Thread: Stropping is Making Razor Progressively Duller

My new Dovo 6/8 half-hollow razor came barely shave ready though it passed the HHT with some coaxing. Stropping between shaves did not maintain the sharpness I had originally. Recently I used CR2O3 on newsprint wrapped around my 8k Norton stone to touch up using 20 laps. I had huge improvement and the razor became scary sharp, for this newbie anyway. Again stropping between shaves dulled the edge so I again used newsprint plus Cr2O3, 50 laps this time. HHT showed that it is sharper than it has ever been.
I am certain that stropping can achieve much more when I learn to do it right. Meanwhile I have a few questions. Is a linen stropping surface essential? I have been improvising with a well washed jeans wrapped around a paddle. It does remove the debris from the edge as seen with a 60X magnifier. I have a paddle with relatively soft burgundy leather which does have a draw. The other is harder black leather with no draw. I also have a balsa paddle with Cr2O3 on it and a hard felt paddle with 0.5 micron diamond slurry on it. Finally, for honing which I will eventually be doing, I have Norton 1k 4k and 8k, nothing finer. Will I be needing something like Naniwa 12k ? I aim to eventually experience shaving with an edge that effortlessly removes the stubble as it glides over the skin surface.

Linen isn't essential.

Depending how hard the black leather is, probably just use the burgundy.

You can get and maintain a fine shaving edge with the Norton and the abrasive pastes you already have.
More stones are always fun, but don't fall into thinking that you need to have a finer grit stone.


Also, the title says stropping is making your razor duller, but you didn't really get into that in the post. You should elaborate on that a bit more if you want some help with that.

Thanks for your advice. When I first started using this new razor and the two times after stropping on Cr2O3 loaded newsprint, the razor was really sharp. The only times the edge has made contact with anything, it was either with my face and beard and the workout during stropping. So I am guessing that my stropping instead of restoring the edge dulls it. I have watched stropping videos and have a steady enough hand to keep the razor flat and in contact and keep the spine in contact with the strop. Next time I shave it will be straight after loaded newsprint, no stropping. Just to find out how that feels. I have a hanging strop, natural leather on one side and soft textured thin black leather on the other. I might even give that a try though it was bought together with a Pakistani razor which I have thrown away.

Ok. After reading your last post I understand the question. That made me go back to your first post...

Try doing about 15 laps on your 8k (to clean up the edge and fix possible damage from the pastes) and then NO MORE THAN 10 with your pasted strop or newspaper. I suspect that you've overdone it with the pastes - a form of overhoning. What tends to happen is that you get a good edge but it doesn't last long.

You may also need to eliminate if the problem is the strop or the stropping.

I agree. The crux of the problem is your stropping. In two posts you identify the problem but fail to describe anything about your strop or how exactly you are stropping.

How wide is your strop? How many passes do you do when you strop? What pattern do you use? Does the razor sound the same, coming and going? How much pressure do you use? How fast do you strop? Is the strop a hanging strop or a paddle. Is there a linen component. Do you strop with deflection? How do you hold the strop? How would you describe the tautness of the strop? Are you thoroughly cleaning the razor before you strop? How has the strop been treated? Where is your thumb on the shank?

All these questions only have one right answer.

You could watch some stropping videos ( like the ones in the stroptober thread) and see if there are any variations that might illicit some conversations.

Perhaps I should buy another strop, possibly one with the natural leather surface rather than patent lather surface. Till I acquire it, I will continue with the burgundy leather strop I described above and carry out the suggestion by HNSB. Based on your experience, what is a good strop?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I agree. The crux of the problem is your stropping. In two posts you identify the problem but fail to describe anything about your strop or how exactly you are stropping.

How wide is your strop? How many passes do you do when you strop? What pattern do you use? Does the razor sound the same, coming and going? How much pressure do you use? How fast do you strop? Is the strop a hanging strop or a paddle. Is there a linen component. Do you strop with deflection? How do you hold the strop? How would you describe the tautness of the strop? Are you thoroughly cleaning the razor before you strop? How has the strop been treated? Where is your thumb on the shank?

All these questions only have one right answer.

You could watch some stropping videos ( like the ones in the stroptober thread) and see if there are any variations that might illicit some conversations.

I have described the burgundy leather paddle strops above. It is 3inch wide and I use straight back and forth motion. It does not sound the same coming and going but that has to do with the spine being somewhat different on the two sides. I wondered about that and that is the explanation. The sound is not due to the razor edge. I agree that if I am stropping differently on the two sides of the edge it will hardly have the desired effect. I will study the videos you mentioned. I do not have a linen surface so I may well not be cleaning the edge at the microscopic level, though at 60X my substitute for linen seems to be effective.

Thank you for setting me on the right track. Stropping was my problem and I have written a detailed reply to onimaru55. I am just left wondering whether one can use a paddle strop with a firm wooden base behind the leather surface to the same effect as a hanging strop.

I have a Tony Miller 4 sided paddle strop and it works fine for stropping. 99% of the time however I prefer to use a strop with a little give, either at hanging strop or a loom strop.