Thread: First Razor just came in the mail! Now what?

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

Make sure to dry very well. Then leave it out for a while, open. Later you can oil it and put away.

Michael

I NEVER put my razor in the drawer or completely close it right after I shave. I leave it out for a while, even a couple of days as I rotate and use my other razors.

Excited for todays shave. I set up my strop. Did maybe 20 strokes on webbing and maybe 30 strokes per side on leather.

I did nick my leather about 4 times. They are all really small 1mm in lenght mostly on the far side.
Is it still ok to use or will it mess up my edges?

Also I never did the hanging hair test initally so I don't know if it would have passed (bought shave ready from SRD). I tried it today before and after stropping and it failed. It razor does pop the hair off my arms though.

If the razor is shaving well don't worry if about any test other than the shave. If you just want to try the HHT have fun, it is a great parlor trick.

Nicking your strop is common most likely you are rolling the razor at the wrong time. While the razor is still going in one direction roll the edge up ~90 degrees without lifting the spine, reverse direction and finish rolling the razor. Practicing with butter knife is a good idea.

The number of passes varies, so experimenting to find your sweet spot is worth the effort.

Jonathan

You can still use the strop

Small nicks can be left in place. If don't feel them while stropping then they aren't doing any harm.

Like the above poster says, start moving in the other direction BEFORE you finish the flip.

HHT? That's a whole other post!!

Michael

I don't know if this is ok but I took a piece of 2000 grit sandpaper and gave the nicks a few gentle passes. I then wiped off with damp cloth. Seems to be better now.

When I strop, when you say for example 50 laps, is that each side or together (25 per side)?

I was successfull again tonight. I did my right and left side of face, half my chin, and 3/4s of my dominant side neck with no nicks!! Can't wait until tomorrows shave.

I have used a 600 grit diamond hone to smooth a old paddle strop, so it seems fine to me.

When we say 50 laps or passes it means 50 back and forth trips. On kamisori's/microtomes it may not.

Good progress.

Jonathan