Thread: No strop...cant tell a difference...

As you all probably know I lost (it was stolen) the wonderful 3" latigo strop that I got from Tony. I will be ordering one of the travel strops from Tony when they are ready, but for right now I am using the belt I wear every day.

My problem is that its been 3 or 4 shaves and I really cant tell a difference in the shave between stropping and not stropping (or at least not stropping with a real strop).

This leads me to believe that either:
a. I was never stropping correctly, but I find that pretty hard to believe considering all the time I invested into reading about the right technique etc.
b. My razor isnt sharp enough to benefit from stropping, but they both shave very well, so I dont think thats it.
c. My face just cant tell the difference
d. it takes more than a few shaves without stropping or stropping on a good strop to really feel the difference in the blade.

Any ideas?

Josh,
My feeling is that ANY stropping will get 90% of the job done. Good strop, average strop, poor strop, pants leg......friction on the razors edge will realign it. Just like razors themselves, a $50 Dovo or a $100 Dovo will pretty much shave the same. The difference though is in the details and how it makes you feel when you use it.
A strop with a nicer surface adds that extra 10% as does a wider strop, a thicker strop, hard leather, soft leather, etc..... I have just about one of everything I have ever made hanging in my bathroom and all do a great job. I have had Illinois strops and currently am evaluating several Jemico strops and all work really well. I do have favorties though based on the feedback they give me when stopping and what razor I am using on them. Each person likes something different, has their own opinions or is following a tradition they believe in and that is why we believe in and choose different strops and/or use a substitute. Same with the razors. I love my TI razors and prefer the fel of the nice horn handles of the fancy worked back modles but most mornings just grab a $75 TI Special Coffier or Evide Sonat. Basic TI, gets the job done as well as the best.
Basically your belt will get the job done most of the way as will that $50 Dovo. I don't believe though you will get too far without stropping at all. Maybe aht efirst few shaves will feel pretty mch the same but at some point the edge will degrade rapidly and need stropping again.
Tony

Thanks Tony that makes a lot of sense, I was starting to worry. I definitely miss the sound and feel of the latigo strop leather, and I REALLY miss that 3" wide strop, I dont think I could ever own a thinner strop after using it. But at least I don't have to worry about not getting an ok shave until you finish up your travel strop design, I feel much better now!

JL, I was getting poor-quality shaves from a honemeister-sharpened razor. I could only deduce that it was my poor stropping. After practice, the same razor gives me a great shave. Stropping had been a technique for hundreds of years. It really does make a difference. Just make sure you feel a draw when stropping.

-Rob

JL,

What razor are you using? If it's a stainless one, perhaps its hardness results in getting two or three shaves between stroppings. Just a thought.....

Originally Posted by robertlampo

...Just make sure you feel a draw when stropping.

To be fair, that depends on the strop. I've been using my 361 which is a very firm strop with almost no draw. The latigo paddle is a different story, wonderful drawing sensation.

X

Originally Posted by EdinLA44

JL,

What razor are you using? If it's a stainless one, perhaps its hardness results in getting two or three shaves between stroppings. Just a thought.....

Not sure what the blade is made of, I got it from Bill http://www.billysblades.com/Coll.Razors/3165.htm whatever it is made of, the entire blade is very thick and heavy, this could be contributing to it holding an edge as well I suppose.

That's a nice razor. I suspect you're right. Its heaviness is allowing it to hold an edge longer so that's why you can get by not stropping between shaves.

Originally Posted by xman

To be fair, that depends on the strop. I've been using my 361 which is a very firm strop with almost no draw. The latigo paddle is a different story, wonderful drawing sensation.

X

The latigo leather strop I had from Tony had wonderful draw, a wonderful friction to suction ratio! I miss it

JL,
The travel version is nearing completion. I can do any of them without linen and they roll up nicely but I wanted to add a strap and snap so you have something to keep it in a nice bundle in your luggage. I could hook up one of those "house arrest" ankle braclets to it so you can't stray too far and leave it behind <g>.

Tony (who has left quite a few things at motels himself) (of course there were a few things I wish I left at the bar but ahh, those were my younger careless days <g>)