Quote Originally Posted by unit View Post
I would agree that a few stroppings on micron sized compounds would make only for a very slight convex...but it is slightly convex...and after MANY repeated stroppings the edge will convex considerably.
The problem is that the lack of any quantitative measure makes such statements meaningless.

Stropping on plain leather (the mildest stropping we use) removes material from the edge and therefore adds convexity (due to the flex of the leather). But how important is this, or any other level of convexity?

But there is no need to speculate. Fortunately one doesn't need a SEM and recollection of 5th grade math to quantify these things. Our natural 'measure' of a 'significant' feature is how fast it can be 'obliterated' by a standard honing procedure.

So, let's say one does 10 laps on a pasted strop with CrO before every shave, and let's use a big strop with say ~23"x2.5" of stropping surface. This is an enormous overkill that removes metal at about 50-200 times the normal rate. You can use the razor with this procedure over a month and then check how fast you can restore the convex edge on a Norton 8000. You'll find out exactly how many laps it takes to make the bevel flat again.

And, of course, if you use Norton 4000 or even Norton 1000 the number of strokes will be orders of magnitude less, so you can quickly convert a 'significant' convexity to and 'insignificant' one by using a different honing procedure.