Thread: When to strop?

hi,

I'm new to shaving with a cutthroat and have a few questions. Firstly is when to strop, some have told me to do so straight after shaving and others and have said at least 24 to 48 hrs after/ I dont know any better what should i do? second is when i went to buy my strop they didn't have paste and said i can strop without it for now, is that fine? and lastly should i use both sides of the strop each time im stropping or just mainly the leather side?

Any advise and help would be GREATLY appreciated!

wvz

First of all, welcome to SRP. There's just about all the information you could want on using a straight here.

I'd really recommend you click the link at the top of the page for the wiki. There is a TON of information there, and you'll find answers to all of these questions, and plenty of others you didn't even know to ask.

As for stropping....

1. You should strop before every single shave, period. Most of use strop immediately before. I lather up my face, strop my razor while the lather softens my whiskers, and then refresh the lather and shave. Some folks, who have an extremely coarse beard like mine, will sometimes strop again before doing their final pass ATG (Against The Grain)

2. Don't worry about the paste for now. A lot of folks never use strop paste. There are several kinds, all the way from a paste that is nothing more than grease to condition the leather of your strop, to highly abrasive pastes that are really used in the honing process, and should only be applied to a separate strop that is only used for that specific abrasive paste.

3. As for using the "other side" of the strop, I'm assuming that your strop has a leather side, and a heavy canvas side. (The canvas is usually made of linen) If that's what we're talking about, opinions vary, but I usually do 20 full laps on the linen side, and then 60 laps on the leather before each shave.(1 lap = 2 strokes, 1 in each direction)

From what I've seen, my method is fairly standard. Some do 10/70, or 25/50, but the basic idea is the same. Start on the linen, and then move to the leather, and spend longer on the leather.

I also make about 10 laps on the linen after I shave, but that's one of those areas where opinions vary more widely. Some folks strop way more than that after their shave, some don't do a post shave strop at all.

Also, since you're new, lets us know what specific shaving equipment you have, and where you got it. It might help to give more specific advice.


*Edit - one more thing, the deal with waiting 48 hours, from what I've read, has more to do with not shaving with the same razor more than once every other day. The edge of the razor has a certain amount of memory, and in theory, it will straighten somewhat on it's own if left alone. Of course, I shave with the same blade 7 days a week, so I doubt the validity of this. After all, straightening out the razor edge is what stropping is for.

Wow, Thank you so much!

Um I live in South Africa. I bought my razor (a Dovo) and strop from a place called Sharp edge Sharp Shooter. Before this I have been using since december a razor with disposable blade to start off. Didn't want to spend so much without knowing more about it. Love shaving with the Real Deal though. Im really enjoying shaving now instead of it being a morning hastle.

I you have a 'shave ready' razor from one of the reliable suppliers, shave with it before stropping to see what a sharp razor should be like. Thereafter strop on the leather side of the strop. You don't need paste for normal stropping. Many, myself included, strop immediately after using the razor to make sure the blade edge is fully dry and clean. Correct stropping tecnnique is important and there is a lot of good info on this site if you search for it. Make sure you strop with the spine of the blade leading and the razor flat on the strop.Turn the razor over on the spine at the end of the stroke. Concentrate and don't try to strop too fast. A practice strop is a good idea, rather than an expensive one to start with.

Welcome to SRP, wvz,

All that needs to be said has been said already. You should be able to find some more background in TonyJ's article Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

Keep us posted on your progress.

What works for me:

Before shaving:
30 laps on canvas
60 laps on leather

After shaving:
10 laps on canvas
20 laps on leather

No need to worry about pastes until stropping won't do it anymore.Could be a month or two or more.

Welcome to SRP. Personally I strop 50 linen and 50 leather before each shave and a dozen on leather after each shave to remove any micro gunk from the striations before I wipe the razor down with a silicone gun cloth impregnated with a rust preventative.

There is a forum member named Jasper Kade who lives in South Africa. You might shoot a PM out to him and see if he is in your neck of the woods.

Hello,
I do 20-30 linen. 40-50 leather before & 10 linen after, to ensure the edge is dry.
Jasper may point you in the right direction. He's in Pietermaritzburg. Are you near Jo'burg, only i looked at the shop's site & it's noticed it's Sandton.

I do 60/60 with lather on my face. 60 laps on the
linen with ultra-light pressure, 40 leather with a
bit of pressure to build up draw, and 20 laps with
just ultra-light pressure on the leather.

- Scott

Thank you all so much, i'm quiet overwhelmed at the response you all have given and how timely it has been.

I will try get hold of Jasper Kade. yes I actually live in Edenvale but close enough to sandton.

I tried getting hold of that The World of Straight Razor shaving but having some trouble, the shipping costs are too expensive. I'm on the look out for a good substitute though and will keep you all posted! : ) I also heard from a friend that there's a person who does straight razor shaves not too far from where i stay so am planning in next couple of weeks to try see him for a shave and some advice.

After using your advice about the stropping and reading some other posts on common mistakes i think my shave, yesterday for me, my better. And i also tried shaving against the grain too. a bit tricky holding skin taught because its so slippery. . . and my neck needs some work and skill not to leave it like stubbly? Practise makes perfect i HOPE!

Wvz