Thread: How often ...

So now I'm wondering: how often 'should' one strop? Before each shave or something (un)like that, or only after honing? Likewise for honing: How often / when should one do that?
One particular reason I'm asking is that I seem to have (prematurly) hit a plateau i my shaving result, I still have to finish off with a disposable blade and of course that can not be tolerated! ;-) (and I think maybe grandpa's blade is not as sharp as it was when he last used it)

I'll answer one how often question myself: I shave once a day, each day.

Welcome,
!. Strop [correctly] before each shave.
2. Touch up on barber hone, high grit stone 12K up, or pasted strop.
3. Rehone when 1-2 don't do the trick.
Also check out beginner section in the WIKI where this ? is asked and answered a lot.
Good luck

Hi Dutch..

Well stropping is typically done before each shave... most use leather only but some recommend linnen then leather..

I personlly just use leather ... about 15 strokes.. 1 stroke equals a pass in each direction with the spine leading the way.

Honing varies. I have been told that a razor that has been freshly honed ... will hold its edge for up to six months if treated properly and stropped before each shave..

you seem to be at a point where you need the razor to be re sharpened or at least touched up..

If you had a balsa paddle strop with some cro2 (chromium oxide) paste. It would be time for 10 or so strokes on the balsa paddle strop in the same manner as you would strop your leather strop... followed by 15 to 20 passes on the leather strop..

If that didn't make your shaving much better, you'd know it's time to hone..

There are several reasonable sharpening services offered on SRP in the Classifieds. It might be worth the money to get your grandfathers razor profesionally sharpened and then see how long you can keep it shaving with good stropping...

If you have a strop... I suggest practicing with your semidull razor before sending it out to be honed.. get your technique down and be good at it before you start trying to strop your newly honed razor... practice makes perfect... so practice a lot with your strop... the more you practice the better you'll get..... the better you get at stropping the longer your razor will give you satisfying shaves!

hope this helps!! have a great day!

Maq

Originally Posted by paco

Welcome,
!. Strop [correctly] before each shave.
2. Touch up on barber hone, high grit stone 12K up, or pasted strop.
3. Rehone when 1-2 don't do the trick.
Also check out beginner section in the WIKI where this ? is asked and answered a lot.
Good luck

It was amazing how much stropping improved the result, since I had some catching up to do, I stropped for 30 passes instead of the 15 mentioned elsewhere in this thread, but I'll either have to do an awful lot of stropping before the result is to my (and my skin's) liking or just go ahead and buy a hone stone.
Now, my investigation at the supplier yields several examples of stones, none seem to go to 12k though.

I'm considering this one: Barbershop Classics The Shaving Shop
Could anyone advice me on which stones are needed for the not-shave-ready razors from the same supplier? The description of the Arkansas Barbershop Classics The Shaving Shop
suggests that it will cut the bill. A fine oil needed.

So I've taken a quick browse through the forums and couldn't find it, does anyone know of some other straightrazor suppliers here in NL?

Stropping before shaving is considered mandatory additional stropping is an optional thing. Personally I do 20 passes on linen and 60 on the leather.

As far as honing goes you do it when the blade starts to deteriorate. Some like to do honing on a schedule however all they are doing is wearing out the blade faster.

If your looking for a hone for general edge maint. 8K and above is what you are looking for. For repair and restoration anything from 4K down to 1K and even 220 can be used depending on the job. You always go with the least aggressive you need to get the job done in reasonable time.

I do 25-30 material and 50-60 leather before each shave, and then 15 material and 25 leather after each shave.

This has been keeping my edges very well.

I do 50 linen/50 leather before and after I shave. Overkill, maybe, but my edges are always on-point.