Thread: Confused

I am a little confused. I have read that you should never ever strop a razor after shaving since the edge is out of alignment. I have seen on here where quite a few experienced guys strop their razor after shaving before putting it away. Can someone clear this up for me? Mack

Stropping following rinsing and drying will remove any micro gunk that might be in the striations of the bevel. I do 20 to 30 strokes after every shave and have had no ill effects from it. Then I wipe the blade with a silicone gun cloth with a rust preventative before putting it away.

Originally Posted by mackie

I am a little confused. I have read that you should never ever strop a razor after shaving since the edge is out of alignment. I have seen on here where quite a few experienced guys strop their razor after shaving before putting it away. Can someone clear this up for me? Mack

Since the edge is the thinist and most fragile part of the razor this is where corrosion would begin first. I strop my razors after I clean and dry them just to make absolutely sure the edge is dry.

As Jimmy and John said, I also strop after shaving. I do 10 canvas and 15 leather, just to remove any gubbins from the edge and make sure it is dry.

This seems to be keeping the edge really well on all my razors, and helping them to stay sharper for longer..!

As Jimmy, John & Stu said, i also strop after shaving!
20-30 over the linen & i'm done. I've not seen my edges deteriorate at all for doing this, & i know i leave them clean & dry.
The edge is indeed out of alignment, but you've got to get it re-aligned sometime, so why not do it when it gives other benefits?
This type of crazy thinking goes hand in hand with letting blades rest in my mind. Of course, I'm sure many respected members also do this!

I think not stropping after a shave comes from the thought that metals have a "memory" of their shape and that, over the course of a day, the edge will realign itself. While this is true of some metals, this is no more than a myth when it comes to the very stiff carbon-steels that razors are made from. As others have said, stropping after a shave will help clean and dry the edge, which is what is most important.

I am of the stropping before and after method and use a simmilar technique with my chefs knives apart from my strop is a steel for the knives that is.

It seems to work well and really I dont thinks there is a right or wrong way its a case of you do it your way and if it works then be it so.

Well guys, I sure thank you ! That makes a lot of sense. I have noticed that when I put a razor away it is sharp and a week later it has lost some of the sharpness. Now I know why. That thin edge will rust away in a big hurry. Thanks again. That really helps. Mack

Gentlemen,

I, like many of you, strop after the shave. After drying the blade and the scales completely, I strop 15 on canvas and 30 on leather, coat the blade with oil lightly and put the razor in the rack. The practice has proved beneficial to my razors — and eased my mind.

Regards,

Obie