Thread: Stropping the Night Before

I don't always stop right before I shave. I usually do it whenever I finish honing, cause I like honing but hate stropping, so it balances things out.

Ok, first test down.
I did not mention it, but I did 5 touch up laps on my Naniwa 12k just to make sure I was starting from the same basic point.

I could tell no difference. BBS on both sides and both razors shaved extremely well and comfortable.

So far, night stropping is sounding good!

I also think that I may just do a quick Camilia oil wipe down after the stropping. I have no reason why because test #1 went so well except that is how the honemeisters ship them.

David

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I don't always stop right before I shave. I usually do it whenever I finish honing, cause I like honing but hate stropping, so it balances things out.

I have to admit I find stropping a little nerve wracking. It is the only aspect of this art that I have history of damaging equipment doing. Now that I have a nice Premium IV strop, I am still paranoid about nicking it.

I strop after honing which is the night before usually.
I have not experienced any differences from a freshly stropped razor.

It's supposed to be done right before shaving however I don't think there would be any noticeable difference doing it the night before however noticeable doesn't mean no difference. One of the reasons for stropping is to remove micro rust that forms very quickly on bare steel so if you strop the night before you will have some accumulation no matter how trace it may be.

Considering the level of general morning stupor I experience, stropping the night before increases the life of my strop.

Yes, I can shave in my sleep. Stropping? Nope.

LG Roy

So there is a reason to lightly oil the blade afterword.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

It's supposed to be done right before shaving however I don't think there would be any noticeable difference doing it the night before however noticeable doesn't mean no difference. One of the reasons for stropping is to remove micro rust that forms very quickly on bare steel so if you strop the night before you will have some accumulation no matter how trace it may be.

I strop immediately before my shave, and sometimes a light strop after. I don't think it matters much when you strop, just as long as the razor gets stropped.

Thanks for posting this thread... I was contemplating stropping in the evening just to buy myself some more time in the morning. SO far from what I have read here, there is apparently no difference. However, I do like to strop following a shave as the final step after cleaning, drying and putting my razor away for the night.

Ok - day 2 experiment results. A Dovo Special 6/8 and a Dovo Bismark.

Special on the right side, Bismark on the left. I can't tell any difference in the shave quality or comfort. Both did an excellent job. And I did 3 passes WTG, XTG and ATG - all equivalent.

So I will now add stropping to my nightly ritual and I will put a thin film of oil on the blade afterwords. In the morning I will wipe the oil and shave.

Thanks for every one's encouragement and I hope there is value derived for everyone on this experiment.

David