Thread: Martin103 enables an old dog to learn a new trick. Circa 1841 !

If I used my strop to clean my razor after each shave, I'd have to shave the strop with my razor to get the crap off of it. Then I'd be right back where I started. Because I'm already at where I was when I started, there doesn't seem to be much point to going through all that to get there again.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

As I recall, when I did the stropping experiment years ago stropping after shaving only, gave inferior results. I also don't recall ever seeing a barber strop after a shave.

Maybe stropping relaxes the hand and wrist

Originally Posted by mrsell63

[...] I didn't write this post for myself. I wrote it for Pixelfixed so he won't feel so unnatural. Thanks..........

Jerry

Good luck with that, Jerry!

Regards,
Neil (old guy)

Jimmy, been over a few months since your original post, are you still using this stropping method?

Originally Posted by Martin103

Jimmy, been over a few months since your original post, are you still using this stropping method?

Indeed I am Martin. It is working so I'm not going to 'fix' it .......

I have always believed that microscopic bits remain on a bevel an edge and begin the oxidation process immediately, which is why I scrupulously clean my razors post shave with hot running water and dry repeatedly on a clean microfiber towel.

I do strop razors for this reason before storing in rotation. I too shave with a razor and my not see it again for months.

It makes sense that stropping post shave will remove even more oxidation producing material and keep the edge from deteriorating faster.

I also believe that steel does age harden, much like cement and that is partly why we are still shaving with 200 year old razors and swear by some of them, try cutting a Model A fender. Resting may produce a harder edge, how much I don’t know, I am not buying the self-sharpening by resting theory.

Warm water for me… for comfort if nothing else.

I know of age hardening in SS and especially in Al alloys but in carbon steel?
Most of the hardening as I understand is from a soft annealed state into a harder normal state, not to the tempered state we deal with...
Any metallurgists around?

A lot of the testing that have been done, shave hot/cold, let razors rest and so on, seem to give little or no real results, nor does it seem to harm the razor either.
But one of these days I'm sure we hit the jackpot, keep the testings going, I like it!