Mystery Of The Ever Dull Blade

I've been having a lot of "on again", "off again" issues with maintaining a good edge on my razor after stropping. Since incorrect stropping is in the top 3 causes of poor shaves, I just assumed that my stropping technique may have needed a bit of work. I was 99% sure that I was not rolling the blade or anything while stropping but figured it must be something I was doing incorrectly. During that time I also noticed that there was less and less draw on my strop, and was starting to wonder if that lack of draw was making my stropping less effective. I received some advice about applying shaving soap to the strop to help condition it, and to add draw as well. The shaving soap worked perfectly to add draw to the strop, and to my surprise, it also uncovered why my razor was not performing well after stropping.

After loading my brush, and face lathering, I applied a good bit of soap from the brush over the entire surface of the strop. Then using a normal motion, I stropped my razor. To my surprise, the spine of the razor dragging across the surface of the strop left a wide streak of soap down the middle of the strop. My strop had become slightly concave, so that only the outer edges of the strop were making contact with my razor. The middle of my razor was not getting stropped at all. This was also the reason I believe the drag of the strop became so slight. Less surface area, less drag. With the naked eye, and without the shaving soap applied I was missing the problem. But stropping the razor with the shaving soap applied, made the problem very obvious.

After doing some searching on how to correct the bowing strop issue, I settled on the approach of just gently bending the edges of the strop in the opposite direction, between thumb and index finger, down the length of the strop. I did this one time, reapplied the shaving soap and stropped the razor again. This time the razor made contact with the entire strop, throughout the entire stroke, and there was a noticeable increase in draw. The shave off that razor was the best it had ever been. Mystery of the dull razor solved.

So there were a total of four things I learned here. First, a strop that's producing a decreased draw "may be" an indication that your strop is starting to bow. Secondly, applying shave soap (Mystic Water in my case) is a fantastic way to add a bit more draw. Third, shaving soap is also a great way to condition your strop. Lastly, that same technique can be used to reveal if your razor is making full contact with your strop, and reveal if your strop is starting to bow. One technique to address multiple issues. Increasing draw, detecting bow, and conditioning your strop. Like Christmas in July ...or late April anyway.:rock:

Is it a home made strop? IF so using belly leather rather than a parrallel spine cut will promote cupping.
Is it a 3" strop. Pulling hard on the strop can also promote cupping.

Draw is unnecessary.

Stropping in an x stroke makes strop shape a non issue.... unless it is like a banana.

Great Post! Dig those "Aha!!" moments when you are trying to overcome an issue and it all just suddenly falls together... Thanks for sharing!!

You can iron the strop to take care of the cupping. Put a moist towel between leather and iron and set the iron at the temperature recommended for wool. Works a treat.

Well. I just use a home made leather paddle. That way the problem can never occur and I have complete control over the angle.

I DO have a couple of strops... But only use them when honing. :-)

I'd have to wonder about the soap on the strop over a long term basis... I'd *assume* that soap will dry the strop out... I would go for an oil based conditioner for leather in general, especially higher quality leather.

Just my 2 cents.:beer1:

stropping is still an issue ,, start using an X stroke and youll get the whole edge everytime, . is mystic soap tallow based? if not I wouldn't use it on my strops, as for the draw if you like it that's all good ,, but the draw doesn't affect how the edge comes out ,, I use a kanayama , that doesn't draw at all its like stropping on silk , and it gives a great edge good luck tc

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

stropping is still an issue ,, start using an X stroke and youll get the whole edge everytime, . is mystic soap tallow based? if not I wouldn't use it on my strops, as for the draw if you like it that's all good ,, but the draw doesn't affect how the edge comes out ,, I use a kanayama , that doesn't draw at all its like stropping on silk , and it gives a great edge good luck tc

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Mystic Water is tallow based, but thanks for the heads up. The feedback that I get from the resistance is preferable to me. I always thought the draw sort of pulled on the edge or something... So is it possible to get as good a result from stropping on glass? If your silky smooth strop does just as good, what qualifies a surface as good to strop on? Just curious.

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Originally Posted by andrewmurray86

I'd have to wonder about the soap on the strop over a long term basis... I'd *assume* that soap will dry the strop out... I would go for an oil based conditioner for leather in general, especially higher quality leather.

Just my 2 cents.:beer1:

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What oil do you use? I have one strop that was given to me that is abut 1/4" thick and very very stiff. It also has a few valleys in the leather on one end. I'm thinking about making a paddle strop out of it, but not sure how to prep it.

Very interesting thread.

I have used tallow based soaps to increase draw. Now-a-days I prefer less draw. Just a preference.

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Originally Posted by Steel

I have used tallow based soaps to increase draw. Now-a-days I prefer less draw. Just a preference.

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It's interesting how tastes and opinions change with time and experience. I think I prefer more draw because it slows you down a bit. While I'm still trying to ensure I'm doing everything correctly, slow is a good thing. I imagine once I'm more experienced, and confident with what works and what doesn't, I'll want to pick up the pace a bit, and less draw may begin to be more appealing.

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Originally Posted by Slurryer

What oil do you use? I have one strop that was given to me that is abut 1/4" thick and very very stiff. It also has a few valleys in the leather on one end. I'm thinking about making a paddle strop out of it, but not sure how to prep it.

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I use a leather balsam called "Renapur" on my leather products. It's a waxy type of product that conditions and waterproofs in one go. Having said that I'm not sure how it would go on a strop, I'd use very very sparingly if I did but if you prefer a nice slow draw then it would be right up your alley :)

For my current strop I only really rubbed my sweaty hands up and down it... that was prep enough as the oils in your skin can work, or so I have read somewhere on here.

Also, newspaper works a real treat if you can't get your hands on a strop in the short term. I actually use the newspaper frequently in addition to my leather strop, maybe once a fortnight or so. Real Estate pages from the local rag are great due their combination of typed words and full colour pictures.

For strops neatsfoot oil is generally used. Just a drop or two on your palm rubbed evenly over the entire strop.

I also prefer some draw but have some kangaroo tail stuck to balsa that is as quick as anything, once you get used to it then it becomes normal. A quick rub with the oil from your arm conditions the leather and clears it of any contaminants that could settle on the leather.