Thread: 1 3/4" Method

Originally Posted by Willbeblood

Can I "Over-strop"?

An interesting question. It will be interesting to read the replies. In my experience, I started with 10 laps on the linen and 20 on the leather. I soon learned that 25 linen and 50 leather really improved my shave. One time I forgot to strop before my shave. The shave was okay, but I noticed that the blade pulled my beard a bit. Next shave, after a proper stropping, the same razor was good as ever.

My guess is, that if it is possible to over-strop, the number of laps is so ridiculously high that nobody would do it. Just my $0.02 and I'm a newbie, so I don't really know the answer.

Dave

I don't think you can over-strop with any noticeable difference. Like Dave mentioned, i would take a lot; I suspect too that edge degradation would be on the order of days rather than weeks or months between proper honing seesions.

However, longer times spent stropping also means an increase in the potetial for edge or strop damage due to incorrect stropping (e.g., lifting spine, too much down pressure, strop nick, etc.).

A 1 1/2" hanging latigo strop is my #1 strop; that and a J. Torrey loom that is 1 3/16". I use a standard X with the spine's heel slightly leading, drawing the razor along and down until the tip is about center of the strops.

Just start out slow and forget about speed; it'll come without even trying.

Thanks again guys. Could'nt have done any of this without ya!
Boyd