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Thread: Please Help!

  1. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by rodb View Post
    25 laps might not be enough, I do 30 plain linen/50 plain leather before and 10 of each after each use of a razor. I go to a CrOx paddle when it starts to tug
    Forgive my ignorance but when you say "lap" do you mean up and down? As in on lap is a stroke up and a stroke down the strop.

    Is your strop a hanging strop with a linen and a leather component or do you have two separate ones?

    Is my paddle strop sufficient for long term use? I will probably be travelling for some time quite soon and it would be easier to travel with.

  2. #22
    barba crescit caput nescit Phrank's Avatar
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    The difference between an edge that has been stropped 50 times vs 100 times is vastly different. There is a thread on the site where a member took a magnified photo of a freshly honed razor after 50 laps, and then after 100 laps - the difference was profound.

    Prior to a shave, I will do 20 linen, 100 leather.

    After a shave, I will do 60 on the linen side and 40 on the leather...that's what just seems to work for me. I really don't use crox alone anymore, as if I want to "refresh" my blade, I'll use the Nani 12k for 10-15 laps, then the same on the crox, and then on to the leather for 100.

    If you have a freshly honed blade, and you're stropping properly, you shouldn't need to do a refresh on the blade for 30-50 shaves depending on your technique...this is what seems to work for me, but as you get more experienced, you'll get your own system worked out.

    One thing I can tell you for sure, having rolled edges on my blades at the beginning, stropping is a vital fundamental skill of this, and you can't over strop a razor, and I'd say you need to strop 70 laps at minimum, less stropping your shaves will suffer IMO.
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  3. #23
    barba crescit caput nescit Phrank's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mcgaz89 View Post
    Forgive my ignorance but when you say "lap" do you mean up and down? As in on lap is a stroke up and a stroke down the strop.

    Is your strop a hanging strop with a linen and a leather component or do you have two separate ones?

    Is my paddle strop sufficient for long term use? I will probably be travelling for some time quite soon and it would be easier to travel with.
    Yes, a "lap" is one up and down pass on the strop.

    Many strops have a leather component in the front and a separate linen piece on the back, but there are variation on materials.

    Your paddle strop is sufficient for long term use - many prefer a paddle strop for the stability. It is perfectly fine.
    mcgaz89 likes this.

  4. #24
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Yes, 25 laps are probably not enough, especially until you calibrate the amount of pressure needed. 50 -100 laps and maybe 200 are normal to get results. 100 laps will take about 2 minutes. My experience is that most folks do not strop enough to properly polish the edge for shaving.

    Go slow about 1 lap, up and down in 2 seconds. Keep the spine on the strop at all times. Stop movement, then flip.

    A razor edge is very fragile and can easily be damaged with just one stroke by slightly lifting the spine while the razor is moving. The other problem area is the flip, when the razor is flipped while the razor is moving, the razor will nick the strop and damage the edge.

    Just take your time, stropping alone can revive an edge and keep you shaving for many, many months.

    As your stropping improves you may get away with fewer laps, but 100 laps are normal. You may want to invest in a canvas or linen strop to keep you razor clean and keep all soap and oxidation off your leather strop.

  5. #25
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    Keep it simple

    Learning to shave correctly is first. Master lathering, stropping, and the actual shave is first. This will not happen overnight.

    Starting out with a properly honed razor is a must. As your shaving technique improves so will your shaves. You might find that after a month your getting closer shaves than when your razor was freshly honed.

    Learn something from every shave. What you did right and what you did wrong. Put the idea of honing aside till you can get a close shave consistently.

    Don't forget the basics. Shave prep, skin stretching, lathering, and stropping will set you up for success.

    And like Lynn says "HAVE FUN"
    tcrideshd and mcgaz89 like this.

  6. #26
    Senior Member blabbermouth engine46's Avatar
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    mcgaz89
    First of all welcome to SRP. From all i read, I would do as RezDog says & watching videos, stick with the same person. gssixgun is very good to learn from.
    Meanwhile you might get it honed again like you said & get your stropping technique down. You can practice with an old leather belt & a butterknife but that is one of the main things you nee to get down right. That may have been your problem all along so when you do learn to strop right, always strop before & after shaving. Take it slow & learn one thing at a time. Once you learn to strop & if you want to learn to hone, that is fine & watch gssixgun over & over if you have to. You will also need the right hones like a 1k, 4k or 5k & an 8k or 10k. If you then want a really fine edge, get a 12k or a 16k hone but take your time learning all the correct techniques & stick to the same persons videos. Lynn also has some excellent video's on honing. i have watched both gssixgun & Lynn's video's but really try to stick to one persons video's until you get your honing down right. It is easy to get confused if you start watching several different peoples video's. You will be ok..............just take your time & if you can, try to find someone in your area to learn from if you can but if not, the video's are always here. Gte your stropping down for now! Good luck & if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
    Have fun!

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