1000 straight questions...

Hope it's ok to revive this thread as I thought it was the best thread to ask some newbie questions.

BadDad gave me some great advice about strops, especially noting the Whipped Dog Poor Man's kit for about $25.  My only concern is that after reading through some of the Straight Razor threads, it seems most prefer a 3' width and the Poor Man's strop is only 2'.  Is it that much more difficult to learn stropping on the 2' using the toe-to-heel method?  Or is the case being that I will tear up the strop more easily because of the method?

If you strop slowly using the X-pattern method, there should be no issues, really. The three-inch wide strops just facilitate the stropping without the need to use the X method.
Good luck.

Thanks BadDad and celestino ...I think I'll get the Whipped Dog kit to start.

Had my 2nd shave with the SR today and did a WTG, XTG and ATG pass on my right cheek. There were no cuts or nicks and the alum block indicated a very smooth shave. Normally, I would think that's great but there was still stubble left after 3 passes. I'm certain I didn't have the angle right as I've kept is very shallow to start off. I'll lift up a little tomorrow and see how it goes.

I haven't read all the thread, though the poor man's strop to start is a wise choice. You will almost certainly cut it a bunch of times, might even cut it in half. Plus, learning X strokes is good practice. I have a nice three inch and do ten x stroke passes on each side.

Once you stop cutting it, the next thing is to get a good strop. Pricing starts at $75 or $80. I would avoid latigo. Straight Razor Designs English Bridle strop is less than $100. I don't know that there is a better performing strop on the market. It comes with nylon webbing unless you pay for an upgrade. The nylon webbing, in my view, gives the best performance.

Also, make sure your kit includes the balsa wood piece. You will almost certainly mess up the edge as you learn. Unless you make a big mistake, you can fix it with that.

Hopefully, this comes across without saying, but when I say you'll almost certainly do this or that; it isn't a reflection on you, but rather what usually happens with new folks.

To achieve a shave as good as you did today is a huge success for a second shave. Don't worry about what was missed. Celebrate how well you did.

Also, make sure your kit includes the balsa wood piece.  You will almost certainly mess up the edge as you learn.  Unless you make a big mistake, you can fix it with that.

Hopefully, this comes across without saying, but when I say you'll almost certainly do this or that; it isn't a reflection on you, but rather what usually happens with new folks.

To achieve a shave as good as you did today is a huge success for a second shave.  Don't worry about what was missed.  Celebrate how well you did.

Thanks Pete123! I really appreciate what you wrote as I hadn't thought of it as a success. My goal starting out is simply by the end of 30 shaves to be able to do WTG and XTG passes.

BTW...I emailed Larry at Whipped Dog and ordered the kit. I haven't heard back yet but, hopefully, I will have a strop soon. But in the meantime, if I am only shaving on my cheeks, how long should I be able to go without stropping a recently honed razor?

I wouldn't normally suggest this, but if you are in desperate need of a strop and you are confident with your abilities, you could always strop your blade on the palm of your hand.
I have done it a few times and it is quite easy. Just be careful not to cut yourself.
Here is a video showing how Maestro Livi does it. It starts at 3:50 in the video. However, he does it much quicker than I would suggest and his has those great labourer's hands. Something I don't have.
Go slowly if you attempt this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXkjXfuNbpg

Normally, you strop after every shave. You are doing your cheeks, which is very smart, so you will get more shaves. The way to know is when you start feeling tugging when shaving. You can strop on something different while waiting for your order. A hard back book with fabric covering that is flat would work just fine. You could also use a piece of cardboard laid flat on a table or a piece of fabric stretched around something flat. These aren't perfect, but will do while you wait.

A couple of things to know in learning to strop:

Use a light touch. The edge of a straight razor is very, very thin. I'm not Mr. Science, though they may be only a few molecules thick. This means that the edge is very, very fragile. You understand using a light touch as you have shaved with a straight with very good results. Those pesky whiskers turn the edge of the razor when you shave. Stropping is only to straight the turned edges. All that to say, use a light touch. Pressing too hard is the biggest way that new shavers mess up the edge.

The way you turn the razor over at the end of a pass in order to go in the other direction is critical. You want to turn it over on the spine, which is the opposite side from the cutting edge. You want to already be moving in the opposite direction before bringing the cutting edge back to the strop.

Finally, go slowly and keep your technique correct. Don't worry about speed, it will take care of itself.

I'm a huge fan of videos done by Lynn Abrams. Search Lynn Abrams stropping and it will come up with his videos.

Like celestino , I like palm stropping and do it between every pass.

Great info celestino and Pete123 ...I may try the palm stropping this morning or tomorrow but at a MUCH slower pace than in the video

I like the idea of using a book or fabric, but I'm afraid with my inexperience I may hurt the edge more than help it. Two strops are on their way (Larry at Whipped Dog suggested two because it's likely I'll damage one while learning) so if the blade does start tugging, I may take a day or two off and wait for the strops to arrive.

Thanks again everyone, you guys are a great source of info!

Sounds like a plan.

Palm stropping isn't very difficult if you go slowly and best of luck.