I'm a newb and this question will show it, I know a lot of gents strop before the shave but is there any harm in picking your razor and strop it up a few hours ahead of time? Does the rest change anything?
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I'm a newb and this question will show it, I know a lot of gents strop before the shave but is there any harm in picking your razor and strop it up a few hours ahead of time? Does the rest change anything?
Dunno if the rest changes anything but I have been stropping my razor the night before for some time now and can't tell any difference.
Bob
I usually strop mine a little before and a little after. I can't help but think it helps to clean and dry it but i'm too lazy to get all hung ho
I clean mine off with rubbing alcohol on my shaving towel afterwards, let it dry then strop about 10-15 on webbing then 20 or so on leather. I'll strop again the next morning before I shave (usually 20 linen, 40-50 leather). The only time I've noticed a blade's edge change was after not using it for two weeks then shaving with it.
I've stropped after the shave, an hour before the shave, and even stropped a few razors before I left on vacation. I didn't notice any differences in the quality of the shave. Now I strop before I shave but after I lather. It gives the lather time to soften the hair and I end up with a very close shave. Whatever works for you.
I've always shaved the night before and never had a problem. I don't strop after the shave, not wanting whatever is left on the blade on my strop. After shaves, I strop once or twice on a towel to clean the razor and leave the stropping for the evening.
I strop after shaving in the evening to help ensure that my carbon blades are clean, dried, and protected by a coating of camellia oil. I also strop again immediately before shaving, but this is probably unnecessary unless the edge has become oxidized through long storage.
Some persons including some honemeisters report that razors and knives should rest for at least 24 hours before stropping or resharpening. I am unable to tell any difference and note that professional barbers stropped their razors between each customer several times per day without significant issue. Most chefs steel/hone their knives daily or several times per day without issue. However some pro sushi chefs are reputed to keep two sets of knives so that each set can rest for 24 hours between uses.
I also note that honemeisters advise their clients that their newly received freshly honed razors need not be restropped before their first use (edge has not degraded during shipment). This advise is probably to prevent nooby damage to unused razor edges through inept stropping. While stropping an unused edge again before a shave is probably unnecessary, it is also probably harmless to the edge as long as it is done well, not always the case with new SR users.
Any difference of edge quality that might possibly exist between stropping immediately after shaving and waiting at least 24 hours before stropping is irrelevant compared to the the major improvements made through learning to shave, strop, and hone well.
HTH
I always strop after the shave. That way I know my razor is clean, dry, and shave ready for next time.
This was posted by Gugi in the Mentor section a while ago, I think it explains well the purpose of stropping. A few hours of possible oxidisation wouldn't matter much:
....I think it's best to state clearly what the stop does because that also explains why it is so important. It is not a subject of opinion, and has been scientifically proven since the 1930s that the strop's main role is to maintain the edge free of oxidation. That's what dulls the edge, rather than mechanical deformation or 'misalignment of teeth'.
Everybody knows how fast the high-carbon steel of razors oxidizes (including the so called stainless steel razors), and if you don't strop for a few shaves the edge is basically rusted through...
"..... the strop's main role is to maintain the edge free of oxidation. That's what dulls the edge...."
Very good. Sounds like some stropping before a shave is in order.
Yes, for me it seems right before the shave would be better; to ensure no oxidisation at all. Of course there's probably a lot of variables, a key one being humidity and also storage (i.e. pre-storage prep). I always use eucalyptus oil. A couple of hours may make no discernible difference...Quote:
Originally Posted by Berthold
You use Eucalyptus oil? That's so like you! (Sincere comment/ not baiting). I guess you would be able to smell it through the shave too? I might try it, but does it stop rust? I know it cleans toilets, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider
I strop immediately after, and not before. I'm not sure if it is so, but I'd swear the edge feels better for me. Could be I just wasn't drying them properly before.
Thank you. No, the smell has word off before the shave; plus I do 30/70 on the strop so it's pretty clean. I always do 10/10 post shave before the oil.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankenstein
It's a very very light oil, but I find it enough. It's also a disinfectant. The razors are stored in two three razor cases on my desk in my bedroom; never in the bathroom (too moist).
i read a thread a while ago that talked about exactly this, the theory is that stropping a razor and letting it rest improves the shave, there were a few different theories as to why, and people who argued both sides and also said it made no difference, what works for you I suppose.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankenstein
For a long time I stropped before, but after reading a few old books on it, I noticed they always said to strop after. I often listen to the advice of ancient folk, except when they recommend things like painting fingernails with radium and such, but we won't worry about that one just now, and I found it was better for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by edhewitt
Not sure about this whole resting the steel thing. Does steel even know it's being used?
The debate will, I think, continue adinfinitum. The writers of the old books maybe did not have access to electron microscopes. I'm, pretty sure there's threads here with photos that show clear evidence of what stropping physically does to the edge. However, just because you see a particular thing has happened to the edge; doesn't mean that's beneficial. It's what it performs like and FEELS like that's important.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankenstein
Have the shaved using a freshly honed razor? It's not that bad, different; hard to explain.
I think the 'removing the micro corrosion on the edge' theory works well for me, and is supported by electron microscope photos, as far as I remember, I try not to get too torn up about it, because:
The law the lawyers know about
The law the lawyers know about
Is property and land;
But why the leaves are on the trees,
And why the winds disturb the seas,
Why honey is the food of bees,
Why horses have such tender knees,
Why winters come and rivers freeze,
Why faith is more than what one sees,
And hope survives the worst disease,
And charity is more than these,
And stropping works (at least it seems),
They do not understand.
Apologies to H. D. C. Pepler
(second to last line added by me :-)
do you listen to the advice of carl then? Oh, actually you wouldnt be able too, to give advice you have to have made up your mind. :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankenstein
This thread talks about an easy stropping routine, thats seems to work really good! :http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ca-1841-a.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by Frankenstein
I strop before I shave on weekends. However, on weekdays I strop at night to save time in the morning. I've never noticed a difference in the shave.
I shave in the evening and during the day I'll strop the razor for 2 or 3 sessions. That way it gets 100-150 strops before the shave. Maybe this is overkill, but I always get good shaves.
Me too and then strop again after the shave, after I clean up everything. A little oil on blade and good till next time in rotation.Quote:
Originally Posted by samda