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Are there many people that, knowing that they will be shaving the following morning, will hve their razor stropped the night before they shave? As a person who just got a true straight and stropped for the first time in his life this morning, my thoughts are that it would be better to strop when I am fully awake rather than before hopping in the shower, being a bit tired, and possibly rolling the edge or having a bad strop session and not getting a good shave.
Yup, strop the night/day before all the time.
Bob
I shave in the evenings. I strop before I shave. Sometimes I'll strop a few razors so they are ready.
If you are not "awake" or paying attention to what you are doing when stropping.....that can be "a recipe for trouble".
I always strop before I shave.
On a molecular level rust begins to form especially on a carbon razor within seconds of air/water hitting it. Does that mean much? Probably not for shaving but that's how I do it.
Of course if you be afearing razor damage stropping in the AM that changes the dynamics of it.
I apply lather and then strop and then touch up my lathering, or rub it in with my fingers or (rarely) apply a hot towel. Stropping while the lather is on my face gives an extra minute for the lather to further soften my whiskers.
I used to strop all my razors on Sunday and use them all week. I get up around 3:30 every morning and it saved time. I lived through it and never was the wiser. Now that I know how to strop(and it takes a lot less time) And I can shave just as fast as I did with a cartridge my morning routine includes stropping. I have a pile of razors to chose from and changing my mind in the morning got me in that routine. And for the reason Spendur says about edge decay, I have tried to get in the habit of stropping a few laps after shaving just to make sure the blade is as dry as it can be. Don't ask me how that is going :<0)
Always, and sometimes just wander downstairs and pick out a couple of choices and strop them up....great way to relax.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobH
While I was awake for about 30-40 minutes before I hit the strop, I caught myself starting to do typical newbie mistakes like lifting the spine or overshooting my stroke and having to to flip, leave the spine on the strop, then sliding the spine back down the strop before completing the flip. When I made a lap that I feel was not a good one, I did about 5-10 more, while being extra attentive, to undo any "damage" caused by an improper lap.Quote:
Originally Posted by Willisf
It's all a learning curve, I know. But I became competent with a shavette to the point I can shave with a feather blade loaded and not get cut. So I know that with practice and care, I will master the straight and the strop too. :)
That's another thing I am considering when weighing stropping before the shave vs th night before. My razor is a Ralf Aust carbon steel SR. But to minimize any oxidation, the razor is stored outside of the bathroom (as is the strop) and I do not bring it in until I'm lathered and ready to shave. I also, after gently drying the razor on a towel, give it about 10 laps on the poly webbing and 10 or so laps on the leather.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
I strop 20-30 on leather (SRD English Bridle) before shaving. Wipe razor down gently with a single piece of toilet tissue to dry then 15-20 on linen and 60-80 on leather immediately after a shave.
To give a slightly different perspective...
I shave, dry the blade with a towel, and then strop 25x on linen, and 75x on leather. My thoughts are that it cleans and dries the edge, as well. I then put the blade in a snack size ziplock bag that has a few desiccant packs in it, seal it and store, until the next shave.
If a blade is not going to be used for a while (I typically use one, until it gets dull, and then move to the next blade, with the plan to refresh the oldest blade I have), I put oil on the blade and pins, before storing in the bag.
Seems to work for me. I can get right to shaving (usually after I shower), and ensures I have a clean blade after.
There is no harm in stropping the night before but I also strop right before I shave and as some have pointed out I do it while the lather softens my beard.
As has been pointed out oxidization can start very quickly. But by keeping the blade dry and away from moisture the edge will be protected.
To make my case. I was given 7 razors from my Boy Scout Scoutmaster Owen Agenbroad. NONE OF THE RAZORS HAD SEEN A HONE LET ALONE A STROP IN AT LEAST 50 YEARS.
There was no noticeable 'rust' just a very light patina on all of the blades. After a Very Through Stropping ALL would give a decent shave! I really couldn't believe it!
So I sent one to Glen (gssixgun) for a go and after giving it a shave; he couldn't believe it either. He wanted to do more tests but found a small hairline crack that neither of us had detected while shaving.
What I'm saying is this:
With proper drying and storage your razor will be ready when you are.
Attachment 226035
When I started with the straight, I would strop ahead of time because it took me quite a while to strop and I had to pay attention (not that I didn't kill several strops).
I didn't notice any difference in the shaves whether I stropped immediately before the shave or 24 hours earlier.
After about a year of stropping everyday I could strop in about 2 minutes even if I was half asleep. So these days I mix my lather up, strop, shave, and strop afterwards.
During the week, I strop the night before, purely as a time saver but weekends are always immediately before my shave.
I strop after shaving, oil the blade up to put back in storage box. I'm always rotating my razors, before shaving I wipe oil off, knowing that it has been stropped, maybe a week before, but just part of my routine, I strop again before shaving with it.
My thinking is stropping after a shave helps to dry it, micro-keens the blade up to par, but always re-strop before using it again, just my way.
I'm retired so there is never any rush to shave, I enjoy the meditative routine I have set for my shaves, works for me.
I always strop the razor right after shaving so that in the AM, if I'm in a hurry, I already have the blade ready to go. I often will give the razor a few more laps just before shaving, but I like to put a razor away fully ready for its next use.
I typically strop after the shave so it is ready to go the next shave session. If I have time I also do it before. What your describing, in the op, is my standard method.
How will know If you roll the edge, will the razor pull?
You'll know because it won't shave well if at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterClean
I generally strop before and after shaving. I do 40 on leather before and 20 felt 40 leather after. I like the idea of stropping right befor to know that the edge is as fresh as possible. I like to strop after to know that it is being put away with a very dry and clean bevel. If I'm in a hurry, I don't need to strop before because it was stropped last use.
I normally shave every 48 hrs., in the evening. After shaving and drying the razor off with a bar towel, it's ~10 laps cotton or linen, followed by ~30-40 laps leather.
The only time I ever nicked a strop was when I was half awake in the morning. I enjoy getting my shaving gear ready the night before, picking out my soap, brush, and razor for the morning. I find stropping relaxing, and sometimes will strop longer than necessary. I also give several strokes on linen and leather after shaving to make sure the edge is clean and dry. When I have more time and am rested, such as on weekends, I do tend to strop before the shave.
I came home one evening, well lubricated I might add, and decided it would be a good idea to strop a few razors. The next time I went to shave, I noticed there were a few small nicks at the base of my good Bison strop. IDIOT!Quote:
Originally Posted by evnpar
Sometimes I strop razors the night before, but usually I done so when razors little bit dull and needed touch up on pasted strop
I strop right before a shave on leather. Takes 10 seconds or so. Strop on linen after a shave to dry it off. Done
I choose my razor out the night before if I am shaving in the morning and strop before bed. If I am shaving at night I strop right before shaving. I have not noticed a difference in the quality of shave either way.
I'm glad you said it and not another. You can chastise me all day and all night to no effect. But if I'm doing it to me ya better know I'm listening and adjusting (no mea culpas but a lot of I told you so's.)Quote:
Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY
Without a doubt, it was stupid. Just like the time I thought I could do a lot of the moves the stripers were just doing on their poll. Except I used the street light...remeber, I learn from my mistakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razorfeld
I think we have all been there or similar at least if you were young once upon a time. Gives you something to look back on, laugh and shake your head. There'll be no tellin the kiddies though, that just won't do. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY
Bob
