Thread: Is over stropping possible?

I did an experiment once where I didn't use my Robert Williams razor for 10 days, yet I stropped 200 laps on it everyone of those 10 days. I shaved with it on the 11th day and it shaved fine, however the razor was no sharper than it was under my usual stropping regimen, which is 60 laps prior to shaving. So I would say that you can't overhone a razor unless maybe you were devoting just an insane amount of time trying to.

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

I did an experiment once where I didn't use my Robert Williams razor for 10 days, yet I stropped 200 laps on it everyone of those 10 days. I shaved with it on the 11th day and it shaved fine, however the razor was no sharper than it was under my usual stropping regimen, which is 60 laps prior to shaving. So I would say that you can't overhone a razor unless maybe you were devoting just an insane amount of time trying to.

Yeah, like a psychotic person stropping over & over & over & over & over & over!!!!

I routinely do 25 on linen and 75 to 100 on leather before each shave. The razor tells me when enough is enough. The 1 part of the equation I never hear is , how long your lap is. Do the math and you will see 30 long laps maybe another guys 50 or 60 short ones. And what is over stropping? I would say when you have gone past doing anything beneficial to the edge. So yes you can over strop but it won't hurt anything. Any damage you do would be from bad technique.

I have said many times " over stropping is impossible."" I say this to guys who only do 20 laps and can't figure out why their razor doesn't stay sharp :<0)
To someone searching for the perfect amount of laps I would say " Pay attention to how the razor feels going across the leather." Same as with honing, You should be able to feel it smooth out. You should learn to feel when you have made a perfect lap. I try to finish when I feel 10 perfect laps. hence the 75 to 100 sometimes more. Some days you got it , some you don't.

Humbly after close inspection I have come to the conclusion i have micro chipped all my razors and have packaged them for shipping tomorrow to be honed.

I'm anxious to see how my technique has improvement with a proper honed razor. It's been about a year now.