Thread: Stropping Preferrences

Just wondering how others strop.

I dry my razors with kitchen roll as well as I can making sure to get between the scales etc after a shave.

I then strop gently 15 laps on canvas and 40 good laps on English Bridal then leave it open in the bedroom for most of the day to air dry some more before putting it back in my razor drawer.

Before bed, I get the next razor in my rotation and give it 100 good laps on leather, I put it back in the bedroom ready for the nest mornings shave.

So basically between uses each razor gets 15 on canvas and 140 on leather.

I have a 3'' strop but always use x strokes, it became a habit and I don't have to adjust for smilers etc.

I dry the razor with a towel after use and let it air dry open for a few hours before putting it to bed.

Prior to shaving, 20 laps on linen and 60 on leather.

That’s it.

If I have to strop more than 60 on leather, I take the razor to a balsa paddle with CrOx and if that doesn’t work, it’s off to the stones.

Before shave: 30 on English Linen, 60 on Cordovan

After shave: Dry with cotton face cloth, and if needed, toilet paper in the scales and around the piviot. Then 7 stokes on the English linen and 10 on the Cordovan just for good measure. Then back in the stand it goes, partially open overnight, just in case.

I just recently found the magic in balsa wood and diamond paste thanks to one of our members here (CresentCityRazors). So I've kind of changed up my routine.

Before the shave - 20 laps on CrOx pasted linen and 40 laps on leather and finish with a 40 lap palm stropping. That didn't change.

However, I took all 8 razors in my rotation (was time to refresh anyway) and applied the method of using balsa wood and diamond paste. I use 4 pieces of balsa wood. Applied CrOx on one, 1 micron diamond paste on one, 0.5 micron on one and finally 0.25 micron on one. Gave them 30 strokes each.

Since these razors already have outstanding edges and bevels, this mornings shave was about the same, maybe a little smoother. It was still a very smooth close 2 pass shave. I didn't notice a difference until I conditioned my face after the shave. Huge difference! My face didn't have any rough spots at all! I sometimes have tiny rough spots. Smooth as smooth could be!

After the shave - 10 laps on leather strop, oil, and return to rack for next use.

So in review, I plan on using balsa wood strops to refresh my razors often. It really did improve the shave I must say!

30-40 on leather, before the shave, face lathered and ready.
Dry w/cotton towel
Don't have a problem with water between the scales, but still blow some air thru them.
Wipe with microfiber cloth.
30-40 on leather.
Then goes into a flower frog, slightly opened.
A day in the frog, and back with the gang.

What's a flower frog..?!

Let razor completely dry and usually strop in the evening the day of the shave
35 on linen ~ 65 on leather
Put the razor away and it's good to go for the next time.

Pete <:-}

Wow, lots of variations. Personally it depends on what I've done with the razor recently. If it's one that's been honed for a while I'll usually hit CrOx pasted cloth for 10-20, flax linen for 10-20, suede side for 20-30 then smooth side for 100. If it is freshly honed I'll skip one or all before smooth side depending on how fresh.
After shaving, dry hands first on towel then razor on completely dry towel then toilet paper between scales below and above pivot then dry blade with it. Then I'll strop 20 laps on suede side and put in barber box for the night

The barber box is where the regular rotation lives but i try to leave one space open for drying. I figure (rightly or wrongly) that the wood helps to dry out any residual moisture.

Edit:
If there is a box for them I sometimes put them in the box but I have quit doing that so much with ones I use a lot because taking them in and out of the box wears the box out sooner.

20 linen, 80 leather, shave. Dry with bathroom tissue and a cotton towel. 20 linen, 80 leather, then the Frog sitting as Outback does. I put it away when I use the next one and I need to put another razor in the frog. My frog is Orange. So its faster. LOL

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

I just recently found the magic in balsa wood and diamond paste thanks to one of our members here (CresentCityRazors). So I've kind of changed up my routine.

Before the shave - 20 laps on CrOx pasted linen and 40 laps on leather and finish with a 40 lap palm stropping. That didn't change.

However, I took all 8 razors in my rotation (was time to refresh anyway) and applied the method of using balsa wood and diamond paste. I use 4 pieces of balsa wood. Applied CrOx on one, 1 micron diamond paste on one, 0.5 micron on one and finally 0.25 micron on one. Gave them 30 strokes each.

Since these razors already have outstanding edges and bevels, this mornings shave was about the same, maybe a little smoother. It was still a very smooth close 2 pass shave. I didn't notice a difference until I conditioned my face after the shave. Huge difference! My face didn't have any rough spots at all! I sometimes have tiny rough spots. Smooth as smooth could be!

After the shave - 10 laps on leather strop, oil, and return to rack for next use.

So in review, I plan on using balsa wood strops to refresh my razors often. It really did improve the shave I must say!

If you set up a .1u balsa strop, you will find the edge actually feels more comfortable on the face (i.e. if you use a low shave angle!) than the .25u, and that once the razor is dialed in, you don't need the other grits, just a daily post-shave stropping on the .1u. You will probably find that over the first half dozen shaves that the edge will continue to improve in comfort and cutting ability. Just remember keep the angle low cause it will sure cut and exfoliate you otherwise.

If you get your diamond paste in the 20g tubs from Kent, they do not sell .1u diamond paste. You will need to buy from Ted Pella, TechDiamondTools, or some other vendor and it will probably be in a 5g or 10g syringe format. So far, I have not found any of the Chinese stuff on fleabay or Amazon to be significantly inferior. Concentration is not critical. Size grading kinda is but your chances are very good that anything labeled .1 micron will work just fine.

I do 50 laps on the balsa after every shave on the .1u and edges stay brilliantly sharp. Not through any particular skill of mine... I am not an edge magician, but the stuff just works once The Method is dialed in. I haven't been stropping on leather post-shave. I prefer to lather my face and then strop on leather while the lather stands on my face.

I dry the razor by pulling it through some folded TP or my tshirt, and I let it sit out on my desk for an hour or two before closing it up. I almost never get any water on or between the scales and our AC keeps the house pretty dry so any moisture between scales will dry up pretty quick. I don't oil. For long term storage I use petroleum jelly or motor oil. Motor oil is formulated to leave a long lasting film on steel and not bead up. Petroleum jelly is great for deep storage. All oil is wiped off before stropping and shaving so its not like I am poisoning myself by injecting motor oil. It is free, since it is just the dribbles left in the jug from adding or changing oil. Obviously, don't use used oil. It doesn't make as good of a film. Note that all oil will stain some scales so apply sparingly.

My two favorite strops are a compressed cowhide one that I made a few years ago, and a Kanayama. I mostly use the cowhide. It is whistle-quick and has the style of hardware that I like, but the Kanayama has a luxurious feel to it so sometimes I go like 30 on each.

After the shave I dry my razor with a face towel or Kleenex and then strop it 15 times on rough leather and 40 on smooth. Shave and repeat.