of stropping doesn't sharpen then why can I tree top after stropping?

[gfro]

I come off the 8k or 12k (not the point) and the arm hair doesn't tree top (cut above the root) but after 24 strokes on the pasted linen and 120 back and forth strokes on leather (I guess that's 60 laps), I can tree top. Can someone more experienced than I please explain

[bouschie]

Honing even on a fine stone leaves very small burs of metal on the edge. Under high magnification they would be visible. This is because you hone with the edge moving toward. When you strop you go in the direction of the spine. This removes some of the burs and polishes the edge making it cut cleaner and smoother. I am sure there will be some disagreement but that is what makes the world go around.

[WadePatton]

The thing is, if i can't tree-top off the 8k. I'm going back down and working the bevel a bit more...all the way down. But that's me, and what I've learned so far. I've learned that just because i'm cutting hairs off the 1k doesn't mean the bevel is -fully- set, so i keep after it on 1k a bit longer, until i can't determine any more increase in sharpness* and then start the polishing.

Is this edge that you "strop in" shave worthy for a full-shave? Or is it one of those "dang i have to strop again between passes" edges?

*And as with any sort of testing, one must calibrate it to himself, his feel, and his level of skills. And also note that i found myself wasting time testing at 4k. I don't test that step anymore.

(oh this is a stropping section Q and I gave a honing section A...well they are related and we do want the same results yo).

[111Nathaniel]

Here's a thread among the many here about why stopping works, even though it doesn't sharpen or take steel off. It's very interesting that it's not well understood but has been known to work for hundreds of years.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ropping-2.html

[RoyalCake]

I'm in the middle of figuring all this out myself. A couple things I've noticed:
I can "tree top" somewhat ok after 12k synthetic.
After some naturals, not so much. Almost enough to make me think I need to go back down. However , if I then take that to a pasted or sprayed strop, it'll pop hairs before it sees them, and a good shave to follow.
Obviously the arm hair test is personal, but that's been my experience so far in this research.

[kwlfca]

Stropping, unlike honing, doesn't remove steel. If I had to guess, I'd say it was your pasted strop (which removes steel) that did it.

Also, stop worrying about tree topping, plenty of razors don't and are great shavers.

[gssixgun]

I like the word "Burnish" when describing what a plain strop does...