Thread: Too heavy of draw damaging edge?

Is that possible that a overly heavy draw could damage the edge of the razor?

Sort of IMHO

I don't think it is actually the "Draw" I think it is the draw causes you to strop badly...

Anyway that is what I have noticed at the meet ups when helping the newer guys, their stropping technique improves drastically when you move them to a slicker draw


YMMV and all that,,, as I have no way of proving it hehehe

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Sort of IMHO

I don't think it is actually the "Draw" I think it is the draw causes you to strop badly...

Anyway that is what I have noticed at the meet ups when helping the newer guys, their stropping technique improves drastically when you move them to a slicker draw


YMMV and all that,,, as I have no way of proving it hehehe

Got it, the main strop I have has such draw that it does pull the razor away from my hand! I have honed many razors that finish with wonderfully clean and straight edges then I strop and there ends up being some flashing at the apex???

I had a strop with a really heavy draw, and I ended up tilting the razor and rolling my edge a couple of times! I like a medium draw for some feedback but definitely avoid the really heavy ones.

Originally Posted by Ernie1980

I had a strop with a really heavy draw, and I ended up tilting the razor and rolling my edge a couple of times! I like a medium draw for some feedback but definitely avoid the really heavy ones.

My edges still remain sharp though? When you would roll the edge would it kill the edge?

Originally Posted by Ernie1980

I had a strop with a really heavy draw, and I ended up tilting the razor and rolling my edge a couple of times! I like a medium draw for some feedback but definitely avoid the really heavy ones.

I think your right, the heavy draw makes you strop in ways you wouldn't normally causing poor stropping technique and causing a ruined edge!

Well strops with a heavy draw are very pressure sensitive. A light hand on a medium or heavy draw makes the stropping much much easier, add the smallest amount of pressure and you will know it right away.

So I've followed this post as want to improve my stropping and I've been reading other posts about technique also, I still consider myself a total beginner (I've hit the 6 month mark of shaving straight) and I'm a little unsure of what you mean by "draw" and how I can recognise what is a heavy draw and what isn't and the effects it has. If anyone could help me out to further my knowledge I'd. Ugh appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

Mark.

Originally Posted by MRutter8671

So I've followed this post as want to improve my stropping and I've been reading other posts about technique also, I still consider myself a total beginner (I've hit the 6 month mark of shaving straight) and I'm a little unsure of what you mean by "draw" and how I can recognise what is a heavy draw and what isn't and the effects it has. If anyone could help me out to further my knowledge I'd. Ugh appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

Mark.

Hello, so draw is referred to as the resistance of the strop material, usually the leather side. I have a Latigo strop which has a heavy draw, does not affect the edge in anyway. There are other leathers that are faster or less draw. These also do not affect the edge in anyway. Technique is key. Keep the spine buried, and enough pressure to keep the blade in contact with your strop.

Originally Posted by MRutter8671

So I've followed this post as want to improve my stropping and I've been reading other posts about technique also, I still consider myself a total beginner (I've hit the 6 month mark of shaving straight) and I'm a little unsure of what you mean by "draw" and how I can recognise what is a heavy draw and what isn't and the effects it has. If anyone could help me out to further my knowledge I'd. Ugh appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

Mark.

Best I could advise in words is keep the strop taught, strop the razor on it lightly, deliberately, and often.
Take care in doing so. Enough reps and losing count. Do some more and it is stropped!