Thread: Stropping problems, linen sharper than leather...

Ok so I've been shaving with my straight for about 3 months now and have run into a dilemma...
I was getting progressively worse shaves after starting out. I was told by the retailer that my razor was coming pre-honed and shave ready, just strop and shave. So I did and it was decent for the first month and started getting dull. I decided to get a norton 4k/8k and hone it. After much frustration and several attempts, I got a good edge on the blade with it passing the TPT and HHT. So I stropped and shaved with poor results. I started paying more close attention to ever step. I went back to the hone and got a very nice polished egde using the pyramid scheme, it passed all the tests. I then went 20 laps on the linen strop which made it even brighter and mirror like. Then I did 60 passes on the leather and it looked uneven, dull, and did not pass the TPT or HHT. So I found my culprit, the leather strop, but my question is why??? My stropping technique, I believe, is good on both strops, nice even sound, good draw, light pressure, even contact. (I watched several stropping videos)

So has this happened to anyone else? and what should I do now? Should I buy a better strop?

Here's my equipment in case you need to know:
C'mon Cadillac, 5/8 hollow ground razor
Illinois 127 hanging strop
C&E Nomad combined with mug soap
Nice Badger Brush
Norton 4k/8k stone

Thanks for any help...

I cant say for sure but it sounds like your strop may have been overdressed or you have some gunk on it!
Also, your edge may not be quite there yet! Make sure you have a good bevel and then polish and then strop

I did use strop dressing on it to keep it soft, I live in the desert so its pretty dry. How should I go about cleaning the leather to remove the excess dressing and gunk?

If you live in the desert, could it be that tiny grains of sand blown into the air have settled on the stickiness of the stropdressing?

I would remove excess strop dressing with saddle soap.

Originally Posted by JMS

I cant say for sure but it sounds like your strop may have been overdressed or you have some gunk it!
Also, your edge may not be quite there yet! Make sure you have a good bevel and then polish and then strop

I'm not claiming the honing job was excellent, however, it was substantially sharper right off the hone than it was after using the leather strop.

As for the saddle soap, I'm not sure where to get it... is it possible for me to use any household soap or shave soap I have laying around, or will that ruin the strop?

Originally Posted by pdlson

I'm not claiming the honing job was excellent, however, it was substantially sharper right off the hone than it was after using the leather strop.

As for the saddle soap, I'm not sure where to get it... is it possible for me to use any household soap or shave soap I have laying around, or will that ruin the strop?

Ive used shave soap but if you want saddle soap try a shoe store that sells leather shoes or a shoe repair shop!

Ok, I just re-honed and did what I would consider a superb job for my skill level. Then I did about 40 laps on the linen, and finished it off with 60 laps on a different leather strop I have. Its a narrower one and I would consider it of lower quality than my 127, but it has never been treated or used. I havent shaved with it yet, but wow the thing glistens like it never has, and the hairs on my arm fall off with ease. I'm looking forward to my next shave...perhaps ATG is in my near future!

Also, I think I have the early signs of RAD!! I just picked up a vintage TI off ebay that looks like its in good shape, just needs some steel wool, a good bevel and some TLC. A bit expensive, but I just couldn't help myself, plus I really want a TI for some reason...

I personally suspect the lack of a finishing stone, but thats just me. Could be your strop.

Theres no sand in our homes in the desert..... We do have vaccum cleaners.

Yeah, you need to get some HAD.

Originally Posted by Leighton

I personally suspect the lack of a finishing stone, but thats just me. Could be your strop.

Theres no sand in our homes in the desert..... We do have vaccum cleaners.

Yeah, you need to get some HAD.

I'm pretty sure its not the lack of a finishing stone, for the simple reason that my razor shaves decent off the linen but gets destroyed by the leather. I'm definitely not arguing against a finishing stone, in fact, I think I might pick me up a coticule or perhaps a shapton 16k... and to think, I started out on this journey with the ambitions of saving money over the fusions...pff, so much for that

What do you mean get some HAD?

Hone addiction disorder. Its right after RAD.

Hmm....get a Tony Miller strop would be my next suggestion. Sounds like a bad strop, contact the seller and try to get a replacement.