Thread: A Honing Lesson from my barber

Originally Posted by Steelforge

Hi Jim.

When you say you barber strops very little, can you quantify that? For me with a Western straight I used to only do about 20 passes on leather daily, but I've read of some people doing 80 passes on linen and then 80 on each of a couple of types of leather - which to me seems pretty excessive.

What would you recommend for me stropping when my Kamisori and my Kanoyama 10k arrives, for both the canvas and leather sides?

Cheers

I'd just say, strop as you see fit!

Apparently, according to Naomi-san and my barber, the linen is viewed as a "cleaner", it removes oil and cream, etc. from the edge before you hit the leather. And as for my barber stropping "very little", maybe 10-20 laps on leather. Just a few when he feels like it, apparently.

As for what's best for your razor, no one knows but you!

Originally Posted by JimR

I'd just say, strop as you see fit!

Apparently, according to Naomi-san and my barber, the linen is viewed as a "cleaner", it removes oil and cream, etc. from the edge before you hit the leather. And as for my barber stropping "very little", maybe 10-20 laps on leather. Just a few when he feels like it, apparently.

As for what's best for your razor, no one knows but you!

Thanks Jim, that sounds fairly similar to my old routine so I'll stick with that.

Oh, thank God someone sees stropping the way I do. Seven laps is all I usually do. Any more and I'm convinced its done only to make me feel better about myself and make me late for work (which isn't such a bad thing)

Originally Posted by JimR

I'd just say, strop as you see fit!

Apparently, according to Naomi-san and my barber, the linen is viewed as a "cleaner", it removes oil and cream, etc. from the edge before you hit the leather. And as for my barber stropping "very little", maybe 10-20 laps on leather. Just a few when he feels like it, apparently.

As for what's best for your razor, no one knows but you!

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Oh, thank God someone sees stropping the way I do. Seven laps is all I usually do. Any more and I'm convinced its done only to make me feel better about myself and make me late for work (which isn't such a bad thing)

I was hoping that a bunch of linen would help push my wakamisori edge over the top. It has not. It did make some small improvement.

I apologize but some of your inputs have melded with Mr. Parkers in my mind but I have found a great resource all the same. Many a day I strop none at all, or quite minimally when I do. Thanks