Was just wondering the other day why some of the members strop so many times (>50 times or so). Is there any real advantage than just doing like 30 passes (after using the canvas)?:shrug:
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Was just wondering the other day why some of the members strop so many times (>50 times or so). Is there any real advantage than just doing like 30 passes (after using the canvas)?:shrug:
The advantage for many is better shaves. Try it both ways for yourself and see what works for you. If I'm in a great rush, I might only do 20 round trips but I usually do 20 on linen and then 50 to 60 on leather.
20 on canvas - 30 on leather.Unless I'm using a freshly honed blade then I'll up it considerably 50 on canvas- 100 on leather.
I think it really depends on the razor, as well as how it was honed.
If you spend a ton of time on a CrOx laden balsa strop before shaving, will leave the blade in a different condition coming directly off an 8K norton.
Provided your technique is CORRECT- and that is crucial- I don't see a disadvantage in extra stropping. I also believe that WHAT type of strop used is another factor. Tony Miller makes an exceptional product-there are other options,but in my experience, on a latigo strop-the more the better the shave:D
Remember,its only REFINING the edge-unless poor technique deforms the edge, the STROP is your FRIEND.:tu
i usually strop 50-75 times on leather i very rarley use the linen it dont seem to do that much in my experience so far
I was stropping 10/20 linen/leather. I decided to try 25/50 after all I had read here. I noticed a vast improvement.
Dave
First off yes I agree with the above 25 linen and 50 leather everyday keeps the hone away :)
But I have to tell a story too...
During the NC meet up last summer, the discussion of stropping came up, and of course all the old hands said 50 laps minimum on the leather... The looks on most of the new guys faces was classic, to them, that was a major investment of time and energy, when you are new those 50-75 laps is a lot of work, but in 6 months it will take 30 seconds, as your stropping technique and speed increases.... just thought I would share that...
I've settled on 60 laps on leather.
another thing to consider that influences how many passes to do is how much draw the strop has, I have a cheap horsehide strop with no hardware on it that I use for travel it has very very little draw so I will do 100 or more passes on it easily to get the same end result if I was using my TM red latigo strop which I most likely would not do that many at least not on the leather,
of course if you only have 1 strop you don't have anything to compare it to, I am sure at some point no more is accomplished but if your stropping technique is good it won't hurt to do a few extra passes, what worked for me is I doubled the amount of passes I typically did and felt an immediate improvement in shave smoothness and gradually increased by about 10 passes until I found the average sweet spot for each strop
I do 10 canvas and (+)100 on leather..I found that more strokes on the leather gave better results, at least on my LeGrelot. As far as I know you can't strop too much, please correct me if I'm wrong.
Everything everyone here has told you u[ til now is all BS. The reason they strop so much is because they like to fondle their razors.
Come on guys, you know it's true.
:rofl2::roflmao";":nj
:w :rofl2: :roflmaoQuote:
Originally Posted by Ron Gallant
OK, got me...
Ron, I don't think that's entirely true..I found that 100 passes worked better than 50..but then it could be psychologically:hmmm:
Anyway that's what I think:shrug:
On my daily razor, I do 25/50, minimum. Double or triple that if I've just come off the hone.
60 passes on each side of the strop. Except for my russian strop which only has one side and it's 70 passes on it.
Ernest
You must have some nice razors. I like to strop my dble duck like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_E
50 laps on a custom made premium horsehide strop. But of course I have very sharp razors and an excellent strop. :D
Hey, just wanted to tell you I LOVE my RupRazor horsehide strop. And after a bit of palming (I know), the draw is just perfect.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenrup
Because I only have a 4k Belgian blue stone, I find a big difference in stropping 100/100 on linen/leather on an Illinois 827 rather than the 30/60 I used to give it.As soon as I can I will get an 8k stone.
Yes, yes, yes. I did not know how much better the shaves could be until I started "excessive" stropping. Here is my formula for doing just that: I have TWO STROPS. One hangs in the bathroom, the other hangs in my shop. I carry a straight razor with me at all times in leather pouches I make from scrap leather. As I go about chores and other rat-killing, I sometimes take a few seconds to apply a few strops to my carried razor just to feel good. Stropping does make a person feel good. Soon I have another sweet razor for guaranteed BBS for the effort and cost of an extra strop. Several short sessions with the strops and a fairly long one just before the shave make that happen. Always give a few strops after the shave to dry and clean the edge. It works for me. Simple. Robert
I do 50 linen and 50 leather. If you think that the linen doesn't do anything check out this post. :tu
The number of strop passes you've read are a general guideline. There is no set number of passes (round trips) that you must perform. You need to strop until the razor has a sufficiently keen edge. It may take only 5 passes or up to 30 (maybe 50). If you are not getting a keen edge by then, there may be other issues.
Personally, I don't do a count-down while stropping. I just check the edge. When it's good I stop stropping and start shaving.
Scott
I like what Utopian said, try more passes and see if the edge improves. When I was first learning to strop, I found I needed many more passes than I do now to get the same effect - my stropping was more inefficient when I started probably due to not making great contact on each pass. I would have never discovered that if I had not explored beyond the generally recommended number of passes
Now I keep stropping until the edge is where I like it to be. For me that number is between 50 and 90 passes total between linen and leather. Sometimes 50 passes is enough for me and sometimes it isn't - I don't know why (is it my razor? my strop? my technique?) but I have learned that it is better to strop more than to strop less :shrug:
Well the last several shaves i have been stropping more than normal and the feel of the draw from my TM starter strop really makes me feel like it is helping. I have also noticed that the blade glides a little better over my face...even with my so so razor.