Thread: Is over stropping possible?

I need to get a stronger magnifier. I do not see very well any more. My 40x and 100x are not showing me what I need to see. I got a 400x USB but it is so grainy. I'll work on my USB setup. I've seen photos from USB magnifiers here way clearer than what I'm getting.

Thanks again for your replies.

I think practically speaking the answer would be no. But as far as I know no one has ever taken a razor out to say 1000, 2000 laps and lived to tell the tale. Probably the only way to do tests to failure would be to make a stropping machine of some kind.

But it really is hard to see how you could ruin an edge with proper stropping - it's not like you are bending the metal back and forth when you strop, for example, and causing fatigue.

James.

I'll improve my magnified viewing and post if I find something.

I don't think I'll get up to thousands of laps but I'm just now comfortably getting up to couple hundred laps. I've had both shoulders rebuilt a couple times and I have found stropping is good for them. I'm starting to strop with my left hand to help balance and increase coordination for left handed shaving. My primary concern is heat build up. I know burnishing cue sticks with leather can get them too hot and warp the wood. Been there done that. LOL!

I agree with Jimbo
I don't think you can ruin an edge, even if you did 200 or more laps on it! Once it achieves the sharpest it can get, it can't get any better or worse by stropping in the correct way!

Originally Posted by jmercer

I'll improve my magnified viewing and post if I find something.

I don't think I'll get up to thousands of laps but I'm just now comfortably getting up to couple hundred laps. I've had both shoulders rebuilt a couple times and I have found stropping is good for them. I'm starting to strop with my left hand to help balance and increase coordination for left handed shaving. My primary concern is heat build up. I know burnishing cue sticks with leather can get them too hot and warp the wood. Been there done that. LOL!

There was talk about that on SRP maybe 5 years ago. I took full hollows and did 50 linen, 50 leather, and held the edge to the side of my face ........ I didn't feel any warmth whatsoever. IIRC a piece of high carbon has to be in the 400 + degree range before there is any risk of compromising the temper.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I think practically speaking the answer would be no. But as far as I know no one has ever taken a razor out to say 1000, 2000 laps and lived to tell the tale. Probably the only way to do tests to failure would be to make a stropping machine of some kind.

But it really is hard to see how you could ruin an edge with proper stropping - it's not like you are bending the metal back and forth when you strop, for example, and causing fatigue.

James.

+1... I agree with James. I routinely will take a blade that feels a tad 'tuggy' after multiple shaves, and my first go-to action is to strop it on leather about 150-200 laps. It always seems to work for me, as far as bringing back the edge. If not the blade will go back to the hones.

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.