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A recommendation in a Revisor flyer caught my eye.
Is this good advice?Quote:
“Only eventually! When stropping our 8/8 razors, make sure to lift the spine of the razor approx.., 1-2mm above the strop. This will be sure that you’ll maintain maximum sharpness despite the width of the blade.”
I'm not experienced enough to do something like this plus biggest I got is 6/8. Har!! ;)
Hmmmmm
Yes but No
When stropping the really large or really heavy grind razors if you give a tiny bit more slack it will accomplish the exact same thing safely and without trying to hold the spine off the strop :)
Experiment with the amount of "Tautness" to get the best edge
How do you keep the spine steady 1-2 mm above the strop? I think it's safer to not keep the strop to "tight" (I hope it's the correct word) when stropping big blades, to get good contact with the spine.
If there is anyone that can do this I want to see it in slow motion under high speed camera frame by frame!!!!!
I agree with letting the strop droop just a tad.
Some advice is better left unwritten :<0) Someone should revise that flyer.
Let me put it this way. The people who wrote that flyer are the same people who made their razors. Chances are that, after decades of making razors, they just may know ever so slightly better what they are talking about than the casual user.
Well, since the people who sell those razors are members of this forum it would be nice if they would address how this is to be accomplished.
Some of the worst advice relating to razor use and brush use and strop use have come from instructions included with these items written by the manufacturers.
I think in most cases the motivation concerns limiting damage and returns and unhappy customers.
While I agree. I think that they didn't really think of the skill set of the people using those razors. It's easy when you are making razors x hours per day to dial a couple of mm in. No hope for me thou.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobinK
Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
I think In this case it would do the opposite. People will screw it up, damage the edge and be unhappy.
After almost three years I am finally getting this part and my razor are finally lasting longer. From a heavy handed slow learner. Har!!Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
My lack of expertise is what prompted question. I would have destroyed so many razors trying to do the spine lift.
Spine lift would be journey level stropping but why take the chance when tautness is so much easier to accomplish. I found the hard way that less tautness does less damage than too much tautness. I have damage razors and strops getting to this point. Har! Love it. ;)
..
That advice from Revisor is very, very good! I would suggest not taking the advice as a precise instruction. In practice, the precise angle isn't important - what is of importance is to focus attention on good contact with the edge of the razor on the stropping surface. Without bearing down on the strop, raise the spine so that it barely skims the surface or floats above it just a tiny bit. One millimeter, two, three... makes no appreciable difference. Ensuring that the edge and not the spine remains in contact during the stroke can make a world of difference in how sharp and smooth the edge becomes.
Is the advice only for 8/8 sized blades?
Bob
Were their instructions for paddle strops?
Always leave a little slack in my old Koken strop as it is so thick with absolutely no flex to it. My home made Roo strop I pull taught as the leather is thin and flexible and it conforms to the edge of the blade.
Might experiment with the lifted spine idea, what's the worst that can happen.....:gaah:
Hi Bob,
If you're asking me, The advice is good for any size razor. Don't know, but maybe Revisor recommends it for the bigger razors because it's more likely to help inexperienced customers?
Jeff
Thanks for answering. Not really enamoured with large blades having only 1 that may nudge the 8/8 mark so I was curious. All my blades seem to strop will, including the one spatula sized one, with conventional stropping using a hanging strop. I think I'll take a pass on trying the lifted spine method for now.Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffR
Bob
Well when I was a clueless newb this is how I used to strop. Always wondered why my razor was dull.Quote:
make sure to lift the spine of the razor approx.., 1-2mm above the strop. This will be sure that you’ll maintain maximum sharpness despite the width of the blade.”
Not saying it cant be done, just not by new users.
I scanned the two pages from Revisor. The note on lifting the spine is the last paragraph at bottom of second page. Strops and paddles are mentioned. Hopefully you can make it out. Most browsers have a page magnifier. I'm not sure how else to do this so it can be read easier.
Attachment 240576
Attachment 240577
Seems normal instructions apply other than for the 8/8 & then, "only eventually" :shrug:
I'm so used to doing everything in my power to not lift the spine, I could never overcome the nervousness with doing it intentionally along the entire strop with a cheap restored razor. With a big, new Revisor; that just ain't for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmercer
It looks as though the "Experts" at Revisor simply copied the instructions form either Dovo or TI and then added a secondary sheet
I am looking for my copy but IIRC that is the TI instruction sheet at the top, does it say to not strop the razor for like 10 shaves ????
Just checked and that is same sheet I got with my TI. ;)
The first page. The TI had some text on back.
They have probably have caused a lot of rolled edges by providing these instructions. Engineers tend to over complicate things. That's why I never read instructions. Lol.
Hmm, it seems that TI would include a stropping tube to fit over the spine, telling the inexperienced to strop that way is senseless IMO.
so why is this? if the razor is honed with the spine in contact with the hone ( even with tape) shouldn't the spine be in contact with the strop? it would be almost impossible for a person to hold a hanging strop tight enough that the apex of the edge wouldn't come in contact with the strop even if they had used tape. right?Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
You are rightQuote:
Originally Posted by tintin
and it should not make a difference geometrically speaking, the bevel is so small and the leather has more then enough give to compensate
This is one of those things you have to experiment with and see if it works for you..
But if you think it will work, then it is simply safer to ease in a little slack, then to attempt to strop with the spine lifted off the surface as it accomplishes the same thing ..
Tape the spine with some clear duct tape before stropping. Problem solved
I hone plenty of Revisors and they all get stropped the exact same way as every other razor with the same results a sharp shave ready razor.
