Thread: Can stropping by itself make a razor pass the HHT?

Originally Posted by Spokeshave

With all due respect, I question this assumption. What is happening when you dull it with a shave? Is that removing the metal at the edge? If so, then wet, lubricated hair and skin is removing the metal. Hmmm. If the wet hair and skin doesn't remove metal to dull it, what does it do? Perhaps it just misshapes it. If so, isn't it possible then, that an untreated strop can reshape it?

Isn't it possible that the final razor's edge is a delicate edge that can be shaped by stropping even without removing metal? An edge that's delicate enought that wet whiskers dull it as they misshape it?

Just thinking outside the diamond paste box.

- Dale

IMHO 2 things happen when you shave. 1: you cause misalignment of the edge, 2: you will dull the edge to some extent. If even dripping water can excavate a rock than moving a razor against the skin and across hairs will cause wear to some extent. That is why you do have to touch up a razor occasionally as the leather does not remove enough metal.