Thread: Stropping Observation

So what your final result is, is that slack or taught, strOpping did nothing until you soaped your strOp and used pressure? So without that, strOpping is a waste of time?

My final result was taut, using light pressure, and the strop impregnated with soap. But, that doesn't mean I would conclude there was no benefit from other options.

What I was looking for was a way to dramatically improve an edge in a way that was easy and repeatable. I think, on the contrary, I've been stropping in a way that was designed to hold the edge on a razor. That always felt like a losing battle.

My next step is to see if the "improvement" can be used to extend honing out to greater lengths than before.

Ahhh...more like touching up than just keeping a good edge.

Interesting...leather only, or are you also using linen?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

...Finally, I think I succeeded. I applied dry bar soap to the strop. I used a touch of pressure to build the most draw possible on the strop. Then I rode the razor out for about 30 passes, working it against the draw. The razors really seemed to protest being stropped like this. Strop held taut. All the edges improved noticebly on the TPT test. They all became noticebly sticky. I test shaved with the razors and they all shaved very, very well too. ...

Do you think the soap could be filling up the scratches in your bevel, making it appear to feel smoother and stickier?

Originally Posted by JonnyBoy

Do you think the soap could be filling up the scratches in your bevel, making it appear to feel smoother and stickier?

I am betting the answer is no.
As you know AFDavis, I have always believed that a nice draw and a little pressure was the only way to go but I never thought to use dry soap to build up draw. I bet it created considerable heat. Am I right?