'm working very hard on stropping technique. At the very least to do no harm to the blade edge. (or the beautiful RL strop from SRD)

So I went whole hog with stropping before shave number 12. Until now, I have only done light stropping to gain technique and muscle training. Today I did 30 laps on the poly and 75 laps on the red latigo. What a difference! I was shocked! A smooth close comfortable shave. I now have no doubt what a properly stropped razor feels like.

You just cleared a big hurdle, now do like Lynn says and have fun

Originally Posted by ChopperDave

So I went whole hog with stropping before shave number 12. Until now, I have only done light stropping to gain technique and muscle training. Today I did 30 laps on the poly and 75 laps on the red latigo. What a difference! I was shocked! A smooth close comfortable shave. I now have no doubt what a properly stropped razor feels like.

Nice! When I'm stropping I'm somehow scraping some leather off with the part of the razor where the arrow is pointing. I guess I'm not applying even/balanced pressure across the entire blade. It's nothing drastic but I have a leather "booger", for lack of a better word, collected there when I'm done. It protrudes slightly where the arrow is. Glad it's going better for you!

Originally Posted by ChopperDave

So I went whole hog with stropping before shave number 12. Until now, I have only done light stropping to gain technique and muscle training. Today I did 30 laps on the poly and 75 laps on the red latigo. What a difference! I was shocked! A smooth close comfortable shave. I now have no doubt what a properly stropped razor feels like.

Stropping before and after a shave is key IMO.

I've found now that I will do 60 on the linen and 40 on the leather after a shave, and 20 on the linen 80-100 on the leather prior to a shave. Really made a huge difference in the shaves for me.

Frequently now, I'll line up a few blades I plan on using next and when I have some time, go down and strop them to be ready to shave, saves some time, and when I not about to shave or just after shaving, it's a chance to go and chill out, relax and do some stropping.

My psychiatric wife nurse now has all the kids laughing when I do this, she say's I'm downstairs doing some, "self-soothing"....LOL...stropping the razor that is!

Originally Posted by pwc123

Nice! When I'm stropping I'm somehow scraping some leather off with the part of the razor where the arrow is pointing. I guess I'm not applying even/balanced pressure across the entire blade. It's nothing drastic but I have a leather "booger", for lack of a better word, collected there when I'm done. It protrudes slightly where the arrow is. Glad it's going better for you!

That is quite a normal problem and is often discussed.
A quick once over with milady's nail buffer will work to remove the sharp edge.
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

That is quite a normal problem and is often discussed.
A quick once over with milady's nail buffer will work to remove the sharp edge.
~Richard

Great to know, so it's only partly my fault!

I asked the same question and Lynn recommended running the palm or heel of your hand back and forth over the strop vigorously until it gets warm to the touch. It has helped reduce the 'boogers' and keeps it nice and supple. :-)

Originally Posted by coryschmidt

I asked the same question and Lynn recommended running the palm or heel of your hand back and forth over the strop vigorously until it gets warm to the touch. It has helped reduce the 'boogers' and keeps it nice and supple. :-)

I do that every time I strop. It does help a lot and I like it because it draws the oil out of the strop and I get some serious draw