Stropping a new de blade

[Possum]

My new Feather blade felt harsh and bitey on shave 1-4. I thought it would subside yet continued, so, I merely stropped it 10 stokes on each edge bevel on newspaper. This took maybe one minute on each side. Then used it for shave #5. What a difference! This time it gave a silky smooth shave with no scratches. Anyone else experienced this? Possum

 

[maxman]

Oh yes. Some blades settle in after a shave or two.
I palm strop Shark blades.
I find the Shark blades need it. The first shave is a little tough going.

When I use Feather, Gillette Silver Blue or Gillette Bleue Extra blades, I don't do it.

 

[Copierguy]

Sorry if this is off topic.....

Feathers are working different for me these days. They seem to smooth out before the end of the first past and rather than giving up the ghost after three shaves they are now lasting five shaves or a total of fifteen passes. In the past shaves four and five would not last the full workday so I would pitch them after three.

I'll now return you to the regularly scheduled program.

 

[celestino]

Can be done to enhance some blades.

 

[bakerbarber]

use a cork

 

[T-Box215]

I've read plenty on people corking, palm stropping, even a pull through a chunk of styrofoam. Seems to help for me... I palm strop or cork. Never tried newspaper, I'll have to give that a go. Anything that will smooth the edge will definitely change the shave. This probably shouldn't be necessary if you find a blade/razor combo that suits your skin, but whatever gets a great shave!

 

[Possum]

T, Agreed. Mostly its not. I'm accustom to the first shave being bitey with a Feather blade and after that it smooths out. Yet, different batches come out different. I enjoy that real smooth shave hence I notice when its not there. So, I may just strop it some at the beginning to insure this.? Possum