Thread: morning vs. evening stropping?

OK, maybe I'm imagining things, but it semms that my strop gives me better draw in the morning than it does in the evening. Anybody else notice this?

Could it be Time of day versus the amount of moisture in the air? I have never noticed anything like this myself, but that doesnt mean anything. Maybe we should do a study and post our results and after that we should check out stropping to the phases of the moon. If there is a difference between am & pm stropping I would imagine it would be due to changes in humidity.

That was my conclusion as well (re:humidity...)

Although I generally shave in the morning I have never noticed any difference between mornings and evenings.

Stropping the next morning gives your blades edge that much more time to "grow" back to it's original shape since the last time you shaved. It's very possible this is why you feel a difference in draw.

Originally Posted by marosell

Stropping the next morning gives your blades edge that much more time to "grow" back to it's original shape since the last time you shaved. It's very possible this is why you feel a difference in draw.

Seraphim must have really sensitive touch if he can detect overnight microscopic metal growth on his strap That wouldn't be the strangest thing I've heard about his physical abilities though - remember the iron chest hair?

Anyway, I strap mornings and often evenings, and have never noticed a difference. Maybe everything just feels fresher in the morning

#1- metal miraculously "growing back" into shape is a load of crap.

There, I said it.... I don't care how many old tyme barbers swear that's what happens. They are barbers people, not metalurgists, or rocket scientists. Steel either is elastically deformed (springs back immediately), or is plastically deformed (stays deformed no matter how long you wait). Stropping can fix plastically deformed edges, that's why we do it.

If it helps you to justify buying more razors, then that's great (we all need justifications, don't we?)

#2- I still can't figure out why I get more draw in the morning, but I paid special attention to it yesterday, and it was quite evident yet again. stropped the razor at about 11pm on a TM staretr strop, smooth, almost zero draw. Stropped again at 7 am, and it was definitely "grabby", with good draw?

#3- Hoglahoo's ankle hair is even more freakish than my chest hair. His ankle hair put nicks in his edge that required 180 grit to get out!

Which leads us to #4- what was Hog doing shaving his legs in the first place?!

I've noticed the same thing. I think I'm just weaker in the morning. That, and my attention tends to wander a bit that time of day.

j