Thread: Less is More when stropping?

I've been frustrated almost to the point of giving up straight razor shaving because I cannot keep an edge on a blade. It ususally starts to dull about half-way through the shave and finishes really rough -- dispite starting smooth and passiing the HHT after the hones.

Before reading this thread and The Strop is King thread I usually stropped ~20 passes before and after a shave. Usually 20 on linen after the shave and 20 on leather before the shave. Saturday and today I did 50+50 before and after shaving, finishing on the leather after reading about the micro-oxidation of the edge. Both days gave nice smooth shaves all the way to the end. And I expect that the next shave will be the same. Stropping reall is King. (at least for this week)

I speculate that the linen probably does more to clean the blade than the leather. However, I wonder of the oil of the leather strop helps to keep some of the micro-oxidation at bay as well as add a little polish to the blade. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by Iron_Beard

I've been frustrated almost to the point of giving up straight razor shaving because I cannot keep an edge on a blade. It ususally starts to dull about half-way through the shave and finishes really rough -- dispite starting smooth and passiing the HHT after the hones.

Before reading this thread and The Strop is King thread I usually stropped ~20 passes before and after a shave. Usually 20 on linen after the shave and 20 on leather before the shave. Saturday and today I did 50+50 before and after shaving, finishing on the leather after reading about the micro-oxidation of the edge. Both days gave nice smooth shaves all the way to the end. And I expect that the next shave will be the same. Stropping reall is King. (at least for this week)

I speculate that the linen probably does more to clean the blade than the leather. However, I wonder of the oil of the leather strop helps to keep some of the micro-oxidation at bay as well as add a little polish to the blade. Thoughts?

this is the effect i was referring too when I said it aint hard to see that linen will sharpen the edge.

there is something more afoot if you loose so much half way. What is it; vintage? How many times have you reset the edge- resharpened it I mean?

Originally Posted by kevint

...there is something more afoot if you loose so much half way. What is it; vintage? How many times have you reset the edge- resharpened it I mean?

True enough. I have several straights that I rotate through, which has kept me from totally giving up since I don't want to touch up on a stone daily. I go through 5 or 6 then hone them all. But... I think that I've actually been honing too far and the edge is too thin and crumbles. I don't get a wire-edge. I can see that under the x200 scope. I use the Spyderco's medium, fine, and ultra stones for honing.

I did have my face professionally shaved about January of this year and the barber did comment that I had about the toughest beard he'd ever shaved.

After a high number of passes on the strop, though, the same blade lasted an entire shave and with post-shave stropping and later pre-shave stropping 2 days later the blade was still in good condition. I speculate that I took of the over-sharpened edge and rehoned to a still sharp but possibly deeper beveled edge. Don't know. Just know that I'm currently at 2 for 2 - further use will tell.

No mysteries here. The linen is mildly abrasive and if your razor is just starting to deteriorate doing a bunch of passes 60+ will bring it back.

As far as leather stropping goes do a search here under "the grand experiment". It will tell you of a stropping experiment I did a few years ago.