Thread: Folding the edge...

You have the Blade re-honed,one of the best in the Buis is one day away via USPS,Than you start over and learn how to strop.

Originally Posted by snakyjake

I think I may have rolled my edge. I don't have the natural knack for stropping, so I see this frequently happening for a while. I'm considering getting myself a finishing stone. I'm also thinking of forgoing stropping because I can't afford to replace my strops when I scrape them with a rolled edge.

If you aren't willing to strop every shave, you need to look into DE or SE shaving!

I also have rolled edges stropping. Sometimes I noticed that the sound while stropping changed between different directions. The sound reminded me a bit of a woodworking scraper where the cabinetmaker rolls a hooked edge using a burnisher. I was able to correct this condition on a diamond pasted strop or Norton 8K.

I now hold the razor very loosely letting the blade keep it weight on the strop evenly distributed along and across the blade. Since then, I get sharper edges, longer lasting edges, and infrequent feather nicks on my strop edge near where the blade gets flipped to change direction.

Originally Posted by Splashone

If you aren't willing to strop every shave, you need to look into DE or SE shaving!

What I'm really not willing to do:
Not willing to roll my edge every day.
Not willing to send my blade out for re-honing every time I roll an edge.
Not willing to replace my strop every time I roll an edge, assuming my rolled edge snags the leather.

As a beginner it is a steep learning curve. Making costly and time consuming mistakes without success is discouraging. While learning how to shave, the last thing I need right now is damaging my blade. Anything to reduce the possibility of damaging the blade is desirable. Anything that allows an affordable and quick remedy is also desirable.



Jake

Rolling an edge while stropping is certainly possible, but in three and a half years of stropping I've yet to do it. I think it is a problem fairly easily avoided.

Thanks for saying that...whew!

Originally Posted by ace

Rolling an edge while stropping is certainly possible, but in three and a half years of stropping I've yet to do it. I think it is a problem fairly easily avoided.

Originally Posted by snakyjake

What I'm really not willing to do:
Not willing to roll my edge every day.
Not willing to send my blade out for re-honing every time I roll an edge.
Not willing to replace my strop every time I roll an edge, assuming my rolled edge snags the leather.

As a beginner it is a steep learning curve. Making costly and time consuming mistakes without success is discouraging. While learning how to shave, the last thing I need right now is damaging my blade. Anything to reduce the possibility of damaging the blade is desirable. Anything that allows an affordable and quick remedy is also desirable.



Jake

I find that. A pasted paddle strop works well to correct stropping errors made on a shave ready edge. An 8K Norton or other finisher works well too.

Minor strop nicks can be corrected using very fine sandpaper like is used for autobody work. Clean off sanding residue with a wrungout damp cloth before stropping. If you have a small flap, glue it down using a toothpick as an applicator.

The key for me has been using a slightly tight strop, light pressure (razor weight) and a flexable grip between my fingers so that the razor and strop adjust to each other to distribute the light pressure evenly across the width and along the length of the razor. This takes some practice but is not as hard to learn as golf and playing the guitar.

Your normal razor is your friend while learning. Take your time and keep it fun. It need not be expensive. I have been able to keep my shave ready razors going myself.

Originally Posted by snakyjake

As a beginner it is a steep learning curve. Making costly and time consuming mistakes without success is discouraging. While learning how to shave, the last thing I need right now is damaging my blade. Anything to reduce the possibility of damaging the blade is desirable. Anything that allows an affordable and quick remedy is also desirable.

I've copied & pasted part of the instructions I send out when I hone a razor.
It may be of help.

If you don't have the experience & muscle memory to strop properly you will damage your edge & strop.
Practising on a single piece of newspaper, the width of your strop, held by a small bulldog clip, is good. Too much pressure will make the paper slip from the clip. Also try using a butterknife or similar to develop manual dexterity. Actually, even a tooth brush will work. The motion is similar to twisting a volume knob but use your other fingers to assist.
Once you can comfortably flip the butterknife 180º back & forth, try with your razor then finally move to your paper strop. If you feel you have it wired move to the leather but go slow. A little practice can save a lot in honing fees.... & leather.

Thats very good advice.

I have done it myself but was able to strop it out