Conflicting information between Dovo and some Forum Members

[Ron A]

Dovo is clear about those two items: 1) that the fin realigns itself during the first 24 hours after shaving (although they do not state to what degree it realigns itself) and 2) stropping before the 24 hours is up will break off the fin. The question then is how much it realigns itself and how much fin is there to break off. If the realignment is insignificant, then stropping immediately afterwards will have little or no noticeable negative affect on the edge, as several of SRP members have already stated. If realignment is significant over the 24 hr. period, then stropping immediately after the shave means forfeiting some advantage the blade can give us. Perhaps we will never know. Sound reasonable? So, carry on doing what you're doing!
Ron

[Friggin Joe]

I've read you only have to strop after several to many shaves if you give the blade 24 hours to recall its shape. When I was young, I actually heard this from some old guy who'd be considered doing everything 'wrong' by what I've read. Used some kinda tile or something to sharpen and used a belt to strop and said he has to do that every week.
Come to think of it, it was a long time ago, but I recall the guy always having stubble.

[JoshEarl]

I tend to read these types of instructions with some skepticism. After all, Dovo also claims its razors are shipped shave-ready. (I'm not knocking Dovo; they make great razors. But they're rarely ready to go out of the box.)

Sometimes manufacturers make recommendations based on science and research, and sometimes it's just from the marketing department or a company tradition. For all we know, someone in Dovo's marketing department might have talked to Friggin Joe's "old guy," thereby engraining a piece of misinformation into company lore...

I think if there was anything to the "fin realignment" theory, the difference would be readily apparent. We have members who strop before a shave only, during a shave, and after the shave. The fact that none one claims to see a major benefit to letting the edge rest speaks volumes to me.

Strop away!

Josh

[misteredwino]

This is why I have about 7 razors that I shave with. Don't let anyone tell you that straight razor shaving is expensive. It only is if you buy all this crap new. Go to a pawn shop, and pick up a couple razors for 10 bucks; yeah you'll have to hone them, but then you have a lifetime supply of razors. My best razors are from second hand shops. I even found a barber hone virtually new for 5 bucks. This way, I only strop before I shave. Simple, isn't it?

[misteredwino]

Oh yeah, buy a strop from Damon. They're easier to learn on because the leather is soft, and it's less likely you'll fold the blade on one...even with mediocre technique. They're much cheaper than store bought ones too. I think he sells them for about $26 bucks!

[Creel]

I am curious to know why folks bother to strop after the shave anyway.

It may be bad for the razor and since folks typically strop before shaving as well why bother?

Ok so most of us are in agreement that honing every day would be bad.

It would be bad because among other things you would basically be ripping pieces of metal off the blade and ruining the very edge and bevel you worked so hard making.

Why is it such a leap to consider that over stropping or stropping too soon after shaving might also be bad perhaps removing pieces of metal and thus damaging the fins or even rounding the edge?

[Friggin Joe]

This old guy was real, unlike most people I knew when I was a kid, a friend of my dad's who collected antiques and was showing me stuff. As I said he was always stubbly, so he might not have actually shaved much or at all with the straight edge was just showing it to me.
I been sniffing around google, and his idea don't seem uncommon.

[knochrph]

All of you who have stropped a Dovo after shaving must have ruined the razor. As I am a very nice guy I will accept those razors from you. Would you please hone those ruined razors before sending them?

Thanks. (This is a joke, I have enough razors and I dought you ruined your razors)

Jerry.

[Quick Orange]

I've stropped midway through the shave, and it did better. I've not experienced any problems with it.

Personally, I like stropping before I shave. It helps me relax and go from this fast paced world to a slow, take your time place.

[Jfala]

I typically strop around 60 laps before I shave on the leather, preceded by 15 laps on the linen. After a shave I strop 20 or 30 times on the leather to aid in drying. Have not seen any adverse effects on my Dovo or any other blades in my rotation.