Thread: Three Honed By Lynn

Originally Posted by tsenfw

Isn't it advisable to strop before EVERY shave no matter how well honed the blade is? Thought the theory behind this was that the "teeth" of the blade when at rest for a period of time go every which way and stropping straightens these out for a smoother shave.

The blade was (probably) stropped already prior to shipping, so no need to strop again, and no chance for ruining the edge with the first strop.
This also takes care of claims about the blade not being shave ready, when it actually was and the edge was ruined at stropping.

Thank you very much for the kind words!

On the stropping, when I was first learning the person who taught me always said it was not necessary to strop before shaving after a razor has been honed. Out of habit, I always strop a razor before and after shaving. I really don't know what any shelf life or other environmental influences may have on a razor. A lot of times people tell me that the second shave after stropping is better than the first. Lots of variables in this sport.

Most of the time when new folks have problems, it really does come from learning to use the razor a little at a time and finding a good angle vs. attempting the entire shave the very first time or from rolling the razor on the strop. I know it can be tough to resist though and the anticipation of the perfect shave is great. Every time I get a perfect shave, I still keep trying to get a better perfect shave......lol.

The most awesome thing here is the support that you guys give every new person who enters our doors and that is always most appreciated.

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by chief

The blade was (probably) stropped already prior to shipping, so no need to strop again, and no chance for ruining the edge with the first strop.
This also takes care of claims about the blade not being shave ready, when it actually was and the edge was ruined at stropping.

Yes, that's what I figured about a newbie possibly ruining with stropping (something I'd probably do lol).

Stropping is done before a shave to straighten and align the "teeth" of an edge. Over a period of time (24 hours in shave to shave) the teeth return to their jagged positions and stropping is needed again.

So stropping before shipping doesn't matter because a pre-shave stropping would still be preferable. I have no idea though how pre-shave stropping applies to a edge that has been recently honed though. Perhaps these "teeth" are not as prominent, or are already inline, or do not have this tendency to go every which way yet!