Thread: Shave ready razor from SRD...

Had my first shave with my new DOVO 6/8 White Bone Bismarck and it was awesome! I stropped before shaving on the leather only. When should I begin to incorporate my untreated linen side of the strop? How many passes do you all suggest on the linen side before going to the leather?

Thanks so much,
-c

Glad to hear that you got a good shave out of it. Generally linen is recommended before leather from here on out. Some recommend only leather coming off of the hones but once you've shaved it is linen/leather. I do 50 and 50 .... some guys feel 20 or 30 is enough. Experiment and see what works best for you.

This is really a matter of personal preference. Some people don't use the linen or fabric side at all. Some may do 30 strokes, some 50 strokes and some even more. When I use the fabric side of the strop, I typically will do up to 30 strokes and then 60 on the leather. I used to do around 30 on the leather, but have grown to appreciate more strokes over the years.

The main thing with stropping remains a nice rhythm with minimal pressure keeping the edge and the spine on the materials during the complete stroke.

Sounds like you are off to a great start.

Enjoy!

Lynn

I use both linen as well as leathher, I notice a big difference if I dont. I do not treat the linen/canvas with anything other than a damp cloth once in a great while for cleaning.

I do 25 canvas and 50 leather before hand and then 10 canvas and 20 leather afterwards.

This really seems to keep my edges well and makes the shave very smooth. When I stopped using the canvas for a time I really noticed the difference, and also when I reduced the number of strokes I was doing on the leather.

Thats the routine that works for me and I have no intention of changing it..!

It sounds like you are off to a good start! Well done and have fun..!

Gentlemen,

As a rule, I do 25 strokes on the canvas and 50 to 75 on the leather. That seems to work well for me. Occasionally I will do 50 strokeson canvas and 100 on the leather for the Wackers.

Regards,

Obie

I seem to fall into roughly the same trend as many others. 25 linen, 40 leather. When I feel ambitious or have lots of time, I'll do 45 linen, 60 leather.

I usually do 25 cloth and 50 leather. Lately, I've been experimenting with the number of laps, but that's a subject for another thread...

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

As a rule, I do 25 strokes on the canvas and 50 to 75 on the leather. That seems to work well for me. Occasionally I will do 50 strokeson canvas and 100 on the leather for the Wackers.

Regards,

Obie

Not to hi-jack the thread but I must ask. Obie, I have two Wachers, One 1/4 hollow and one full hollow both 6/8's. Is the reason that you state more strokes for your Wacker's because the steel seems to be harder? I know I have had a heck of a time keeping mine up to snuff.

Hello, Jim,

As I understand it, the Wackers in general have a much harder steel. That's why I use more laps on the strop. The addition seems to give my razor a sharper, crisper edge.

Regards,

Obie