A curious observation..

I've tried different ways of stropping and have settled lately on a method that's comfortable and produces the desired results. So, I had to go and mess with things.

I am currently experimenting with a type of pyramid stropping. Here is what I do:

10 passes on the linen
10 passes on the leather
10 passes on the linen
20 passes on the leather

What I'm noticing is that I get a more consistent, even draw and that the edge is more comfortable to shave with and I get an even closer shave (which was already very close).

I'm the first one to admit this might be totally useless and unrelated but it has me curious. If the better results are, in fact, a result of this little pyramid structure, why?

Anyone care to opine?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by steve

Anyone care to opine?

---

Well, not in public and certainly not on my strop. :ziplip:

Seriously though, I haven't got a clue about this one. Could you be imagining it? Could it be that you're merely paying more attention to your stropping?

X

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by steve

I'm the first one to admit this might be totally useless and unrelated

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by xman

Could you be imagining it?

---

Yep, could be

Steve,

That's pretty interesting. I'll give it a try and let you know if it does anything for me. :)

Josh

Its not a pyramid, its very common. Transitioning from leather to linen is a common method for better stropping. The linen creates gross alignment the leather fine alignment. They work best when used together, thus the typical strop design. Some guys believe it doesn't help (the linen) at all but you'll note in the barbers manuals they say "it depends on your honing abilities".

Your not crazy at all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Its not a pyramid, its very common. Transitioning from leather to linen is a common method for better stropping. The linen creates gross alignment the leather fine alignment. They work best when used together, thus the typical strop design. Some guys believe it doesn't help (the linen) at all but you'll note in the barbers manuals they say "it depends on your honing abilities".

Your not crazy at all.

---

The only reason I call it a type of pyramid is that I go back and forth (linen/leather/linen/leather) in one session right before I shave. Just as someone might take a 4k/8k Norton and do a 1-3,1-5, I'm taking both sides of the strop and do a 10-10,10-20.

Right, the back and forth part is good. A descending set isn't needed.

It all sounds like a little much to me but I suppose if it works for you then its good. Maybe if I put my straights under a pyramid they will hone up by themselves, what do you think eh?

It absolutely produces a better shave. Robert Williams mentioned the technique to me a few years ago, and I am sooooo glad he did. It is particularly helpful to me after several shaves when the razor stops responding well to leather alone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

It all sounds like a little much to me but I suppose if it works for you then its good. Maybe if I put my straights under a pyramid they will hone up by themselves, what do you think eh?

---

Yeah, the mystical aliens that built the pyramids are great at honing up razors, you should try it sometime :mad:

I'll give this a try as well this morning and let you know how it goes, but generally I think linen then leather for 20-30 passes should be as good as it gets.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by xman

Could it be that you're merely paying more attention to your stropping?

---

X has a good point...you could be paying more attention to your technique with this pyramid method.

Ahhh I follow. I think its still better to vascilate back and forth but its hard to percieve much difference from linen then leather in a single set of each.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by steve

Yeah, the mystical aliens that built the pyramids are great at honing up razors, you should try it sometime :mad:

---

They've got to keep those grey heads nice and smooth somehow. :rolleyes:

Well, I did admit it might be coincidence so I'm not saying I've stumbled onto any new stropping revelation.

All I know is that if I were to do 1 set of passes on each side, I get a certain result. If I do 2 sets I seem to get better results. As to it being too much trouble, it takes me about 2 minutes or less so I don't really go through too much additional trouble.

At any rate, thanks for the input guys.

I find it better also. I do it quite often and agree with you, its not any trouble to worry over.