Thread: Why do we still use a clean leather strop?

Any more on info on the SEMs?

Originally Posted by Lemur

Any more on info on the SEMs?

First image is right off the Belgian waterstone, second is after two times (50 laps on cotton and 100laps on a clean Walkin' Horse bridle leather) 300 total, third is after another 500 laps on the leather.

To polish the edge we must polish the bevel, even with a micro bevel. When we polish with stones, oxides, paper or leather we are polishing, burnishing the edge to straighten and smooth it. Paste and stropping are just extensions of what we do with a progression of finer or slurred stones.

You may not agree with what, a photo depicts, but you can’t argue with the shave.

Do what works for you.

No razor I hone will pass the HHT with my fine hair straight off of the hone.

A proper strop and it all changes, for testing post hone I do 20/50 and then they pass the HHT.

I can do this at the 5k stone, then if i do a lap or two on the 8k it wont pass the HHT until I strop agian.

More than enough proof for me, I strop every time.

There's also the idea that stropping will remove fine particles from the blade, as well as any residue from honing oils or possibly even soaps. It may not really have any abrasive qualities, but the idea of really cleaning the blade is a good enough reason for me.

That paper is well intentioned but completely misses the mark when it comes to straight razors.
Not one portion of that paper is focused on how well a razor shaves.
The professor did not do his homework before he structured his tests.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

That paper is well intentioned but completely misses the mark when it comes to straight razors.
Not one portion of that paper is focused on how well a razor shaves.
The professor did not do his homework before he structured his tests.

I agree Randy,

...and yet people are accepting of the conclusions drawn in this manuscript. For example, the "edge width" measurements are off by an order of magnitude...



How would you like to see an experiment structured?

I for one would like to see SEMs for an edge that has been well sharpened and found to shave well but is to harsh on the skin
and then the same edge stropped until it shaves well but now feels smooth.

Originally Posted by fuzzychops

I agree Randy,

...and yet people are accepting of the conclusions drawn in this manuscript. For example, the "edge width" measurements are off by an order of magnitude...

Going off your conclusions if I am reading your micrograph correctly the edge width would be more in the area of .05 microns...

I think I did the math correct from nanometers to microns is that your conclusion too ????

gssixgin; That's how I read it too and it really supriced me, isn't the known "truth" that it's hard to ever get a steel edge radius under .5 micron?