I've been shaving with DE's for a couple years and recently had the opportunity to get into straight shaving. He traded me a Dovo Col Conk 5/8 for my pile of pen stuff. He also made me a strop and I'm expecting it to arrive tomorrow. Until it arrives, I've been stropping on newspaper as per his suggestion. I'm definitely convinced I came out ahead on the deal. Here is a compilation of some of our pm's which include descriptions of the first few shaves.
Me: I got your message [that you shipped the strop]. I can't wait! I've been newspapering [the straight] about a hundred strokes on the kitchen table (flattest thing I could find). I have shaved a couple times with the razor. The first time I tried it, I got the hang of wtg pretty quickly. Then I thought, "nothing to it," and proceeded to try a few atg strokes. Cut, slice, give up. Stupid me..
The second time, the wtg was easy again, veeerrrry carefully tried a few small strokes of xtg and atg, successfully this time. Not bbs (or even sas) but better, and bloodless. I think this is something I can do.
Like I said, I've been stropping on 2 sheets of newspaper, flat on the kitchen table, following youtube, etc. guidelines. I don't seem to be able to get it to pass hht though. I'll chalk that up to technique..
Thanks for the great deal. I hope you get many years enjoyment out of your pens. Its really a neat hobby. It was beginning to become an obsession and it killed me to see all that stuff I had to have and not have the money for it.. much like shaving. One paycheck-demolishing hobby is enough..
Him: With the newspaper you may want to try folding the paper and draping it over something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGVNbMvvOJI
It will be more like a real strop. Or you can wrap something like a 2x4 in paper for more of a paddle strop feel. As for hanging a leather strop I tap the middle hinge pin of my bathroom door up about 1/4" and hang it from there. Seems to be a perfect height for me. The strop does not have linen, but this is not really needed. I like 25 on the suede side and 50 on the smooth leather side.
You will get the hang of it quickly just go slow at first.
Me: Aha! That's a great idea with the newspaper. I was trying to think of a way to hang the newspaper like that. So 25 on the suede side in lieu of a linen, then 50 on the smooth side. Got it. Thanks for introducing me to the straight stuff. I think I like it.
Another shave tonight. I'm getting more comfortable with it for sure. I used the newspaper stropping method that you suggested and for the first time got a decent HHT(3?) edge on the razor. I did wtg and atg tonight on my whole face. SAS this time. Very nearly bloodless.
I know I'm moving a little faster than suggested. I'm trying really hard, though, to concentrate and pay attention to what I'm doing. I really like the straight. It seems sometimes like it isn't sharp enough and I have to buff at the sides of my chin. I chalk that up, of course, to inexperience. I can't wait until I've been doing it for a year or so and I get great bbs shaves more frequently than not. Thanks again for the trade. I'm convinced I got the better deal. I owe you one.
Me: I got your message [that you shipped the strop]. I can't wait! I've been newspapering [the straight] about a hundred strokes on the kitchen table (flattest thing I could find). I have shaved a couple times with the razor. The first time I tried it, I got the hang of wtg pretty quickly. Then I thought, "nothing to it," and proceeded to try a few atg strokes. Cut, slice, give up. Stupid me..
The second time, the wtg was easy again, veeerrrry carefully tried a few small strokes of xtg and atg, successfully this time. Not bbs (or even sas) but better, and bloodless. I think this is something I can do.
Like I said, I've been stropping on 2 sheets of newspaper, flat on the kitchen table, following youtube, etc. guidelines. I don't seem to be able to get it to pass hht though. I'll chalk that up to technique..
Thanks for the great deal. I hope you get many years enjoyment out of your pens. Its really a neat hobby. It was beginning to become an obsession and it killed me to see all that stuff I had to have and not have the money for it.. much like shaving. One paycheck-demolishing hobby is enough..
Him: With the newspaper you may want to try folding the paper and draping it over something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGVNbMvvOJI
It will be more like a real strop. Or you can wrap something like a 2x4 in paper for more of a paddle strop feel. As for hanging a leather strop I tap the middle hinge pin of my bathroom door up about 1/4" and hang it from there. Seems to be a perfect height for me. The strop does not have linen, but this is not really needed. I like 25 on the suede side and 50 on the smooth leather side.
You will get the hang of it quickly just go slow at first.
Me: Aha! That's a great idea with the newspaper. I was trying to think of a way to hang the newspaper like that. So 25 on the suede side in lieu of a linen, then 50 on the smooth side. Got it. Thanks for introducing me to the straight stuff. I think I like it.
Another shave tonight. I'm getting more comfortable with it for sure. I used the newspaper stropping method that you suggested and for the first time got a decent HHT(3?) edge on the razor. I did wtg and atg tonight on my whole face. SAS this time. Very nearly bloodless.
I know I'm moving a little faster than suggested. I'm trying really hard, though, to concentrate and pay attention to what I'm doing. I really like the straight. It seems sometimes like it isn't sharp enough and I have to buff at the sides of my chin. I chalk that up, of course, to inexperience. I can't wait until I've been doing it for a year or so and I get great bbs shaves more frequently than not. Thanks again for the trade. I'm convinced I got the better deal. I owe you one.
Last edited:
