Thread: Why do you strop after the shave and how to do it?

In one of the permanent resources isn't there some research done by a member saying 30 before and 30 after keeps the razor away from the hone for longer stretches?

Originally Posted by Bradford Si

In one of the permanent resources isn't there some research done by a member saying 30 before and 30 after keeps the razor away from the hone for longer stretches?

the Grand experiment

http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...,123/Itemid,3/

Click "download" or "view" to read it

I highly recommend this article

To show just how much contradictory information there is on this, I have read on the German sites and forums not to strop after a shave at all - here's the reason why.

After the shave, the microscpoic edge is effectively bent and twisted from slicing through all our hairs. Stropping straight away has a huge risk of bending them back again, thus over time stressing the metal at the point of the bend, at best, and at worse snapping them off into the hone itself, which needless to say is very bad.

Over 24-48 hours the edge relaxes, and things are more or less aligned again, and you can strop - the main purpose of which is to finely align the edge of the blade so that its all pointing in the right direction.

I am the first to admit I am a total noob at all of this, but to me the above makes perfect sense with my very basic knowledge of metal.

I know smarter men than me might have loads of theories and such but I never strop after I shave only before. I have never heard any reason that makes scence to me to do so.

To me thats like wiping your butt before you crap....

Interesting... I fall into the 60-30 camp, despite never having read that downloadable document before.

Before shaving
Strop 30 on linen, 30 on leather (using Tony's #1 Latigo Heirloom)
After shaving
15 on linen, 15 on leather

I do the 'after' just to get as much moisture off as possible. I'm not worried about the leather as after wiping dry with towel then tissue paper, I figure 15 on the linen pretty much removes most of the moisture.

And being obsessive about moisture, I keep my blades locked (I have young children) in a metal cash box outside of the bathroom, and inside the box there are a few of those silicon packets you get for absorbing moisture. Sometimes I think I'm borderline OCD.

I don't and my edges are just fine. I do give my blades a wipedown with alcohol to dessecate them, thus preventing rust and it works.

I don't even go that far. I dry mine with a towel and put it in the wooden cigar box on the shelf. No rust .

After I shave, I use a towel to dry most of the blade by wraping it round the the back of the spine and drying as close to the edge as i dare. Then I strop maybe just 4 trips to make sure that the moisture is gone from the edge as well as the rest of the blade.
I vary the number of strop I do before a shave, it depends on my patience on that particular day. Sometimes I don't want to risk stropping too much because i'm too tired to concentrate on technique and i may fold over the edge. (Incidentally these are usually the day that you lose the concentration shaving also, and cut yourself!)
I'm usually between 20 - 60 laps before a shave.
Nick

The question is
What gives you a better sharp holding for longer time? and is better against rust from water and so on?

I have always stropped after my razor is dry following a shave and before I put my razor up. Never have had any negative experience nor any blade dulling as an effect. Personal preference I believe.

Have fun.

Lynn