Thread: As if there weren't enough stropping variables...

There's draw; what causes it, what does it do...there's endless strop treatments, both traditional and modern high-tech...fast or slow...lots of strokes or a few...paddle or hanging or bench............

And if all that weren't enough, I stumble into the world of old-steel, hefty razors (1/4 ground or heftier) and that really seems to make my stropping different. I've no studies or tips or tricks, just an observation that after a couple of weeks of shaving/stropping with some 120+ year old English heavy weights, the razor makes a big difference in the stropping...duh.

So far, for me, it seems the heavier razors are easier to strop, or at least harder to mess up with less than perfect stropping. It was tough to get them honed right in the first place, but since then, they seem to improve nicely with reasonable stropping (i.e. less than 20 strokes generally)

Maybe I'm stating the obvious, but since we kick around all the other minutia in the passionate pursuit of the perfect edge, I thought I'd toss this out. Anyone else have thoughts on the differences in stropping different weights, steels, profiles, etc?

- Dale

I can only say that this thread is peaking my interest. I am due to get my W&B 7/8ths Sheffield Wedge back from Joe C in a couple of days. I would be very interested to hear of any technique or method to strop, but especially hone a blade of this stature. I have heard, and seen that when honing a wedge you may want to use a 30 degree angle..heel leading to get an edge quicker. Lynn does it in his DVD. I am sure someone will show up here with some experience or suggestions.

You know if you have a drivers license and drive a Toyota Corolla it is assumed you are qualified to drive a Ford Excursion also. It just takes a little time to adjust. Its the same with stropping. You don't strop any differently no matter the razor, its just some minor adjustments with the size and weight of the razor. I don't think the grind matters at all.

Great analogy!

Draw doesn't really do anything, but since its indicative of a sharp razor those strops that produce draw are popular with me. :-)

Its more like a signal than any significant action.

I actually find the lighter flat edge razors a little easier to strop, but enjoy the heavier curved blades in the shave so much that I don't mind spending the extra attention on them.

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