Thread: Stropping wrong

Hi guys,

So i went and stropped my razor today ready for another great shave. Sadly i feel i may have done something wrong as my blade almost felt dull about half way through my shave. Have i stropped it wrong? I am fairly new to this process and realise that the process takes time to master. Any tips or hints please.

Cheers,
Grant

Pictures help.

A lot of guys starting out dull the razor on their strop. Do you have a loop to look and see if the edge rolled? Is there anyone nearby you that is also shaving with a straight? You may need to get the razor re honed

As for stropping little to no pressure focusing on keeping the spine moving and in contact. Be careful on the flip to not smack the edge into the leather. I keep my strop pulled straight but not necessarily tight.

Where did you get it honed and how long ago? It could be just becoming dull due to use. Also, it could have had a wire-edge which won't be very resilient during the shave. However you probably would have noted this by now if you had it honed long ago. Get it honed and try again.

Look at it with magnification. Whenever you have an issue look at it, first.

You can get decent magnification for under $15 and as little as $2.

A lighted 60X loupe, or the Carson Micro Max 60/100X below.

And here is what you want to look for in this video.

Probably used too much pressure or lifted the spine with the edge on the strop. Slow down, always keep the spine on the strop and stop, before flipping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZYFsOP7rBc

Is it truly dull, or just smoother? Stropping done right improves an edge. It is possible your stropping technique has come forward well and you are now improving the edge.

So these are the best photos i could do. I had it honed about a month ago, and have stropped it before and after each shave. I have been in touch with the person that honed it and he has given me a few insights as to what it may be that i am doing wrong. He does not seem to fell it is dull.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Look at it with magnification. Whenever you have an issue look at it, first.

You can get decent magnification for under $15 and as little as $2.

I agree, even a 10x magnification will be better. We can't tell with the naked eye.

That the first thing the gentleman who taught me mentioned. And after a few times. I agree. You are just driving blind without it.

What are you stropping on?

There appears to be a lot of scratches on the belly of the blade.

Hard to tell from the photos but it looks like something is going on at the toe, uneven bevel and the heel, I don’t see a complete bevel.

The person that honed your razor, do they just hone razors or is it a knife shop?

Originally Posted by Grunter

So these are the best photos i could do. I had it honed about a month ago, and have stropped it before and after each shave. I have been in touch with the person that honed it and he has given me a few insights as to what it may be that i am doing wrong. He does not seem to fell it is dull.
Cheers

I am not trying to be argumentative but how can some a person tell if a razor is sharp or dull with just a conversation? The normal response here is "I'll take a look at it" or "send it in and I'll hone it."

How can someone tell you the razor doesn't seem dull by looking at a picture? The edge is a very tiny point on the edge of the razor, you can't see it in photos. Chances are you rolled the edge on the strop by mistake and didn't notice. When I started, eight years ago, I rolled my edge quite a few times and I had to fix it.

Does the razor shave arm hair? Will it cut hair on your leg effortlessly about an inch off your skin, like cutting tree tops? This should happen if it's sharp.

You may have to hit the hones on this one. You said you honed this razor a month ago, what did you use and how?