Thread: Stop stropping blindly

Potentially, yes. I too was getting great shaves and have pretty good honing abilities.

But my shaves improved slightly when I focused on stropping and dramatically improved my stropping quality. Then suddenly the thumb pad test worked.

The razor shaves better, much better.

Yet, when your stuck with great shaves how do you ever know that the edges should be even better? You never really know "better" until you arrive.

And once you have a test goal for your stropping you can extend out the quality of the edge longer. You can improve your stropping simply by understanding the goal.

Once you get to the next level you'll understand that a great shave is a borderline goal. You can get a better shave, smoother skin, and even less irritation with longer time frames between honings.

Well....i just took one of my blades to the strop.....30 linen 50 leather...did it slow and sure...and still cant feel anything....this is getting frustrating.

Originally Posted by WireBeard

Cool! Thanks! I will give a try. If my next posts are filled with typos....you'll know I pressed too hard.....


Greg

Well, I stopped one of my Dorko's which Josh honed (again, wonderful job!)...15 linen, 30 leather 10 linen, 20 leather...strop nice and taught (hangs from a hook on a wall anchor)...wet my thumb and gently touched the pad to the blade edge both perpendicular and perpendicular but at an elevated angle (thumb tip up, thumb heel down)...didn't feel any bite or stickiness. Thumb still attached.


Greg

Greg,

I did use the TPT on your razors, including that Dorko, and I got the sticky feeling... You might be over-wetting your thumb. It should be just barely moist, not wet. I wet mine, then dab it on my shirt or a towel...

I've also found that I get a better response on this test--and better shaves--when I start out stropping with some pressure, then ease up at the end.

Hope I'm not frustrating anyone too much with this. I like what Alan said; it's just one way to make good shaves even better.

Josh

Originally Posted by WireBeard

Well, I stopped one of my Dorko's which Josh honed (again, wonderful job!)...15 linen, 30 leather 10 linen, 20 leather...strop nice and taught (hangs from a hook on a wall anchor)...wet my thumb and gently touched the pad to the blade edge both perpendicular and perpendicular but at an elevated angle (thumb tip up, thumb heel down)...didn't feel any bite or stickiness. Thumb still attached.


Greg

You shouldn't need to hit the linen quite so much. Try 30+ leather, 10 linen, 30+ leather. If the edge was a bit dull go with 10 linen first as well.

PuFF

I couldn't get good results across all my blades with the Red Latigo, I wound up going to the free "starter" strop Tony Miller included with the 'real' purchase.
But only 10 or so laps on that different leather and I get good draw and a "sticky' edge when I touch my pointer finger to it (I like to check as I strop now).
This thread clued me in to a good means of testing what could be improved before my shave. The strop type/technique and honing comes into play as well.

Hi! That could be.....it was "wet" not "damp"...I'll try it again.

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

Greg,

I did use the TPT on your razors, including that Dorko, and I got the sticky feeling... You might be over-wetting your thumb. It should be just barely moist, not wet. I wet mine, then dab it on my shirt or a towel...

I've also found that I get a better response on this test--and better shaves--when I start out stropping with some pressure, then ease up at the end.

Hope I'm not frustrating anyone too much with this. I like what Alan said; it's just one way to make good shaves even better.

Josh

I'll try that too.

SR shaving really is a combination of art and science...I love it!

Originally Posted by PuFFaH

You shouldn't need to hit the linen quite so much. Try 30+ leather, 10 linen, 30+ leather. If the edge was a bit dull go with 10 linen first as well.

PuFF