Thread: Have I stropped my razor dull?

First, my confession. I started straight razor shaving 2.5 years ago, however, in a moment of poor judgment I decided to train using a replaceable blade razor. I got a real straight razor, through SRP, 1.5 years ago. My first shave was terrific, but things fell apart shortly thereafter. As my strop can attest, after only 2 or 3 shaves, my razor isn't worth using. Out of habit I have resorted to the replaceable razor.

I am hoping to reinvent my shaving self, and while I just ordered a paddle strop, I'm concerned that I need to get my razor honed to restore it properly. Is it possible that I did that much damage so quickly, or is it likely that I can get the sharpness back through good stropping.

I don't want to move on, but I need to shave regularly now and if I can't get this down relatively soon I'm not sure how long I can keep this dance up. Any thoughts or advice would be great.

Zack

Have the razor honed...lots of folks in the classifieds to pick from for 25 bucks or so. When you get it back, don't strop...just shave. That way you will know you have a good edge. From there, you will know if its your technique that is causing an uncomfortable shave. If its a good shave, then you can strop. If the next shave isn't as good, its your stropping.

Watch the videos here on both shaving and stropping. Practice stropping with a dull razor, butter knife, etc until you get the motion down before you take your good razor to the strop.

Good luck.

Welcome to SRP. I always like to recommend at least two razors. You can alternate from day to day, making the edges last longer, and/or if one needs some TLC you have the other to carry you over until the dull one is brought up to snuff.

In this case, buy a shave ready razor, maybe an entry level Dovo to save a few bucks, and try getting your current razor back on line with stropping. Worse comes to worse you'll have to send it out, but you'll have a truly shave ready razor to compare it to, and to use if you do have to send it out.

there are several things you need to figure out. You will need to get the edge restored. So the choice is more about sending it out or fixing it yourself. Fixing it yourself could be as simple as getting a pasted strop and a barbers hone. However if you killed your edge on a strop the pasted strop will require you to fix your stropping technique before its of any value. A paddle strop can be the solution for some for sure. I have two sons that both prefer the paddle over hanging due to stropping issues. If you have a modular paddle strop you can use the paddle for both plain and pasted. Another route you may choose in the fixing of your razor is to get a finishing hone either synthetic or natural. If you live near someone that can do your honing for you it may be the cheapest short term way to go. As far as stropping your razor back and not needing to hone it that all depends on how bad it is. You can alwways try and if it doesn't work send it out or if you are lucky take it to someone.

Thanks for the help. I got a modular strop and think I'll try to strop it back to life (it is still very sharp, just not sufficient for shaving) and try and buy a shave-ready razor for comparison. Worst case scenario, someone good at honing will find a steady stream of income.

Stropping is the hardest part of the straight shaving process to me. Just run the blade along the leather, no pressure. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think all stropping does is clean your edge of all debris from honing and water and soap residue. I also strop after the shave to make sure the blade is dry before putting it away.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

Stropping is the hardest part of the straight shaving process to me. Just run the blade along the leather, no pressure. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think all stropping does is clean your edge of all debris from honing and water and soap residue. I also strop after the shave to make sure the blade is dry before putting it away.

The linen is more for cleaning and drying although the leather can do this too. The leather improves the feel of the edge on your skin. There's lots of theories as to what it actually does like "aligns the teeth" or heats the blade or whatever.

Truth is, there's no objective evidence as to what it actually does. Not even scanning electron microscope pics can show a real difference pre a and post strop.

Zack

To answer your questions yes, you easily could have done sufficient damage to render the razor un-shaveable by stropping. No, you most probably could not restore it to shaving condition with a paddle or hanging strop, stropping killed the edge.

What you need is to have the razor honed, possibly a touch up. What brand of razor do you have? What brand of hanging strop do you have and what is the condition?

Photos would be most useful.

PM me and I will hone it for you.

Marty

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

Stropping is the hardest part of the straight shaving process to me. Just run the blade along the leather, no pressure. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think all stropping does is clean your edge of all debris from honing and water and soap residue. I also strop after the shave to make sure the blade is dry before putting it away.

My honing greatly improved when I started using "some" pressure. I used to hone with the strap very taut, and as little pressure as possible. Now, I've relaxed the strop slightly and use light pressure with my honing hand and it works great. I got the idea of "some" pressure from Glen.

Originally Posted by drmatt357

The linen is more for cleaning and drying although the leather can do this too. The leather improves the feel of the edge on your skin. There's lots of theories as to what it actually does like "aligns the teeth" or heats the blade or whatever.

Truth is, there's no objective evidence as to what it actually does. Not even scanning electron microscope pics can show a real difference pre a and post strop.

IMHO...Linen cleans and clears debris, leather straightens n polishes the edge. Hones are good to have on hand for refreshing edges and creating bevels as you advance in skill.