Thread: Does stropping keep the razor sharp?

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Well, this is my twisted reasoning:

When I shave without stropping beforehand, the razor feels dull. To me, that means it's not as sharp as it ought to be. You might say that means it's just misaligned or something, but to me that is the same as dull.

When I strop that dull feeling razor, then it feels sharp again.

That's why I am asking if stropping sharpens the blade

thanks everyone for your input, I am just curious what the opinions are. maybe I am splitting hairs again. maybe strapping is the word I am looking for, as Seraphim suggests

Forgive me if I am mistaken but isn't smoothing and shaping of the razor's edge into a keen cutting implement another way of saying sharpening at least a tiny tiny bit?

Sean

Originally Posted by Purvis

Forgive me if I am mistaken but isn't smoothing and shaping of the razor's edge into a keen cutting implement another way of saying sharpening at least a tiny tiny bit?

When we are asked to differentiate between 'sharpening' and 'smoothing' we must take the smoothing option with regards to stropping and not sharpening. A properly stropped blade certainly acts and feels sharper than it was before stropping but it is actually not. It is only aligned to its optimal shape.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

Removing rust and cutting steel are two very different things. rust is essentially a caked powder while steels is aligned molecules bonded together very strongly. Thats like saying that because a knife can cut butter you can use it to slice leather since they are both made from cows.

X

Originally Posted by Purvis

Forgive me if I am mistaken but isn't smoothing and shaping of the razor's edge into a keen cutting implement another way of saying sharpening at least a tiny tiny bit?

Sean

Yes, I think it is! I don't know whether or not you are mistaken, but even if you are, you do not need to seek forgiveness from me. Offer a magical mushroom sacrifice to gssixgun so that the error of your ways may be accounted for and cleansed in his sight

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Yes, I think it is! I don't know whether or not you are mistaken, but even if you are, you do not need to seek forgiveness from me. Offer a magical mushroom sacrifice to gssixgun so that the error of your ways may be accounted for and cleansed in his sight

Gssixgun I am officially offering a magical mushroom sacrifice to you per Hoglahoo's recommendation.



Sean

Originally Posted by Purvis

Gssixgun I am officially offering a magical mushroom sacrifice to you per Hoglahoo's recommendation.



Sean

You did eat those right????
You must journey into the great honing /stropping void to learn of what you seek...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

You did eat those right????
You must journey into the great honing /stropping void to learn of what you seek...

You guys slay me.

HAHAHAHAHA

"What difference does it make? Just strop & shave (AKA I don't know)"

There are some things in life it is wise to just follow the herd and not create a disturbance in the force.

To quote Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol:

"But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it or the Country's done for."

The wisdom of our ancestors is in the stropping....

No , stropping does not sharpen the razor . If it did , there would be no need for pasted strops , and finish hones .

Originally Posted by dave5225

No , stropping does not sharpen the razor .

but does it keep the razor sharp?

Originally Posted by Purvis

Gssixgun I am officially offering a magical mushroom sacrifice to you per Hoglahoo's recommendation.



Sean

Mmmmmmm Magic Mushrooms, aaaaggggghhh.....(use best Homer Simpson voice....)

When in doubt, Read the WIKI....http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...azor_stropping