Thread: Cumulative Stropping

I've never been one for stropping. Maybe... maybe... a dozen or so strokes before shaving, but really, stropping? Not that my honing is any great-shakes, but I got used to "tugging".

Cut to the present: Returning to straight-razor shaving after a three-year hiatus, I was confronted by adult-onset hand issues, unable to make more than 25-30 passes on my 3" Red Latigo strop. And then נפל האסימון (a "lightbulb" moment): I shave twice-a-week, and almost always select my razor several days ahead of time, so... why not make those 25-30 razor passes on each of three or four days prior to shaving?

In a word, it works... real well. Wonder why I never thought of that, before?

Yes....I keep a current rotation in my bedroom cabinet and as I strop one, I strop them all about 40 laps.
After a week or two, they are all really good. TBH, if I have time and shaved the day before, I still run them all 40!
Doing this, I can grab any one and just shave if in a rush.

Yeah, too much of that will make you go blind LOL!

Even though I have some wrist issues like JB (CTS in my grading hand), I am kind of a compulsive stropper, kind of like Mr. Sell/Jerry used to be. Some of you who have been around the forums for awhile may remember him-may he rest in peace.

Anyway, I will usually give every razor about 25 on linen and 60 on various leathers after a shave, and then again before a shave if I've got one or two in a week's rotation, a little like Tom. So I guess rarely does a razor touch my face that hasn't seen a good 100-120 laps. I really dig stropping in a zenned-out kind of way. Sometimes I'll even strop after each stone in a honing session, especially when I was still really learning each stone and its capabilities. Of I'll do a stropping "progression" on my vintage shells.

Does it make a difference? Maybe a little; no doubt the law of diminishing returns kicks in beyond a certain number. But I enjoy it, and my face does too.

The old barber is turning over in his grave unless you strop just before shaving.

I guess unless you keep the edge well oiled the very edge will begin to accumulate rust on a molecular level very rapidly. Unless you strop enough before shaving you may or may not remove it.

What significance is that? I haven't the foggiest. Does it really matter? Search me.

Har har.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The old barber is turning over in his grave unless you strop just before shaving.

I guess unless you keep the edge well oiled the very edge will begin to accumulate rust on a molecular level very rapidly. Unless you strop enough before shaving you may or may not remove it.

What significance is that? I haven't the foggiest. Does it really matter? Search me.

Har har.

I’m not going to pretend that I have any idea if the microscopic rust forming on a straight razor aids or hinders either, but I can say with a great deal of confidence that (short of excessive rust obviously) it works nicely on a cutlass to keep it going.

I always thought it was because the rust was flaking off giving me a fresh edge, but who knows. All I know is rust bothers me less than the average bear when it’s on an edge.

This is a really interesting thread because generally, I’m a compulsive stropper. While I have a few razors I hate to strop because of the tang shape or balance, others I strop lot. The heavier the grind the more I strop ‘em...I’m not sure why.

Anyway, I usually strop 20 fabric, 50 leather after a shave, and 20 fabric, 60 to 75 before a shave. I’m not sure what it does for the razor, but it calms me and gives me time to let the lather sit if I’m bowl lathering.

It must not hurt, because I have no major scars

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The old barber is turning over in his grave unless you strop just before shaving.

I guess unless you keep the edge well oiled the very edge will begin to accumulate rust on a molecular level very rapidly. Unless you strop enough before shaving you may or may not remove it.

Had thought about that too.

As I get up at 4:50 am, time is of the essence and while I am keen on the shave I am not quite so keen on stropping at this early hour.

I suspect your old barber turning in his grave didn’t start work at 4:50 am either.

Occasionally I strop for a week in advance, or at least for the next day, and to avoid any corrosion I use a Ballistol applicator for the edge. At the most, I give the blade then 12 laps prior to the shave, sometimes none at all.

Truth be told, I am not even convinced that any noticeable corrosion would form within 24 hrs, but who knows?
It is not important enough for me to reach for a microscope.
To me straight shaving shouldn’t be made into a science and if our granddads got by without a microscope, so can I.



B.

10 laps on paste is like 100 on leather.

I am reminded of the Chrome Oxide experiment of daily stropping and shaving with the same razor for a year and what happened…after about a week, nothing but great shaves.

You can definitely do a strop progression, on just fabric, linen and leathers. Different leathers will produce a different polished edge. Heck just cleaning your leather strop will produce a different (Better?) edge.

It’s all about the stropping. On paste or plain leather, it is the last polish of the edge, before it touches your face. How much it needs depends on the condition of the edge, the strop, your technique and your preference.

The trick is your technique.

Many variables involved, but what I've found works out for me is that the majority of the time, after finishing up a shave, I will strop on 40 laps on linen, followed with 100 on leather. I've tried different variations, but have found that this routinely gives me the best results. After 6-7 shaves, I hone my razor on a fine coticule for a couple dozen laps with water, and strop accordingly. So far, this has been working.

You guys are stropaholics. I'm like 10 strops on pasted canvas and 25 strops on leather after shaving, that's it. I can't imagine 200 times.