Thread: Stropping not working for me

Originally Posted by chadi

It's a straight razor. One edge blade. I can replace the blade but wouldn't it be better in the long run to just strop it. Also, it's a cool skill.

Yes you should buy a razor that is not disposable, if you want to and

No it wouldn't be better in the long run, as you are discovering. The blades are meant to be replaced every few shaves. If you enjoy stropping, keep it up, but the shave won't get any better. So, when you're done stropping, put in a fresh blade, and don't strop it until you need to replace it.

Replaceable blade types of "shavers" are made so that folks can save time (barbers) by not having to strop.

But really you are barking up the wrong tree.

Stropping might be beneficial for commercially made replacement blades, but then they are coated to achieve their smoothness and in all likelihood you'll just be scrubbing that coating off. Also, they are probably not made with the correct spine/edge geometry to achieve real stropping angles.

When you get a genuine straight razor (the kind with a for-ever blade), then is the time to learn stropping.

STOP, flip, return, STOP, flip, repeat. (this is how to not nick)

Stropping could prolong the longevity of that disposable blade, but it is probably not going to make it sharper once it's gone. You don't need leather strop for that either, in fact that strop may be inferior and do damage instead of helping.

The only thing that you can benefit from is keeping the blade dry and clean.

So, strop on a dry towel immediately after you've shaved. You may get some extra shaves this way. Once the blade is no longer sharp discard it and use a fresh one. If you want to shave for a long time with the same blade you will need to get a proper straight razor. It will most likely cost you significantly more than the one with replaceable blades, I mean it'll take you over five years to break even.

As said above, these blades have coatings: "chromium-Ceramic-Platinum-Tungsten & Polymer coated edges) according to the box. Removing that lot could well lead to a rougher, harsher shave.



They are basically DE blades bent so that they snap in two. I think some people do buy the the DE blades for this purpose, might be wrong, though. They fit into a holder - there are various makes, but they all do about the same job:



I guess the frame would maintain a shallow sort of angle - who knows what that angle is, though.

The single (SE) blades can be had in 100 per box quantities, working out around 8 cents a blade. Rude not to throw them away when they get blunt IMO!

Regards,
Neil

I don't remember where I was reading it , but the info about drying the blade well is correct, the multiblade contraptions dulled as much from rust and oxidation as from the shaving. So to prolong the sharp dry well and leave in a dry environment. I do this with my DE,s , and I get great results on blade length of time in service. And isn't that one of the reasons we use our fabric side of the strop to dry and clean the edge? Or just go ahead and jump in ,, lots of very low priced razors in the classifieds that will be shave ready , then find a low priced strop and have fun! Tc

The fact that you mention you are getting lots of nicks in your strop indicates that your stropping skills are in need of improvement. Even if you had a "real" straight, at this point your stropping would not be helping the edge much and likely damaging it further.

Egads man, when I used a shavette I bought Shark blades and changed them out every shave....just because I could. I then proceeded to hack my face to shreds.

that sound familiar WW243

but on the main point though, there are these vintage razorhones designed for dubble edge blades, what's up with that? and can you still get DE blades which are meant to be used this way?

Originally Posted by Bram

that sound familiar WW243

but on the main point though, there are these vintage razorhones designed for dubble edge blades, what's up with that? and can you still get DE blades which are meant to be used this way?

Those were for carbon steel blades not the coated blade we have today

The OP said his strop was made in Pakistan.

Advice received boiled down to getting a proper straight razor and not a so-so pakistani SE razor if he was that enamored of stropping.

With that in mind he would be well advised to peruse the razors to avoid list before investing in another pakistani dud and wasting yet more money.

Regards,
Neil