Thread: beginner with maintenance questions

Originally Posted by joshnd1978

first i would just like to thank whoever answers my questions as you have no doubt heard similar questions from the other newbies....

on stropping...
i know you should strop before shaving, but do you strop after as well? and what's the paste for?

on honing...
i have a 4000/8000 water stone but how often should you hone your razor?

that's it for now and thanks again guys....

I strop both before and after the shave. Before to restore keeness to the edge and after to remove bioburden that may damage the edge.

How often should you hone? The easy answer is 'as often as it needs it' and the more complicated answer is about every three months or so assuming you're using a pasted strop every couple weeks to keep your edge ready to go.

Before I shave I strop 25 on canvass followed by 60 on leather. I don't currently strop after I shave. I rinse the blade with hot water, dry it with a tissue and oil it with mineral oil. Then it sits open on a folded towel for a while before closing it and putting it away.

The edge of your razor will need touching up when it starts pulling and tugging (with proper shaving technique) and proper stropping no longer will recover the edge. Some members will use a pasted strop for that touch up, others will hone their razor.

For now, focus on learning good stropping and shaving technique. Your face will let you know when your razor needs a tuneup.
Namaste,
Morty -_-