Thread: To strop or not to strop. (Howard Schechter) Videos

Originally Posted by Razorfaust

If stropping is bad for a blade, I got a dozen razors that haven't seen a hone in months to argue that. Sure eventually they will get dull and the strop wont help anymore, but consider shaving without stropping for 2 months. I dare you.

Do I get to refresh the blade as needed with a stone that makes an ok shaving edge without stropping? Cause if that's the case I have a few that will do the job. But I also know from experience it won't be as enjoyable at the end of the day.

IMO his hones only maintenance program isn't too farfetched. You just need hones that create an exceptionally comfortable shave, or enjoy that prickly fresh off the stones feeling.

Originally Posted by Marshal

Do I get to refresh the blade as needed with a stone that makes an ok shaving edge without stropping? Cause if that's the case I have a few that will do the job. But I also know from experience it won't be as enjoyable at the end of the day.

IMO his hones only maintenance program isn't too farfetched. You just need hones that create an exceptionally comfortable shave, or enjoy that prickly fresh off the stones feeling.

My posts intention was to support the act of stropping, a tried and true method of daily maintaining an edge, its efficacy is well established since the dawn of razors. This not about whats better honing or stropping obviously the best answer is use both not one or the other. You can shave straight off a stone if that's what you like.

As I was taught by a well-respected mentor here, proper stropping is the time-proven way to keep razor blades in shave-ready condition. I don't see one man's opinion changing that for me no matter what he finds works best for him. Stropping works very well for me, so I will continue with my typical 20/50 regimen.

Freedom of speech means that people are entitled to put forward their 'opinion' on things. My turn now. If you walked into a barber shop back in the day you could watch all the barber's stropping away to their hearts content so they could use the sharpest razor possible. Nothing has changed. I don't need any odd ball ideas that more than 10 laps on my Kanayama #70000 will degrade the edge. It's bs gentlemen. Simple. I will stick to my proven method of 20 laps on canvas, 30 on suede and an even 100 on the cordovan. No point telling everyone I'm wrong, cause my face wins the argument every time. I do respect the opinions of others, but I don't happen to agree on this one

Originally Posted by Razorfaust

My posts intention was to support the act of stropping, a tried and true method of daily maintaining an edge, its efficacy is well established since the dawn of razors. This not about whats better honing or stropping obviously the best answer is use both not one or the other. You can shave straight off a stone if that's what you like.

Fair enough. I said earlier in the thread that I'm prone to agree that honing and stropping together makes for a better, more comfortable shave.

But I also said that I can't disagree with Mr. Schechter's (apologies for spelling, I'm sure I butchered that) findings. I don't have a Shapton 30k, I don't have his coticule or one like it to do regular touch ups with. And I don't have access to these photos he says he saw at Shapton HQ with regard to stropping.

Without the ability to fully and properly test his method, or even assess the pictures, all I can offer is conjecture. I think if someone enjoys the way a feather blade shaves fresh from the pack then maybe this method could be for them. I see no reason it wouldn't work, but I DO think it would be noticeably less comfortable a shave - particularly for those of us with more sensitive faces. Sounds like a recipe for a lot of prickly shaves and razor burn, which is the opposite of what I started shaving with a straight for.

But if this is actually how he preps and cares for his own razors I can only imagine that it works for him.

Edge maintenance via hone as opposed to strop is bound to wear the blade faster by orders of magnitude. A hone only regimen seems to me to be the dream of a delusional honing zealot - one who is more interested in hones and/or honing than razors.


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That's pretty harsh...better take that comment to the strop.

How so?


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I reiterate what I've said elsewhere in this thread, pick up the phone and call the gentleman. I did. I even went to visit him back in sept/oct when I had a load up to Boston. He's a perfect gentleman and will answer all your questions. I have the Shapton Glass series including 30k, and 3 Coticules. Agree or disagree with the man, but have the courtesy to communicate with him. Which of you has?

Even with my visits with Howard, I still strop multiple laps even with SGS 30k edges... largely because I WANT to.

I have a razor that gets honed on a shapton 30k. I definantly feels better after stropping, this is my finding after 3 years using this razor , hone combo, plus the guy who hones it strops it before sending.

As to talking to him, not needed, I talk to people who have been doing it longerwith more experience and knowledge. What does t accomplish by talking to him? He could have stayed on SRP to defend his theory but no. Tc