Thread: Stropping After Shaving

Greetings,
I've been faithfully stropping my razors after I shave. I realize it will probably be a matter of common sense once revealed, but what is the reason for doing this?

Hi,

I do this as well - for removing all remaining water and/or soap from the edge itself (When wiping the razor with the towel to dry it, I won't get too near the edge in fear for ruining it (and the towel as well )).

CU,
-Axel-

I've been wondering about this one myself.

One school of thought (the one included in the Barbers' Manual in the Help Files) directs the razor to be stroppped after each use, which I think I recall my old barber, Jim used to do, but I'm not sure.

Another school of thought suggests that after shave stropping can remove some cutting fins as it realigns others thus making the razor dull prematurely.

Which is correct?

It seems to me that the only way to be sure would be to have identical razors of as many different brands as possible treated exactly the same except for this crucial difference ... one would ALWAYS be stropped after shaving and the other would NEVER be stropped after. Whichever holds its edge the best would be a razor in support of a methodology.

The whole project should only take a few months if enough people weighed in on the experiment. Alternate each razor for about two months with no honing touch ups and report back here. I'll be using two similar razors as I haven't got identical ones so my results will not be as trusted as somebody using two 6/8 TI's for example, but since they will both be vintage Solingen razors (Dubl Duck Special and a Böker) it should produce reliable results.

Who's with me?

X

I was wondering about this myself. It's generally accepted that some steels will "resharpen" themselves after having the edge rolled from use or stropping. I would think that stropping and resting the blade would be correct unless your stropping technique is absolutely flawless. I'm not sure about any of what I'm saying really; just tossing the idea.

Wish I had a good answer for this one. Tis been debated for years with pretty much the responses as received......lol. I do strop both before and after every shave. Force of habit. Lynn

Well, I will continue to strop both before and after my shave if for no other reason than to keep the tradition alive.

Edge realigning with time? With the razor steel as britle as it is, this makes no sence whatsoever... If the micro-fins are bent, they are staying that way, until stropped. The stropping after the shave realigns the fins and cleans the edge from water, preventing corosion.

Stropping before the shave only does another thing. With the razor edge moistened with water after the shave, the microscopic rust will form on fins, eating the steel, which is being removed with the next stroping prior shaving. This sharpens the edge. The razor seam to have "restored" edge, thus making this myth to appear.

In Perret’s book "La Pogonotomia" (1770), he is explaining this "strange" thing:

"Some people have a strange experience: they shave until the razor refuses. They then let it rest 6 to eight weeks, strop 4 or five strokes, and are then able to shave again. The reason is seen under the microsope: rust forms in pores on the edge when it is wet; after a few weeks the rust particles drop off while stropping, reducing edge thickness; some more strokes create a new edge, and the razor is restored"

This makes sence to me...


Nenad (stropping before and after shaving, just because Lynn does so )

Originally Posted by xman

I'll be using two similar razors as I haven't got identical ones so my results will not be as trusted as somebody using two 6/8 TI's for example, but since they will both be vintage Solingen razors (Dubl Duck Special and a Böker) it should produce reliable results.
X

You will not get acurate result without using two IDENTICAL razors. Using two Solingen blades is like racing two German made 2000 cc cars. Especialy if they are vintage. This is due to the tolerances in forging and heat treating temperatures, and the carbon variation in the steel. The best way to test this myth is to use two consecutive ser.num. razors. So, unless you can talk someone here to lend you his #x and #x+(-)1 SRP limited edition razors for two months, you can forget about getting desired results...

Nenad

Originally Posted by superfly

Edge realigning with time? With the razor steel as britle as it is, this makes no sence whatsoever... If the micro-fins are bent, they are staying that way, until stropped.

Well, I would think that there would have to be some elasticity in the steel. Otherwise, how would you be able to reform the edge using a strop?

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?

Personally I strop before shaving only and I agree this polishes off any rust that accumulates in the striations in the edge.

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