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So what's the consensus on the regular use of the canvas side of the strop? In conjunction with the leather side before each shave, or limited to post honing? I've been doing 20 on the canvas followed by 40 on the leather...... but admittedly, a method I just pulled out of the blue. Others?
There's really no consensus; it's very much a matter of personal preference. Some don't use the canvas at all while others use it before the leather each time they strop their razor. I even read once of someone only using the canvas. I use the leather strop only for most shaves, adding the canvas when the edge no longer "catches" the whiskers or shaves readily.
I have not touched the canvas or linen of my strops. Probably because there is not much great outcomes I have heard with them unless you paste them ans such. I use balsa wood with pastes on each side.
For me the linen side is to clean the razor and not as a honing or resetting tool. A couple laps on it after a shave dries my edge. There are folks that say it ruins the edge etc. Everybody is different and who taught them, or the latest article they read is usually where the prejudice comes from.
YMMV
~Richard
The linen side of the strop is supposed to clean the blade and do some resetting.
I've got mine pasted with some white / grey Dovo paste, there is some debate about it, but it's a mild chalk like abrasive that will clean and does affect the sharpness of the blade, it can be used for everyday stropping.
There are a couple of threads here on the Dovo white / grey paste, for me, I noticed a difference, it seems to keep an edge well maintained, and if I get a blade back from being honed, or I've refreshed it, and it seems sharp / harsh versus sharp smooth, I find the pasted strop mellows it out quite nicely. Now, I'm fairly certain the linen side would do this anyhow.
Just got my old Dovo Best Quality razor back from honing, my first razor, 1/4 hollow, plowed through 3 days of thick beard no problem, good to have an old friend back, and really, what a great blade.
I'm certain now, my DD Goldedge and I have irreconcilable differences!
But gave the Dovo an aftershave strop on the linen and the leather, always been a good routine for my blades!
As the saying goes, YMMV, but I think the linen side is important, that why the strop came with one....hahaha!
Cheers!
I use a fabric strop as well as a leather strop, I have just used leather and.just used fabric, they all work but.you need to fluff around to see what you like. I do 50/50 but only because.I am OCD.
Thanks to all! I recently made what I thought was going to be a brief switch from DE to the world of straight razor usage. As of now I don't see myself transitioning back. (What a great forum.....)
You don't have to give anything up! Lot's of members here use DE's and straights, sheesh, lots here use DE's, straights and shavette's as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by douglasdouglas
Me, I received a nice Gillette Aristocrat DE a couple of weeks ago, I'm terrified of the thing, old memories of DE's gone past, maybe in the future you can give me some advice on how not to slice my face off with the thing...that one ultra sharp blade peeking out of that handle, geez, I can just see the red cut lines starting to appear on my face!!
I am with Richard on this one,
I do some linen passes and a few leather post shave, and leather pre shave.
Yet another YMMV thing.
I like linen then leather (35/70) as I found the edge was better. Tried without linen but didn't seem as good. Using linen there was an improvement and leather improves this even more. Then again your results/strop/technique may vary. Ed
Straights..... I'm so frigging hooked!!!
Yes...nothing like the feeling you get after a great shave with a straight!Quote:
Originally Posted by douglasdouglas
Used my very first straight razor this morning, my good old Dovo Best Quality, just got it back from being honed. Nothing like a straight, keep it well maintained, and they can last several lifetimes...I have a couple of razors that probably were around England during the time that Charles Dickens was alive and writing...
:D
It's a great hobby, and a great forum with a bunch of super guys. I like your avatar-I actually got a ride in one of those years ago, and it was very cool.Quote:
Originally Posted by douglasdouglas
Phrank, I heard from Dickens yesterday, He said would you please return the 10/8 he loaned you a while back. He needs to trims his (h)edges and misses it chopping ability.
I was taught 100 linen, 100 leather. Then I realized I don't live with a high humidity bathroom. On my own I decided to conquer my OCD and slowly brought it down to 20 -30 linen and 42 - 57 leather (I didn't say I eliminated my OCD) and the edge quality did not degrade. I would like to work on thought control and think my edges sharp in for nothing else than to save a few minutes a day for other obsessions.
No problem Razorfeld, problem is, I don't own any 10/8 razors? I've got two 9/8 W&B Celebrated FBU's, but no 10/8's...my new 9/8 will be wearing old blonde horn scales...Quote:
Originally Posted by Razorfeld
The 42 - 57 part made me feel all weird, I must be more OCD than I thought.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razorfeld
When I read eddys 35/70 ratio that didn't feel right either, until I realised that 35 was half of 70. Right I am off.to sort my creams by the amount left in the tube as a proportion of the original quantity. Dont worry I only work to micrograms.
All right so I didn't let on that that was the 2nd and finishing strop. Usually 20 felt/40 latigo then 35 linen/ 70 English bridle for maintenence. If honing there would be 50 canvas/100 leather on Illinois 827 then 20 roo which is an extra component I added then normal stropping. Damn Im tired just typing that. Don't even ask about honing strokes. Must be every directionQuote:
Originally Posted by edhewitt
You should really do 6 and 2/3 / 13 and 1/3 on the roo to make everything good in the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by eddy79
You have a few strops then. I have a roo and a fabric strop and that's it.
Lord Thunderin' Jesus (as they say on the East Coast), that's one heck of a lot of stropping? Is the blade glowing red when you're done with all that?Quote:
Originally Posted by eddy79
Apparently I am under equipped with only one strop! Is this the path to better shaves?Quote:
Originally Posted by eddy79
Down that path strop acquisition disorder lies. I am sure one is fine. That's all thanks a lot of us have.Quote:
Originally Posted by Splashone
Only four strops but 5 is en route. There is a strop I don't use. I was trying to break a couple in by using them and well just sort of use them now. Maybe once there all broken in Ill pick a favourite. I wont go into pasted strops/ paddles we would be here a while as Im a bit of a diy bloke with a shed full of materials. I did a lot of research and had to try different materials, grits, compounds etc so have a few.
I recently cleaned out a lot of the stuff I don't use, it felt refreshing. And a few people got nice surprises. I do have a razor I dont use, but I will probably pop that in the classifieds at some point when I can be bothered trying to get decent pics with my phone.Quote:
Originally Posted by eddy79