do u guys strop your razor between passes?? i usually do two passes when i shave but have never stropped between passes. Does it do anything to the quality of the shave??
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do u guys strop your razor between passes?? i usually do two passes when i shave but have never stropped between passes. Does it do anything to the quality of the shave??
Might depend on how hard the steel is. I haven't tried it though. You could always experiment and find out if you notice any difference.
Hi Airportcopper,
I rarely strop between passes, but when I have the shave was a bit more comfortable. It added a little luxury to the shave, so was a good thing, I think.
If I remember right, the 1905 booklet, "Shaving Made Easy" recommended stropping between passes.
Cheers,
Jeff
Sometimes I will strop 20 laps or so before my ATG pass but honestly I'm really not noticing an improvement. I didn't really need an improvement. Like many here I am fanatical about keeping my razors extremely keen though so that is probably why. If I let the edges degrade a bit my suspicion is that stropping in between passes would then become more effective and its utility more noticeable.
I strop inbetwin first and second pass when im using a razor with softer steel.
You shouldn't have to if the razor is proper sharp no matter how soft the steel is. (I'm talking quality steel here).
I haven't. I have changed razors a couple of times, though, when it was clear that it wasn't shave ready.Quote:
Originally Posted by Airportcopper
If any razor I owned needed stropping in between passes, well I think you may find it in the scrap tray waiting for the recycle cart.
Jamie
+1 here. I've found out the hard way what forcing it does...Quote:
Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun
If you are stropping between passes your razor is not sharp enough to begin with... To be honest I only do one pass.. That 3 pass stuff is for guys with a lot of time on their hands...
I always strop my straight razor between passes and, as far as I can tell, it makes a big difference. Shave is smoother and the touch of the razor becomes more velvety.
By the way, I always do three passes, so I strop my razor four times at every shave: before each single pass and at the end of shaving, after having cleaned and dried the razor.
You strop four times during each shave????????? I think your Livis need some attention in the honeing dept.Quote:
Originally Posted by razorguy
Maybe they don't if you use the right strop! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
However, the first stropping is about thirty laps, the other about ten.
I have some of the finest strops ever made,if I had to strop between each pass to get a perfect shave,I would grow a beard and never shave again.Quote:
Originally Posted by razorguy
I am sure your strops are among the finest, and, as such, they would be a joy to use! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
To me, stropping is also part of the "joy of shaving" and, stropping - when done right - does not hurt any blade and not even whiskers!
On the other hand,if you have to strop between passes to get the same shave of the previous pass.your edge has some issues.JMOQuote:
Originally Posted by razorguy
You may be right, but, as far as I can tell, I don't think this is the case. I don't consider myself an expert (although it is now more than ten years I hone, strop and use straight razors) but I guess I can feel a difference.Quote:
Originally Posted by pixelfixed
My edges can shave very well even if I don't strop them between each pass, but when I do, I "feel" the blade differently. Just my opinion, of course.
Like arguing faith....not much point.
i TOTALLY agree with this. You know what works for you, stick too it.Quote:
Originally Posted by WW243
Of course. In fact I said it is just my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by that0neguyxx
I have heard from good authority that most, if not all, Japanese razors actually do require stropping between passes. Rather than see them on the roadside, best you send them to me, i don't mind the extra inconvenience.:roflmaoQuote:
Originally Posted by celticcrusader
But seriously, i have never felt the need to do that, each to their own though.
I beieve an edge should never have to be stropped mid shave, and my gut feeling is the blade could use some rock love(honing) but anyway everybody has their own way. I may be totally wrong but if thats what floats your boat, then do it. I strop like 24 hours before the shave! It dries and coats the blade with oil.
This is usually not a honing issue, it's related to shaving technique and stropping. That's assuming that the first pass goes well and the subsequent passes seem to go downhill from there. I'll elaborate.
When this happens it is typically to newbies who may be a) using straight up & down cuts, b) using a steep angle and c) using too much pressure. What this does is breaks the edge down prematurely, which not only makes for uncomfortable 2nd and 3rd passes but means that the edge will require touchups more frequently as well. This is why stropping midshave seems to alleviate the problem in the short term.
It is also a sign of inadequate stropping to begin with. This you will only discover after your stropping becomes completely proficient.
The good news is that this is very normal. When I started I stropped midshave too, which seemed to help. After my shaving and stropping skills improved I found that this was no longer necessary, the problem eventually disappeared. Not only that but overall edge longevity increases by several times as well.
This makes me feel good. I sometimes use a razor twice between strops. I do at least 2 passes and in some spots 3 almost every shave now. I tried it once because the razor still felt good when I finished so I thought it may keep going. I was curious. I go through my rotation and then sit down and strop them all at once. May not use a strop for 2 weeks. I guess I am the other end of the spectrum.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
If I thought a razor needed to be stropped between passes(I do 3) I would put it down get a sharp razor and hone the other later. It aint going to get sharp with a strop for long. If it doesn't pass hht before shave Id change it out as well.
I have 4 razors and if the shave is not going well, I'll change razors. The only time my shaves don't go well, it's a lather issue.