Thread: Under Stropping

I'm still consider myself a newbie to SR shaving but I am still trying to better my shaving and sharpening techniques. A little while back, I was re-watching Lynn's video on honing and finally noticed that when he finished with the hones he said do the usual fifty strokes on the leather strop. Then it sank in, he said FIFTY. I had been doing only ten or twelve strokes before shaving and getting just OK shaves. Next shave, I hit the fifty strokes on my old Illinois 992 and what a difference in closeness and comfort it made. So, two days later, I tried it again with a different razor. Bingo! Close and comfortable with no razor burn after. Just goes to show, one has to pay close attention to all aspects of shaving with SRs.

Stropping is the holey grail!!

Welcome to s.m.o.o.t.h.

It's funny you mentioned this. This morning I went down to shave (and just as an aside, in relation to another thread, I completely shaved off all my facial hair) and was halfway through the first stroke on my cheek when I realised the razor was not shaving very well. Then I realised I had forgotten to strop!

After a quick strop all was well again. Stropping is way important!!

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

It's funny you mentioned this. This morning I went down to shave (and just as an aside, in relation to another thread, I completely shaved off all my facial hair) and was halfway through the first stroke on my cheek when I realised the razor was not shaving very well. Then I realised I had forgotten to strop!

After a quick strop all was well again. Stropping is way important!!

James.

--- sorry but I have to digress ---

James you did it! You really did it!!

Welcome to s.m.o.o.t.h.

Yes, stropping is vital...I strop 20x linen 60 leather, before a shave and same after.

Under stropping is easy. Over stropping is impossible :<0)

I always do 100 strokes on English Bridle. I'd do more, but I can't count any higher than that.

Most people find about 30 to be the minimum. I think you can do less, depending on the blade. Everybody has a different strop too. We also have to be careful about applying generic rules too globally. But, above all else, never accept a lower quality shave. If a straight razor isn't shaving smoother than a DE, you're still learning.

I'm a huge stropping advocate 45 passes on my Lipshaw Microtome diamond rubber side, 100+ passes on leather side.

Originally Posted by Tarkus

I'm a huge stropping advocate 45 passes on my Lipshaw Microtome diamond rubber side, 100+ passes on leather side.

AHA! You are up from 40/80 and never told me! Unfair!