Thread: A stropping challenge

Well, a hanging strop does put a bit of a convex edge to the bevel, I think that is what is being said with regards to "rounding off".

Personally, I think that is beneficial, not detrimental. I use hanging strops for my pastes.

I guess my point was that if using a hanging strop affects the edge in a negative way, its probably because of stropping technique.

Well if nothing else this might be a good solution for travel if you don't have a strop that can be packed safely.

I'm confused about one thing. You say your edge wasn't forming a perfect triangle and you managed to fix that using only newspaper on a hard surface?
EDIT>Ok, ignore last point, think I misread.

I tried hone only maintenance. It led me to the realization of just how superior a simple leather strop can be. Hone only always left something behind. I had always used a paddle and held firm with the idea that a flatter, harder paddle is best mimicking stone surfaces. it had to be better.

I had to take a trip and didnt want to have a stone so i made a small supple hanging strop.

I've been using it ever since. I've been trying again just as you suggest, but I've missed several days last week. Last shave I did 1/2 face backhoned; 1/2 after 15 strlaps; it was hard to say there was any improvement. It felt like it needed a few more circuits on the strap.

Originally Posted by singlewedge

Removing the leather and using ONLY a stone or newpaper on a hard surface allows you to maintain that triangle, or perfect cutting edge.

Are you saying a leather paddle strop would be significantly different than newspaper on a hard surface?

Chris L

There are only two differences between a hone and a strop
1) level of abrasiveness, yes leather does remove metal, just as canvas does, just a whole lot slower
2) sag

A third difference is spine vs. edge leading and I'm pretty sure spine leading causes a little bit less pressure between the hone and the razor.

The main factor for dulling as we all know is not change in geometry, but rust, or if you want the change in geometry caused by rust (jagged edge).

It's always fun to experiment with doing things differently, but even if something can produce better results than the conventional way of doing stuff, that doesn't mean that it should be the way to do it. Robustness is an important factor to consider too.

so i tried it this morning.

gave my dovo 10 laps, spine leading, on my 3 line swaty. had a good shave.

shave wasn't noticeably better than it is when i use leather, but still a good shave. i'll keep this particular razor (#1 in my weekly rotation) off the leather for the next month and we'll see how it goes.

people in here call that back honing. it has been used long time in another countries example Russia. They do mostly back honing no forward honing.Blade does get sharp but will shave a little uncomfortable. Actually will depend grit of the stone. i assume swaty should be ok.

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Are you saying a leather paddle strop would be significantly different than newspaper on a hard surface?

Chris L

Newspaper wrapped around a stone has NO flex. Paddle strops still rely on leather which has flex and has the potential to round the edge.

As for abrasiveness of newspaper. I would put it at .5 or .25 micron. I could or could not live with out it.

JOCKEYS glad to see that it worked for you.

Fair enough, I'm in. I'm using a Two razor rotation for the next month--my Friodur and my Genco. I guess I'll use the Genco, the Stainless might cause some weirdness...so one month with no leather, and I'll keep track of the shaves.

Sounds like fun!