Thread: Stropping after Honing

I usually just strop for about a minute or two on regular leather after honing (again before shaving). I do use the Kanayama Suede ( usually just a few strokes) before leather after my shaves though

After honing I go lightly on the linen for 20-30 laps. Then progress thru 3 types of leather at 80 to 100 each.

Before a shave its 12-15 on linen and 80-100 leather. After a shave, its 12-15 linen and 30-50 leather just to clean and dry things up a bit.

I vary it depending on what I have done or what razor it is.
Post hone: usually cotton for 20 then heavy draw suede side leather for 20 then light draw coat side leather for 50
Pre shave w/ honed razor: 20 suede side, 40 smooth side then go to linen 20 then cotton 20, then suede 20, smooth 40 if it tugs or isn't smooth.
Post shave: heavy draw suede 20

...or something resembling those normally. Possibly pasted sail cloth to refresh if it seems like linen, cotton and/or leather won't do it.

My usual post honing routine is 20 Kanoyama canvas, 35 Kanoyama suede, followed by 65 Kanoyama cordovan, using a 3-piece Kanoyama strop of course.

I use jnats almost exclusively, and always felt that flax linen sets a fresh jnat edge back a little, linen is abrasive. The canvas seems to smooth the edge feel a little, some jnats can impart a very keen edge. I do like flax linen instead of canvas after honing with a coticule.

After shaving, the routine is usually 35 suede/65 cordovan. If I’m doing an edge longevity test, flax linen every 5-7 shaves will help after 35 shaves or so.

After honing synthetic finisher 30 laps on CrOX pasted basle, five linen, 40 English Bridle leather. Natural finisher 5 linen, 40 English Bridle leather

Before a shave 5 on linen and 30 on Roo leather.

After a shave, its 20 linen and 40 leather just to clean and dry things up a bit.

Touch up synthetic finisher 30 laps on CrOX pasted basle, five linen, 40 English Bridle leather. Natural finisher laps on stone 5 linen, 40 English Bridle leather

How can you have a poll with just 4 choices? There are so many variables to how people strop their razor after honing. No definitive data here.....

I mainly strop by how the razor sounds on my strops. Of course, the grind of the razor changes the pitch, but generally it goes from scratchy to smooth.

Generally, any stone other than a coti, a razor goes through 75 linen then 100 leather on my 30k kanayama. Coti's can be upto double that number for a coarser one.

Regardless of finish, post shave is 20/20 linen and leather then 75/100 again preshave.

Originally Posted by Steve56

I do like flax linen instead of canvas after honing with a coticule.

Originally Posted by dinnermint

Coti's can be upto double that number for a coarser one.

Interesting, that seems to be coming up in a few of these polls I did..
I happen to agree with the general idea that a Coti edge benefits from more "Linen" seems I am not alone

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Interesting, that seems to be coming up in a few of these polls I did..
I happen to agree with the general idea that a Coti edge benefits from more "Linen" seems I am not alone

We better agree, started doing it after reading your posts on coti honing! It does make a night and difference, and has resulted in aignificantly less head banging against the wall as far as honing goes.

Yup, depend on the steel Leather always, sometimes vintage flax linen then leather.

Does it make a difference? Prove it to yourself.

Do a treetop hair test off the stone, (spine on the skin, edge ¼ inch off the skin), strop just 10 laps on clean leather and do another tree top test.

Any difference?

I strop after each stone on firehose except the final hone. My firehose is aggressive. My linens are vintage, well washed rolled, soft and supple.

Stropping is way under rated.