Thread: Stropping between passes

Gentlemen,

Thanks again for your thoughts on this subject. At least now I know I am not the only one who thinks some razors have a mind of their own.

My family used to say that about me: that I was a good boy but that I also had a mind of my own. That's a good thing, I'd say.

A friend said to me, "Why then don't you use straight razors with replaceable blades and be done with it?"

I do use straight razors with replaceable blades occasionally, and frequently when traveling, those and a Merkur double edge travel razor. My straights with replaceable blades are the Feather Artist Club, which is probably the sharpest blade on earth, and a Monsieur Charles.

Yet none compares to the genuine straight razor and the theatre that accompanies its use: stropping, cleaning, examining, gently tamping dry, and a long list of pleasures coloring this magnificent instrument of pleasure that has a mind of its own and sometimes let's you know it, too.

And something else: This noble instrument also demands respect from the humble gentleman shaver. That's how it should be.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

...
And something else: This noble instrument also demands respect from the humble gentleman shaver. That's how it should be.
...

ugh, i just posted in the topic where some guy cut his thumb up
these things are no joke!
from time to time, I prep food while listening to music, or watching tv- i'm careful to keep my fingers curled back, and haven't cut myself yet. but my kitchen knives (as proud of them as i am) aren't nearly as sharp as a straight razor (or so i think- my first straight is due in the mail any day!)

Glad to see I'm not the only one who occasionally has to strop between passes. It's usually on one of my razors that probably needs to be rehoned. I'll do it right before the ATG pass.

I strop between passes out of habbit. I feel it gives the later time to soften the beard more and time for me to collect my thoughts. But I am going to try only stropping between the 2nd and 3rd pass. We'll see how it goes.

Originally Posted by ndw76

I strop between passes out of habbit. I feel it gives the later time to soften the beard more and time for me to collect my thoughts. But I am going to try only stropping between the 2nd and 3rd pass. We'll see how it goes.

I am with Nathen here on his thought I strop between the first WTG pass and the second XTG/ATG pass.... Does the razor need it ???? Nope.... do I need it ???? Yep,,, it lets the lather have some time, and me have some time to think about solving the worlds problems I do 10 laps leather only...

Plus the barber that introduced me to straights back in 1981 did it that way.... so I have done it that way for to long to change now...

Last night I tried only stropping between the 2nd and 3rd passes. I only did about 20 laps on the leather. The shave didn't suffer any, infact it felt better not having to walk the six paces to where my strop has to hang.
But I did find a benefit of stropping between passes. Because my wife and I live with my in-laws in a house with nine other people (this includes my father in-law who thinks he can sing and his three wives). The only place I have available to shave is in the kitchen. I have to share this space with who ever happens to be walking through at the time. I have found that if I strop between passes sometimes the screaming peaks when I'm stropping and not when I have a razor to my throat.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am with Nathen here on his thought I strop between the first WTG pass and the second XTG/ATG pass.... Does the razor need it ???? Nope.... do I need it ???? Yep,,, it lets the lather have some time, and me have some time to think about solving the worlds problems I do 10 laps leather only...

Plus the barber that introduced me to straights back in 1981 did it that way.... so I have done it that way for to long to change now...

I did this during my shave last night. Not sure if i really noticed a difference or not. But it did add to the "Experience"....

I never found a need to strop between passes. In fact since I shave ever morning before work I wouldn't have the time. If you were carving a roast would you stop between slices to resharpen your knife? I think not.... In my humble opinion if your razor is sharp enough stropping before your shave is enough.