Thread: Stroping backward

Originally Posted by xman

"Teeth" are a myth from pre-microscope days (if you don't believe me, try and find a picture of them at any magnification to prove me wrong) so it doesn't matter which 'direction' you strop. As mentioned, a smooth, even stroke is all you need.

Someone here, a while back, posted some photos @ 500X of a "Renaissance" razor (stated as "a good shaver") that clearly showed those mythical teeth. They were not particularly uniform, but a serrated edge was clearly shown.

IIRC it was Serraphim (?) in the old review section. Can't find it now.

I just strop however I feel like it!

I do straight-ish passes, and I move from the heal to the toe and back on razors that are longer than the strop is wide to be sure I strop the whole thing. I don't pay much attention to stropping... I'd rather hone or oogle over razors or... shave!

Okay, so this is very simple. Strop backwards and prove to yourself that there is a marked improvement in the shave quality.

Then, let's talk.

I've just started to strop toe leading in an X pattern so the strop scratches fall into similar lines as any hone scratches.
It's all about the OCD & aesthetics under the microscope
Nothing to do with efficacy. It also allows me to critique the customers stropping as their marks are generally in the opposite direction or at 90 degrees to the edge.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Okay, so this is very simple. Strop backwards and prove to yourself that there is a marked improvement in the shave quality.

Then, let's talk.

Okey Dokey. I will run a test and see if there is any difference. I will hone as usual and strop on the cro ox with the toe leading and then on the leather with the toe leading and will get back to you.
I have always needed to know the why and wehrefor for everything. It has caused me some grief in my time. Especially in school. But that is just how I am.
Some things just seem common sense to me but others take it for granted. For instance in America we drive on the right side of the road but the steering wheel is on the left. Thereby causing many drivers to be killed in head on collisions. There is always a driver but not always a passenger. Also if the steering wheel were on the right, parking would put the driver and the passenger, next to the curb where they would not have to get out into traffic. In Europe they drive on the left and the steerong wheel is on the right causing the same exact problems.
There are many other things like that which I have difficulty understanding as well. It is just me I guess.
Anyway I will get back to you on this. Maybe there is nothing to it but I will try to find out.

Originally Posted by honedright

Someone here, a while back, posted some photos @ 500X of a "Renaissance" razor (stated as "a good shaver") that clearly showed those mythical teeth. They were not particularly uniform, but a serrated edge was clearly shown.

this one?



I still don't think that looks anything like this:

Ah so, the new Spyderco razor

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

this one?

That's way too high of a magnification. It's not the razor's edge you see there, but an extreme closeup of one of the serrated teeth.

If you look at a razor under a normal microscope you'll see that it looks like a saw -- like from this publication:

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

.

I still don't think that looks anything like this:

That's it! Until your razor has an edge like this you will never have that ultimate BBS shave. As though you didn't already know that.

Originally Posted by honedright

Someone here, a while back, posted some photos @ 500X of a "Renaissance" razor (stated as "a good shaver") that clearly showed those mythical teeth. They were not particularly uniform, but a serrated edge was clearly shown.

IIRC it was Serraphim (?) in the old review section. Can't find it now.

Please allow me to counter with some of the information which leads me to my conclusion. I am willing to listen to alternate interpretations of the data shown.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...raights-2.html