Thread: Strokes on Strop

Thanks for all the advice guys!!

I have decided to try 20 on webbing and sixty on leather as a pre shave routine to start with, i figure that I'm better to do a smaller amount and make them good passes instead of doing a 100 on the leather and having a wandering technique and mind (and my mind does wander!!) if i need the extra laps for practice then I'm going to use the butter knife as Lynn suggests.

I am also going to go with a post shave routine of 10/10 as part of the clean up process

I think i will leave the pastes for a while no point using them with a beginners technique (am i correct?????)

Hoping this does the trick for me!

Makes good sense, too many laps can end with bad ones towards the end. I'd also agree with leaving the paste 'till later. In fact, if I were you, I'd invest in a nice hone before pastes. I have only ever used two hones, the Shapton 16k and the Norton 4/8, so I don't have experience with a lot of hones, bit I find that really the only touch up I need to do is 10 -20 laps on the Shapton 16k...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I have only ever used two hones, the Shapton 16k and the Norton 4/8, so I don't have experience with a lot of hones, bit I find that really the only touch up I need to do is 10 -20 laps on the Shapton 16k...

So ? for you carl does the Shapton 16K extend the times between honing much? Or am i better to get a Norton 4/8 first or get a shapton 16K and send the blade off to OZ for awhile before getting into the honing. Although from what i have read and watched honing sounds only a bit different from sharpening a Chef knife i.e. correct angle, light pressure steady stroke (i am used to sharpening my chefs knives for work). What I'm looking for is a steady progression. what would you do??? I know already that i will end up doing the lot am just looking for the place to start? And a few on this thread have mentioned the 16K shapton.

Sorry, not speaking for carl here, if you are buying a shave ready razor, then I would go for the finer hone to maintain it. I sent mine to oz the first 2 or 3 times until I had an idea of what to do, in fact I think I may have refreshed one before I sent it to see what he thought, but i might have imagined that.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Sorry, not speaking for carl here, if you are buying a shave ready razor, then I would go for the finer hone to maintain it. I sent mine to oz the first 2 or 3 times until I had an idea of what to do, in fact I think I may have refreshed one before I sent it to see what he thought, but i might have imagined that.

Hey ed thanks, we all learn (well i do) from many sources, i can see what your saying, and i agree, as i think I'm just looking for a way to prolong time before sending it off to OZ.

Yet I'm used to sharpening chef knives and know how to keep my knives surgical sharp, so I'm wondering if i should just jump straight to the norton and give it a go, i can always send it to oz if i stuff it.

Very two minded ATM.
will wait to see what others have to say i think LOL

OK, sounds like you have some sort of plan, for extending the times then definately get the finer hone, shaving off of a finer edge would be nicer, and if you do start knackering it up you will do far less damage.
I won't weigh in on the debate as I don't know enough about the differences, but a lot of guys here seem to generally like assorted sharp objects, and they say that razor honing is quite different from honing knives.
However provided you are comfortable with the outlay, and are prepared to send it off if you buggerise it then give it a try, you may well be pleasantly surprised, i am pretty sure MickR taught himself and he is a knifey sort.

Whichever way you go, keep us updated.

What is your highest grit stone?

What does the edge look like?

Send it out or revive it yourself… you still have to learn to strop, that’s the rub.

Euclid, that is a profound statement and I wholeheartedly agree. Good show.

I'll admit that I really don't have a good reason for having settled on this routine, but I strop on plain linen:leather, 20:30 laps both before and after shaving. I haven't felt any need to use any pastes or sprays yet, but I've only been shaving since March or thereabouts, I don't shave every day, and I have several razors that I rotate; what I'm saying is that none of my razors have experienced a lot of wear.

This works fine for me...YMMV.

I use 20 linen/60 Leather before the shave and 10/10 after. I also sort of do it like Obie and use only a short section of strop and go very fast with very little pressure and just a slight bit of slack in the leather. This has work very well for me