Just because it cuts a hair doesn't mean...

Well, I have been doing a lot of experimentation lately to try and improve my shaves. Have they been super smooth? Oh yes. I knew I could get a closer, better quality shave though. I have been stropping my razors until they can cut a hair and then shaving but decided to take it a step further three days ago. After I cut a hanging hair I decided to keep going. I stropped and stropped, and kept on stropping. I have no idea how many times I ran my razor (Dovo Forestal) over the leather but I think I invested a little under ten minuets. I just shaved about twenty minuets ago using the exact same process as I usually do and must say, this has been my smoothest shave to date, hands down. I thought that stropping until hair could be cut was good enough but I was wrong. It amazes me how much a little (or a lot...) effort will increase the quality of a shave exponentially. This goes to show how many subtleties are involved an a truly close and blood free shave. If you are stropping your razor cuts a hair and that's it, I urge you to keep going. It's worth it! I know I have a lot more to learn and am still fairly new at this compared to many others but due to the exchange of knowledge on this forum, it makes this a heck of a lot easier! Thanks!

I suppose that it depends on the initial condition of the blade, but a member here did an extensive stropping experiment here a couple of years ago and found a point of diminishing returns around 60 strokes. Of course, this also depends significantly on your stropping technique.

I'll agree with Utopian that technique is the key. But if this is what works for you keep at it.

Yes if it works, keep going! I've never found that I had to strop that much though.

But remember to focus in on your technique, it's quality rather than quantity when stropping. Also, the HHT isn't always going to express shave quality (check out this article: Hanging Hair Test, from trick to probing method - Straight Razor Place Wiki )

I rarely do fewer than 30 laps on linen then 100 or so on leather. So far it has been working.

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Originally Posted by Str8Faace

Well, I have been doing a lot of experimentation
...snip....
I stropped and stropped, and kept on stropping.
....snip....

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Yes the critical aspect of smooth and sharp can be won or lost
on the strop. I am curious what strop and what hone you used.

In my mind a hone makes a razor strop ready and the strop
makes the shave.

More to the point I have been recently been honing and stropping for the
fifth shave from a honing session. If I hone too the extreme, I find that
the first couple shaves are often less pleasurable than the
shaves after five "shave and refresh on a strop" cycles.

I have also been very pleased with the result of submicron paste/ spray
on a strop after honing a blade.

My only problem at this point is the speed at which my
whiskers grow limits me to one experiment a day or so.

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Originally Posted by niftyshaving

In my mind a hone makes a razor strop ready and the strop
makes the shave.

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+1 to this, my findings exactly. I tend to strop a little extra after a honing, I do some on a pasted strop, then linen and leather, typically 60/90/60. If I don't, the first few shaves are a little harsh. After that it's to my normal routine of 10/40 on linen and leather. Like Utopian mentioned, there was a test some time ago where they reported to find 60 to be pretty much the limit so perhaps I could have sufficed w 60/60/60 but I have not gotten to test that myself yet. Too many knives in my rotation :D

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Originally Posted by str8fencer

+1 to this, my findings exactly. I tend to strop a little extra after a honing, I do some on a pasted strop, then linen and leather, typically 60/90/60. If I don't, the first few shaves are a little harsh. After that it's to my normal routine of 10/40 on linen and leather. Like Utopian mentioned, there was a test some time ago where they reported to find 60 to be pretty much the limit so perhaps I could have sufficed w 60/60/60 but I have not gotten to test that myself yet. Too many knives in my rotation :D

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Str8fencer, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of paste are you using and on what kind of fabric/leather do you use it?
Your numbers peaked my interest a bit. I seem to find 8-10 strokes enough for me on a pasted strop after honing. That is if I use it at all. I have two different pasted strops currently. I only use on per honing. It is either a CrO paste on linen or ,5 micron diamond spray on a hard pressed wool strop.

No critique here, just a genuine interest in everyones different ways to get the optimum results:)
Thanks!

I, too, have found stropping to be the difference between an acceptable shave and a superior shave. I have also found that the razor has to have a good bevel and a good honing if the stropping is to be of use. IMHO, stropping alone cannot overcome a razor with a bad bevel.

For me, the priorities for the razor:
1. Good bevel
2. Good finish honing
3. Regular and effective stropping.
:)

Thanks for all the info guys! I know some of this has to do with my technique. I had just honed the razor on my finishing stone so it needed a little extra work. My strop doesn't hit the middle of the blade when stropping so I have to lightly "ride" part of the edge of the strop. I'm getting a lot better and last time I stropped, I really took my time which resulted in less passes.

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Originally Posted by Birnando

Str8fencer, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of paste are you using and on what kind of fabric/leather do you use it?

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I'm actually using an old trick, not a regular paste. A prepared strop might be a better description. I use lead from a pencil, on just a cheapo leather strop, first applied to a scrap of paper and then the paper rubbed lightly against the strop. It is quite fine, I believe I heard it could compare to something like 50k. Don't take my word for that tho - but it is a fine grit indeed. Comparing to a regular strop paste I can understand it sounded unusual, I should have specified in my original post.

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Originally Posted by str8fencer

I'm actually using an old trick, not a regular paste. A prepared strop might be a better description. I use lead from a pencil, on just a cheapo leather strop, first applied to a scrap of paper and then the paper rubbed lightly against the strop. It is quite fine, I believe I heard it could compare to something like 50k. Don't take my word for that tho - but it is a fine grit indeed. Comparing to a regular strop paste I can understand it sounded unusual, I should have specified in my original post.

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Thank you for the explanation!
I've heard of other similar solutions to yours on here a few times actually.
I should probably try something like this out for myself, it sounds like a very doable project.
And God knows I have strops enough...;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Str8Faace

Thanks for all the info guys! I know some of this has to do with my technique. I had just honed the razor on my finishing stone so it needed a little extra work. My strop doesn't hit the middle of the blade when stropping so I have to lightly "ride" part of the edge of the strop. I'm getting a lot better and last time I stropped, I really took my time which resulted in less passes.

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Why is the strop not hitting the middle of your blade when you strop?

I would generally think that a well honed razor will cut a hair. The strop gives good alignment and polish to the edge. I have used regular newspaper as well for putting a bit more polish on edges/bevels.