Thread: Pasted strop: too rough?

Originally Posted by ByronTodd

To be honest, I think 20 strokes on pasted .5 CrO might be TOO many strokes - in other words, you're creating a wire edge that you are then removing with your face. That's just my opinion, and I could of course be wrong.

Why not try only five or so strokes?

I think exactly the same.. or strop your blade until you reach the HHT test (or better shave some hair on your arm or leg.. you are seaching for the smoother sensation at the contact with your skin..)

Your razor was shaving just fine and now it is raggedy on your face? That sounds like a wire edge. It has to be removed.

I agree with the others that the strop looks like it has to much paste on it but if it has been working then....? I would be concerned that you are using the chrome ox every 5 shaves or so. That sounds like a bit to frequent but you may have a heavy beard.

Tell us about your razor. A Double Arrow?

Randy:

Yes---a double arrow. However, not too long ago I got an old Solingen razor off Ebay for the purpose of practicing honing on my Norton 4K/8K. However, much to my surprise, the old blade seemed sharp, passed the HHT test, and indeed, after much stropping on the bare leather, actually seemed to shave better than my expertly honed DA---quite a shock.

Any way, I have been getting better and better shaves from both razors lately, presumably because my shaving technique has improved substantially. Then, I thought I noticed the DA not shaving quite as closely, so I took it to the chromium oxide. I think I might have actually done like 30 laps. I know, I know---that was probably too much. It was sharp, alright, but when I shaved with it, it really nicked up my face something fierce. So, I switched to my Solingen for a while. When I thought I noticed it not shaving as closely, I took it to the chromium oxide, this time about 20 laps. Same thing---the razor seemed pretty darn sharp, but again nicked up my face.

At this point, I'm guessing:

1. too much chromium oxide on the strop to begin with
2. the backside of the strop is too rough in texture
3. I have been stropping for too many strokes on the paste
4. some combination of all of the above

Even if some of the other factors are to blame, is it worth just not bothering to strop on this particular strop again, because of the roughness (and excess paste)?

Oh---and if it is a wire edge, how do I get rid of it? Back honing on the 8K Norton? Will stropping on the bare leather take care of it?

One more bit of info---when I sent my DA in to Ken to have rehoned after having stropped it on the paste for those 30 laps, he said the edge looked like a hack saw blade under the microscope. Perhaps that could have been the wire edge you mention?

We can speculate all day long about what went wrong but we do know that 2 razors have met the same fate after being stropped on the chrome ox strop. So... lets stop using that particular pasted strop.
Replace it with a 0.5 micron chrome ox pasted PADDLE STROP with the chrome ox coming from ChrisL or Handamerican. Do not use the green compound bars from Woodcraft or Leevalley or the green compound from DOVO.

Removing a wire edge... oh boy... I try to follow the approach of using the least aggressive method first.

1. Strop on a plain leather hanging strop for 200 laps, test shave
2. Run the edge thru a wooden match stick or cork or balsa wood, strop for 60 laps & test shave.
3. Backhone on a 8K for 10-15laps, then hone normally for 7 laps, strop and test shave.
4. Back hone on the 4K for 10 laps then 10 normal laps then to the 8K for 7 laps, strop and test shave.
5. Send the razors out to be re honed.

This would all be much easier if you had a 30X handheld microscope. Then you coul see the results from each step instead of test shaving so much but we have to work with what we got.

The fact that you have been shaving successfully says that you know how to properly strop a razor and shave with it. So lets just say that this is an odd event, get the razors back in shape and a different paddle strop and move on.

Sometime back Papabull ( Robert Williams) suggested using a cotton ball to detect a defective edge. Instead of using the TPT and running your thumb along the edge he used a cotton ball and was pleased with the result. Maybe you can try that first to see if it snags anywhere along the edge?

Hope this helps,

Randy:

Wow---thanks for the wealth of info! Most helpful. I'll try some of the things you mention.

Payne