Thread: Shelf life of a well-stropped razor?

Does a properly honed and stropped razor lose any of its keenness after sitting unused for a length of time?

I know that there are all sorts of opinions on how, when, and how much to strop, and I've read about some of the experiments conducted by guys on this forum. I haven't seen this issue addressed, though.

Just asking out of curiosity. No, it's not that I'm too lazy to strop my razor again.

I strop immediately before shaving. Every time. That's the way uhuh uhuh I like it Got it from Ilija (Firestart) and still keeping it up

Cheers
Ivo

One more for stropping immediately before shaving. I find it gets me in the mood [to shave], relaxes me, and ensures a well stropped razor.

Depends on how far you want to take this.

Carbon steel will erode at a given rate due to oxidization. Some steels will go duller at different rates depending on environmental issues. While it may feel sharp the "razor" sharpness we all need may be affected due to this.

Well like many i always strop right before a shave, have you ever shaved with an unstropped razor? Its not very fun.

All kinds off steel oxidize and form a layer of rust in time. It depends on the kind of steel how fast this is going. It affects the sharpness of the razor because rust takes up about ten times the volume of the steel it is formed out of. Thus forming a porous structure on the edge. Stropping helps to get rid of that layer and keeps your razor sharp. Hope this gives you a picture.

You mean some people shave without stropping the razor first???


Ooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch!

I do it all the time. As long as the razor has rested it realigns just fine and shaves great.

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

Carbon steel will erode at a given rate due to oxidization. Some steels will go duller at different rates depending on environmental issues. While it may feel sharp the "razor" sharpness we all need may be affected due to this.

That's the kind of thing I was wondering about. I wondered if oxidation would gradually affect the edge, and what other factors would work on the blade. And I keep seeing references to 'letting the blade rest' -- how does that work, I wonder.

My routine is to do my stropping in the afternoon or evening, so that the blade is ready to shave in the morning. I enjoy the whole stropping process, and like being able to handle the razor more than once a day. And I've been experimenting with different stropping methods: linen/canvas first, or not. The leather side of the Dovo strop, followed by the Tony Miller, or vice versa. Or the paddle strop. Haven't yet tried the old barber strop I got at the flea market, but it's in good shape. Ummm... that's four strops, this is getting out of hand isn't it?

That's also good advice about the yellow snow!

Originally Posted by Magruder

Ummm... that's four strops, this is getting out of hand isn't it?

From what I've seen here so far, I don't think you'll be able to find anyone here that will say ANYTHING in that regard is "out of hand"
And I for one, already see the hooks setting in - and I just bought my first razor(s) this past weekend at a flea-market... Oh the things I've seen and consequently want!!...