Thread: Stropping After Shaving

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Actually I have 2 SRP razors. I could try that experiment but someone has to talk me into it!

The service you would be performing for the group would be of infinite value. Clearly the debate is at a pitch enough to warrant advanced technical data. Your effort would benefit not only current group members, but generations to come. There will be stories and ballads written about you and your commitment to the art and your name will live in infamy.

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(How'd I do?)

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Elasticity in the steel? I don't know, if this was the case why does the edge seem to be so brittle and why does it get these micro serrations. I would think if it was flexible the visuals of an edge would look very different than it does and considering the thickness at the edge any flexibilty would not allow it to shave well maybe thats why a damascus supposedly shaves better is it the additional hardness of the steel?

Yes, there must be some elasticity; else how would one reform the edge by stropping? Yes, hard steel seems desireable as long as it's not too brittle. That is the idea behind some of the modern powdered tool steels. They are a bitch to shapren but hold an edge like a dream. The concept of a wire edge discussed here freely, is a clear demonstration of the elasticity of steel. That sumbich flops around like it was rubber; don't it?

I own a rolls razor and the instructions say that one should strop the razor after shaving to ensure there is no water or soap left on the blade. That was when I started stropping after I shaved. jmsbcknr

Originally Posted by Korndog

Yes, there must be some elasticity; else how would one reform the edge by stropping?

coming from a technical perspective only:

I'm not sure I would call it elasticity. Basically the molecules of the metal are similar (but more stiff) than ice under pressure. The metal can be bent. Much like a wood chisel that dulls over time and usage. I have a leather belt that I strop my wood tools with after each use. keeps them sharper for much longer and less grinding is required to restore them to factory finish over a period of time.

The razor's edge is so thin that I'd have to guess that the same effect of wood and pressure on the chisel's edge applies when shaving. Again guessing here, the stropping after a shave, especially with the metal warmed from the flesh and hot water making it (in a very small way) more pliable (versus elastic), returns it to its previous stage.

I've read several articles about razors edges growing and shrinking, and outside of the normal expansion and contraction of metal when exposed to heat and cold, I can't see how this would be a reality. Anyone got something scientific I can read on that? Thanks.

FUD
the raw vegan str8 guy.

"The service you would be performing for the group would be of infinite value. Clearly the debate is at a pitch enough to warrant advanced technical data. Your effort would benefit not only current group members, but generations to come. There will be stories and ballads written about you and your commitment to the art and your name will live in infamy."

Well I'm willing to try it the only glitch is that one of the razors is still new in box while the other has been used so I've got to get the unused one shaving like the old one before I can start. If I can get over that problem I would propose a period of shaving with the two razors for 30 days with one shave every day alternating between the two and only those two on alternate days, hopefully they won't have to be honed during that period and if they do they both get the same number of passes on the same media. One will be stropped say 30 times before shaving only and the other 30x before and 30x after.

What do you guys think? any other considerations here? A proposed kickoff time for the experiment will be next monday morning!

thebigspendur,

Why don't you keep a running record of it in the blogs?

getset, ready, GO!!!

I'll open up a new thread in this section titled the grand experiment and post a weekly progress report.

Yay for experimentation and knowledge!

That's great. I fear the representative sample may be too small for certainty. You might want to run longer than 30 days if no difference can be discerned after just 15 shaves each. I'd also like to encourage others to join in with different razors. Someone with a pair of W&B's or Dovo's maybe. Guys with the heavy growth are likely going to get more dramatic results because of the greater stress on the blade. The difference between the razors not being sequentially manufactured may be refuted by turning around and reversing the methodology for each razor. So the one that got stropped after for a few months, gets turned around after the needed honing and is the one that doesn't for a few months. The results might speak for themselves this way.

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