I've had an itching to try shaving with a straight razor since switching to safety razors nearly three years ago, and thanks to a generous trade offer here, I've just acquired a J.A. Henckels half hollow 6/8 Friodur. It arrived yesterday, freshly honed, so of course I just HAD to give it a go last night before bed, which meant 36 hours growth. Here's my setup:
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: J.A. Henckels 6/8 Friodur
Brush: Custom (by me) 24mm Envy Shave Supreme White badger
Soap: Sudsy Soapery Lavender and Peppermint
Post: Alum block and Myrsol Formula K
After showering and washing my face, I attempted to strop my new razor. I've watched quite a few videos and read quite a few tutorials on stropping, but I'm pretty sure I put a bit too much pressure on the edge. When I first began, it didn't sound like the edge was "zipping" at all, so I erroneously caused it to do so. The reason I'm convinced that is the case is because the razor just didn't feel sharp from the first attempted stroke. Pulling and tugging. Me being stubborn, I tried stropping again midshave to see if that might remedy the situation, this time with less pressure on the edge. While it did seem to help a bit, I still don't think it was nearly as smooth shaving as it should've been. The razor had been freshly honed prior to me receiving it, so I'm thinking my poor stropping technique is the primary cause, as well as my noob status on actually shaving with the razor. I finished up with my ATT H2 Atlas and called it a night.
I'm not sure why, but I didn't think this would be as hard as it is. I feel like I've become very proficient with even the most aggressive DE razors, but this is obviously a whole other animal. I will not be dismayed though!
Does my stropping fiasco mean I'll need to have my recently honed razor honed again? I surely hope it didn't destroy the edge. I had planned on getting a lapping film setup in the near future anyways, just for touching up the edge (3 micron and 1 micron with some 0.5 paste for my nylon strop,) but didn't think I'd need that so soon. Do I? Until next time...
Prep: Hot Shower
Razor: J.A. Henckels 6/8 Friodur
Brush: Custom (by me) 24mm Envy Shave Supreme White badger
Soap: Sudsy Soapery Lavender and Peppermint
Post: Alum block and Myrsol Formula K
After showering and washing my face, I attempted to strop my new razor. I've watched quite a few videos and read quite a few tutorials on stropping, but I'm pretty sure I put a bit too much pressure on the edge. When I first began, it didn't sound like the edge was "zipping" at all, so I erroneously caused it to do so. The reason I'm convinced that is the case is because the razor just didn't feel sharp from the first attempted stroke. Pulling and tugging. Me being stubborn, I tried stropping again midshave to see if that might remedy the situation, this time with less pressure on the edge. While it did seem to help a bit, I still don't think it was nearly as smooth shaving as it should've been. The razor had been freshly honed prior to me receiving it, so I'm thinking my poor stropping technique is the primary cause, as well as my noob status on actually shaving with the razor. I finished up with my ATT H2 Atlas and called it a night.
I'm not sure why, but I didn't think this would be as hard as it is. I feel like I've become very proficient with even the most aggressive DE razors, but this is obviously a whole other animal. I will not be dismayed though!
Does my stropping fiasco mean I'll need to have my recently honed razor honed again? I surely hope it didn't destroy the edge. I had planned on getting a lapping film setup in the near future anyways, just for touching up the edge (3 micron and 1 micron with some 0.5 paste for my nylon strop,) but didn't think I'd need that so soon. Do I? Until next time...