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.