Thread: Real reason for draw?

Steve, in "A Curious Obvservation' describes a 'stroping pyramid'.

I'd like to throw in my observations about stroping and the draw. I use one of Tony's 3" heirloom strops.

First, I've found that there is a strong draw after applying Lexol, but this decreases after a few days. I really don't like using Lexol because it seems to form a coating on the leather that does not penetrate. I saddle-soaped my strop and now I just rub it down my palm, coating with skin oil.

Second, I've also found that the draw increases as I strop.

I'm now of the opinion that as a blade is stroped, it is heated by friction, and that the draw increases as it warms.

Has anyone else found similar results?

Tom

Thats a good question. One that we can debate for a while. I have my thoughts on draw, but I'll suggest that your hypothesis is wrong.

I can achieve draw from a sharp razor on the first stroke down the strop, cold or not.

Have you tried stropping, getting a draw, then cooling the blade down and stropping some more?

Perhaps something else happens to the edge as it warms, something that remains for a little while?

I think its similar to what you see in surface tension when you overfill a glass of water and it just stays there without spilling. I think with certain leathers there is a surface tension that sticks to the blade. Not all leathers do this maybe because of the unique characteristics of certain hides or the materials used to tan the hides, I don't know. All I do know is my #1 hairloom has draw in spades but my Horsehide does not and I have 2 Double Duck strops both horsehide and they have no draw either. Maybe the Horsehide is just harder so there is less attraction. Just an uneducated guess

My old barber, Jim told me that it was important to strop quickly to build up the heat, but now that I think about it, wouldn't the leather be more affected by heat friction than the steel?

X

PS I advocate stropping carefully and that often means slowly.

I agree with your old barber, stropping quickly is critical to a good edge. I agree completely with the tension idea on the strop too based on whether the leather is compressed/hard or sticky soft, but . . .

Since only a sharp razor draws I believe there may be evidence of the fin present also. I believe the draw is coming from the opposing side opposite the contact side of the bevel. When you smooth out the bevel on the contact side the opposing side catches on the strop along with the bevel/fin. Once the fin is created the bevel and fin together create the heavy draw we feel. Well, thats my guess this year!

Originally Posted by xman

My old barber, Jim told me that it was important to strop quickly to build up the heat, but now that I think about it, wouldn't the leather be more affected by heat friction than the steel?

X

PS I advocate stropping carefully and that often means slowly.

That makes sence to me..

Perhaps it is the heating of the leather that matters. I sometimes briskly rub the strop with the palm of my hand before stropping. This would add some oil to the leather and heat the leather. I'll pay closer attention next time.

Tom

Originally Posted by tombuesing

Perhaps it is the heating of the leather that matters. I sometimes briskly rub the strop with the palm of my hand before stropping. This would add some oil to the leather and heat the leather. I'll pay closer attention next time.

Tom

I too rub my palm on the strop with great results and put this down to adding moisture to the strop which will conduct heat well. More heat, more friction therefore more grip on the blade???

Couldn't say but it works. I have tried both ways and 'palming the strop' cuts off about 15 laps for me,

Si.

Hm, I am undecided on fast vs slow stropping

I like to strop fast and this gives great results. However, some razors just cannot be stropped as fast as others. As it happens, the razor that I strop the slowest of all is also the one with the best edge. (This doesn't mean that it cannot be even better with faster stropping - but I really have no way of knowing as I just cannot strop this one fast)

Now on the actual reason for draw - there are strops that just don't give much draw, regardless of what I do. And there are others, which give increased draw as stropping progresses. I cannot really explain this - but I think it's primarily the leather type (and possibly - treatment, such as mink oil vs others), not the edge. Of course, this opinion is worth about what you pay for it

Cheers
Ivo

I kind of agree with izlat...with exceptions! first of all speed does not affect sharpness of the blade...correct positioning of the blade,lack of pressure and consistancy of stroke makes for a sharp edge...if the razor is sharp to begin with...experienced shavers strop quickly as a matter of habit, convenience, and the knowledge that a rhythmic (forgive my spelling...its late) stroke no matter what the speed is a more consistant lap on the leather...I only condition a strop once or twice a year...every morning before I wash my hands and shower I rub my palm up and down the strop several times to impart oil onto the strop...with regard to drag...its all dependent on the type of leather... through trial and error you will decide which type of leather produces the amount of drag you like to produce a comfortable stroke...thats why the strop makers offer different leather...drag only increases while stroping if one unintentionally starts putting pressure on the blade on the leather which we all know is counter productive...its important to strop at a speed you are comfortable with otherwise you will be replacing strops on a regular basis...if you want to build up speed, take an old razor dull the blade to the point where it wont cut anything or use the wifeys butter knife and practice on the strop making sure that as you increase your speed you do not increase pressure on the blade...also realize that as you try to go faster its human nature to tense up and change the tension of the strop ...sometimes causing the edge to dig into the leather...its all personal preference...thirty something years ago a barber 75 yrs old at trumpers in london gave me a shave and stroped the razor in the palm of his hand...no other strop...pretty kool!...