Conflicting information between Dovo and some Forum Members

[Ron A]

Hi,
I just read at the Dovo web site (dovo.com) question 5 from the FAQ Section. It states that "if the razor is stropped too soon (after shaving) the "fin" ...breaks off". The inference here is NOT to strop a razor immediately after shaving, but to wait at least 24 hours, which will allow the edge to realign itself a bit. I have read on this forum that a number of you strop immediately after shaving. Do you feel Dovo's information is correct, incorrect, outdated, etc.? Personally, since I shave with a Dovo, I'll follow their advice, but perhaps, it doesn't matter if many of you strop after shaving without any negative results. A little confusion here!

[ucliker]

I've also herd this, but i do on occasion strop after i shave and i see no difference. I guess this could be true though

[Quick Orange]

If I recall correctly, someone did a test on stropping 30 times before, 30 after, and split. From what was posted, there was little difference as to whether it was before or after.

[minstrel]

What about those who strop in the middle of shaving as well? If what the Dovo FAQ states is correct, that would certainly ruin the edge, wouldn't it?

[Gravitas]

I generally do not strop after a shave, but have on occassion and saw no damage or difference to the edge. It seems strange to me that the fin could break off in this process

[Tony Miller]

I know it is accepted practice in sharpening knives and woodworking tools to use a piece of leather to remove a wire edge after sharpening. The fine edge snaps rtight off after passing with some pressure over the leather. In theory the fin is just a smaller, not as fragile wire edge in some ways. If in perfect alignment before shaving you have a keen edge, after a shave though general opinion is that it is now deformed, or bent if you will. I think Dovo feels this bent edge may then break off if stropped too soon after.

It is thought that over a days time the edge will somewhat correct itself and may therefore be less likely to break off when stropping as it will be near it's original, aligned position.

I really don't know or think that this will really happen but I do wonder if honing too soon after would be an issue though. Here you may be physically grinding off a deformed edge before it has a chance to soemwhat realign itself (if this really does happen).

I know we had this discussion before but don't remember what the general concensus is. I'm sure this will spark some good commentary though!

Tony

[Kyle76]

It seems like after a few hundred years of using straight razors someone would actually know what is happening to the metal and whether it realigns itself or not. Don't we have any physicists on the forums?

[Jonedangerousli]

It seems like after a few hundred years of using straight razors someone would actually know what is happening to the metal and whether it realigns itself or not. Don't we have any physicists on the forums?

I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express...

[JMS]

I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express...

You watch to much TV!!

[rupert87]

I've studied material sciences and metalurgy and although far from being even close to expert, this is my opinion based on fairly standard practice. After removing a stress from a metal, that's deformed it plastically, there will still be some return towards its original shape but, generally, this happens as the applied stress is unloaded or very rapidly after. So, on the face of it, whether you strop a minute or a week after shaving shouldn't reallly make much or any difference. Thinking about it, cutting a face full of whiskers, probably applies far greater stress perpendicular to the edge than stropping so if the fin was to chip off, this is were I'd say it would be more likely to occur.