Thread: Lot of pulling / tugging since last shave

Should I be getting that scraping sound? Or is that an indicator I may roll the edge.

So if I get an old denim pair of jeans and cut a strip and then add the paste to that?

there will be some sound as you strop and yes it kind of sounds like scraping very lightly on the leather, you don't want that "shing" sound, that usually means you're lifting the blade during the stroke which will roll the edge. you can do that, just make sure to glue it to something that you know is perfectly flat like balsa or cedar planking. Oh and make sure its really tight and flat else it will flex or bow up smacking into the edge..not good. I would do two layers just to give it some backing and a bit of cushioning.

More likely that you've never effectively stropped the edge in the first place.

You might like to try the ever faithfull newspaper technique.

Fold a sheet of newspaper into a strop shaped object (making sure the folds are crisp), then place it on a counter top or something similar and then strop about 10 - 15 laps to see how it goes. Obviously, if it folds/bunches up you are using too much pressure.

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by gary haywood

. . . don't be frightend to strop you can use a little presure so long as strop is fairly taught and you keep the spine in full contact all the time your stropping, so keeping the spine flat to the strop and even when you turn razor over to come back towards you roll the razor over and keep spine on strop do not lift spine of strop. so basicly the spine back of razor never leaves the strop that way you will not roll the cutting edge . . . .
gary

Keep reading that. If your blade is making noise when you're stropping, it is quite possible that you're lifting the spine off the strop. That _will_ dull the edge.

. Charles

I get quite a lot of noise when I strop, more so from some razors (full hollow) than others. It's the TYPE of noise that's important; I won't try to explain what I know to be 'bad' noise.

I'd actually go against the grain so to speak here and say that if it was me, I'd get a Shapton 16k and do 10 very light very careful laps on that. First, though, I'd find out if it was honed using tape. I know that sounds radical, and I'm no expert, but honing isn't all THAT hard; it's quite achievable. You might find that 10 laps on the Shapton 16k brings it back fine. That's how I usually bring my razors back, so to speak. I've never sent a razor to anyone to be honed (started SR shaving in June '11) and I'm quite proud of that fact really. Of course, I can't change the oil in my car or fix a cupboard door, but I can hone reasonably well... Just my opinion.

Another forum user from the UK has contacted me and offered to get it back up to shave readiness.

Also, although I thought I was using light pressure on the strop, I'll go lighter again and slow it down and see how it goes.

Thank you so much guys for all the tips. I think it's my stropping technique needs to be scrapped and start again from the beginning

i am having the same problem with a razor from invisible edge,it was sent shave ready yet failed the hanging hair test,it has got steadily worse and no matter how much stroppng i do it is now pulling hair,ive only used it 8 times.
last time i stropped i did 40 laps on a pasted paddle strop with diamond 1 micron and then
60 laps on the other side with Green Chromium Oxide,and still no diference

I'm having mine honed on a coticule, not as harsh an edge. Plus I'm going to get a linen strop as well. Between that and re-examining my stropping, going to see if that makes a difference.

Originally Posted by leadpig

i am having the same problem with a razor from invisible edge,it was sent shave ready yet failed the hanging hair test,it has got steadily worse and no matter how much stroppng i do it is now pulling hair,ive only used it 8 times.
last time i stropped i did 40 laps on a pasted paddle strop with diamond 1 micron and then
60 laps on the other side with Green Chromium Oxide,and still no diference

I don't think the HHT has any bearing at all on this. I myself don't consider it a test at all, unless you're going to pluck the hairs from your face and cut them hanging from your fingers, but that probably sort of negates the whole idea of using a razor. But that's just my opinion of course.

Are you new to stropping? if so, it could actually be your stropping that has dulled the edge, esp as you are using abrasives.