Thread: Stropping too much?

We have had guys here in the past who did strop progressions. Multiple laps on linen, latigo, horsehide, this brand, that brand. I used to do 50 linen 50 leather, but now I might do 30/30 - 40/40. Never more than 50 in my long life, and one linen/leather strop at a time, though not always the same one. No rules when it comes to our shaving rituals though, we can all experiment with what works and suit ourselves.

I do big, long. elaborate strop progressions after honing.
After that, one single fabric/leather. No pastes.

For the MOST part, 40/80 before shaving, 20/40 after. They just get better and better.

After a while, I can just pick one up and shave, skipping a session.

At times, before shaves, I skip the fabric as one is fine where it is. Sometimes, I work an edge in with more fabric. I don't think a set number is good. Get to know your blade and what it needs, I think.

I am a firm believer that many of the best edges are finished on the strop.
No matter what finishing hone was used. Steels and grinds!

Good stropping is as key as a good edge, fine strop, lather, brush, and good technique.
JMHO

'Spare the strop, spoil the edge!'

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

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Yep! Even Hirlau agrees!

Without a doubt stropping makes all the difference.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

When wanting to have someone view an older thread I for one like to post the link.

I'm Presuming--that this is the one you are referring to. Yes, No, Maybe So?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...nal-phase.html

If not could you please provide the proper link? I for one would like to review it.

Thanks

It was a multi part deal so the final phase was the last part as I recall. I don't have the links so I'd have to research it just like you and I'm afraid I'm too lazy to do it. I guess I should have saved them but that was a long time ago and I guess I never figured I'd still be around here back then.

Har har.

OK, I thought I was OCD at 60 laps. But, I have upped the ante to 100. The shave is smoother. Thanks gents, once again, for continual improvements.

Use a Kanayama, they are a three piece strop, think of those extra laps on the suede piece, fun for the whole family...lol

I agree with many of the others here. On plain leather there seems to be no such thing as too much (this is quite different from using abrasive paste and maybe fabric).
A few (maybe 10) strokes on fabric, and then as many as you have patience for on the leather seems to be the best. A couple of times I have forgotten that I stropped a razor before, so I did it over again, or a few times I have been thinking about other things while stropping and completely lost count (well over 100 strokes, maybe 200). Those times, the razor (if it's a good one) will generally take off my stubble like butter, and the sound of it feels almost like a purring cat

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

I once did an experiment by stropping a razor several thousand times. This was done over the course of a week. It didn't hurt the blade at all. It gave a good shave, but was no better than a normally stropped razor. I'm thinking that after 50 to 100 laps, the benefit of stropping drops off.

Ever since viewing a Maestro Levi video on palm stropping, I always do the same after stropping on leather. For me, it seems to make the shave an extra 10% better.

Interesting. Linky please?
I sometimes strop on my forearm. I have hair on the dorsal side of the forearm, but very little on the ventral side (same side as the palm). It's like a fabric side and a plain leather side

One further "stropping" is putting some soap on the index finger and thumb and rubbing the edge between the two fingers. I think this is very good both before and after the shave.