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I have a question about stropping: Is the effect time-limited or can I strop anytime?
It just seems like a good idea to me to strop both my razors really well for instance when I use the bathroom or just have a bit of time on my hands. Then I save some time shaving later on. Is this a good idea or is there no point?
I think you may have to just experiment. I've always believed that stropping lasted a while, once accomplished. It seems to work okay for me. I never have a good reason to repeatedly try it though. That being said, many people, more experienced than I say it doesn't work. So, as they say "What do I know?"
I will tell you that you do have to watch out for "drive by stropping" and that is when you strop simply because your walking by the strop. For some odd reason, maybe because your not about to actually shave, this can lead to poor, sloppy, stropping.
Make sure that your quaility doesn't go down.
To pre-strop the razor is not a bad thing, Every razor I hone for somebody else is basically pre-stropped...
But it is not the optimum way to do it, stropping also removes the micro-corrosion that starts to form immediately after you finish. So to strop a razor today to shave tomorrow, you would be losing something in between.. I always oil the blade before shipping to try and present the absolute best edge to the customer just for that reason, it isn't perfect but it is the best we can accomplish long distance...
Now if you were to say have a stropping routine of say 25 linen and 50 leather before shaving, and you did this the day or 2 before, then just did say 10 laps before the shave that would probably work... The optimum way to do it IMHO is do yer stropping right after you do the first lather application, then strop, this allows the lather to sit on the beard, and gets the razor to the keenest edge at the same time.... rinse, re-lather, and then shave.....
I think the main issue with pre stropping is that HCS blades really begin to form rust on a microscopic scale within minutes of completion of you shave. Stropping helps remove this. if you strop hours before you shave you can lose this benefit.
Just experiment and see if you notice a real difference in shaving.
I personally have done both. As mentioned by Glen, I like to strop while the lather is on my face softening up my beard.
I also, to save time, have stropped my razor earlier in day, as you said, on my way back from the bathroom. I think either way is fine. I've bought razors from respected restorers who've stropped them for me before shipping, and I still strop it before use because of crap on the blade. I had one such razor one day, and it looked as if the blade was chipped, When I looked at it through my loupe, I could see it was just some kind of debris, probably would have rinsed off, So, I guess it's not a bad idea to maybe just hit the strop 10x right before the blade hits your face even if you "Pre Stropped"
Enjoy....Rich
stropping your razor takes a minute so why not do it right before you shave as part of your pre shave routine
I strop right before I shave and after I'm done with another 10 laps on the horse after I dry the blade off. I think it helps get micro gunk/skin out of the striations.
I do sometimes like to strop just for the sake of stropping....I find it soothing.
I'll strop it again immediately pre-shave as well...
"Drive-by stropping":rofl2: I guess I'm a victim!
I use the same razor daily and always strop just before shaving.
I have read somewhere that you should let the blade rest after your shave and always strop just before reusing the blade.
The one thing that I have noticed is that when I hone my razor, the second shave is always better then the first shave. I think this is something to do with letting the razor rest as well.
Thinking on the original question, I have had three razors come from vendors who had Lynn do the honing. I didn't strop any of these before the first time I shaved with them. I got great shaves out of all three and I assume Lynn stropped them after honing. So I suspect that it is okay to pre-strop as long as the razors are not left too long before a shave and not in a humid environment.