Thread: Break free from the numbers!

Even if there is a "magic number" of laps that makes an edge great, that number might only apply to one razor. Because razors differ in size, grind, steel type, tempering, etc. every razor is going to be different in the way they hone and strop. You might get lucky and find that similar razors behave similarly, for example Solingen steel, full-hollow blades.

Some studies have found that as you increase the number of laps, there is a diminishing return on performance vs effort, so if you do enough strokes, you might not see a difference in blades.

Great thread. It seems to me that counting laps is an important first step for a lot of people, and akin to crawling, it helps them to walk and then run later on; a starting point but as you realize that counting strokes matters far less than the feel of the blade on the hone or leather it's importance diminishes and eventually disappears.

Originally Posted by RayClem

Even if there is a "magic number" of laps that makes an edge great, that number might only apply to one razor. Because razors differ in size, grind, steel type, tempering, etc. every razor is going to be different in the way they hone and strop. You might get lucky and find that similar razors behave similarly, for example Solingen steel, full-hollow blades.

Some studies have found that as you increase the number of laps, there is a diminishing return on performance vs effort, so if you do enough strokes, you might not see a difference in blades.

Right...its called muscle fatigue. Unless your stamina is great enough to sustain it for longer periods of time. But eventually it gonna happen. So I do take breaks between strops, on a newly honed edge. ( The only time I use a progression of strops)

After that its 30 seconds, before n after a shave, on a single strop.

Originally Posted by rolodave

The only thing I count is the number of times I shake my brush over the tub.

33. The product of two prime numbers

33? After a few shakes your just playing with it!

Counting still out of habit yet paying more attention to the razor, strop, and stroke evenness more than anything else.

I'm a numbers OCD Guy, it's 100 for me that means 50 up 50 down = 100 Linen first then 50 up 50 down = 100 Leather, I wish I could break away from my life controlling little OCD but I'm affraid it's not worth fighting.

Never counted. I strop for about 10 seconds and shave. Honing to refresh an edge I just go by feel..when it's done it's done. Time about 5 minutes round trip from bathroom to bench

Originally Posted by celticcrusader

I'm a numbers OCD Guy, it's 100 for me that means 50 up 50 down = 100 Linen first then 50 up 50 down = 100 Leather, I wish I could break away from my life controlling little OCD but I'm affraid it's not worth fighting.

OCD may be a virtue in a craftsman.

Originally Posted by Speedster

Counting still out of habit yet paying more attention to the razor, strop, and stroke evenness more than anything else.

That’s what I was doing it out of - habit. I guess it was just my time to move on. Much like rezdog I couldn’t count AND pay full attention. Now, like the old barbers I have seen, I just strop for a while and I’m done.

“This thread was brought to you today by the number “33””-(Sesame Street reference for those who don’t know)

Originally Posted by Steel

That’s what I was doing it out of - habit. I guess it was just my time to move on. Much like rezdog I couldn’t count AND pay full attention. Now, like the old barbers I have seen, I just strop for a while and I’m done.

“This thread was brought to you today by the number “33””-(Sesame Street reference for those who don’t know)

Thanks for the trip through the wayback machine to 1970 something...



I can totally see where keeping track of lap count might take away focus paid to the quality of the strokes themselves. Also from the varying numbers of laps used by so many experienced members here, I (slowly) came to realize that the overall quality of stropping mattered more than the lap count.

However, I'm just OCD enough to continue counting regardless of feel or necessity,...and I'm a numbers guy so there's always that.