Thread: To strop or not to strop?

This may be a stupid question, but...

When recieving a shave ready razor, honed and ready to go, should you strop it for your first shave or no? Is the risk of rolling the blade on your first attempt to strop a large enough concern to avoid that first stropping until you have seen what a sharp razor will do or is the stropping important enough to run the risk of rolling the blade to avoid poor results?

You should probably strop it. Don't worry about rolling the edge, just always make sure to roll the razor on it's spine so that the edge cannot roll. I've been shaving with a straight for about a month or so now and never rolled an edge.

At the risk of starting a huge discussion on the benefits/detriments of stropping....
Your question has 2 answers...

1. What did the Restorer/ Honemiester tell you when he sent the razor???
When I send out a "Shave Ready Razor" to a new member/shaver I do all the prep work before the razor gets to them, and inform them of that fact.
In fact I specifically ask them not to strop or even thumb the edge, to just rinse the razor and proceed with their first shave.... That way the onus of a sharp blade is all on my shoulders.... It eliminates one aspect for a new guys first shave...

2. How confident are you in your stropping abilities??? If you are a new shaver, then not so much, so you should ask the seller to please get the razor ready for a brand new shaver.... Most of us will go that small extra step to insure an "as perfect as possible" first attempt...

This of course is JMHO, and the way I think that it should be handled....
And yes, I know that the edge might have "settled" during shipment, but I figure that it is better to have that, than a new shaver strop the edge that I put so much effort into, right off the razor.....

I'd like to offer a different opinion here: it could be helpful to avoid
stropping before your first shave, and then stropping before sub-
sequent shaves. That way if your second shave is dramatically
worse than your first you will know that the edge was dulled by
your stropping.

That being said, I don't know how likely it is that you may dull
your edge by stropping.

- Scott

I think the mere fact that you know enough to ask the question means that you're unlikely to roll the edge on your first stropping. Although, having said that, there's a big difference between reading and doing, so if you do strop just make sure you go slow and are careful.

James.

My feeling is that you always strop before shaving however for a rookie because the chance of dulling the edge is so great and we read about it all the time here I think you should not strop in this case only. That way you will experience the first shave they way it is supposed to be and if you have problems you will know its your technique. Having said that I will say you know your abilities. If you feel you are a competent stropper then go ahead and strop.

As whats his face said "everyone has to know their limitations".

its your razor and your face so I think its up to you. But for the most part if you go slow keep your strop taut and roll on the spine I think you will be fine. I like to strop a razor just because to me and this is just an opinion the shave off a fresh honed razor can be a little harsh and stropping to me makes a smoother shave but eather way make sure you strop before the rest of your shave sessions.