Duration of a stropped edge

[MaritimeFanatic]

Gents, I've got a question. Has anybody done experiments with just how long a stropped blade will keep that shave-ready edge?

I work on boats, and after a brief hiatus from shipping, I've decided to head back out and get back on a tug boat (I miss horsepower!). I've been trying to figure out what I can do a shave kit, and since I'll be traveling to get to different ports, I want to keep my gear pretty basic. I had the idea of simply taking a few pre-stropped razors and using a fresh edge each time, but I got thinking about edge quality and duration.

I'm out for two weeks to a month most often. Pros send out pre-stropped blades, but do you think a stropped edge would hold for a couple of weeks? or should I just say heck with it and learn how to use a DE?

Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments? Critiques?

[Utopian]

I strop before every shave, but I've tried doing without it a couple of times. Now, it's going to depend on the razor, but I think I noticed a diminishment in the shave quality by the third shave. If you're going to be on a boat, it seems that you are under greater risk of corrosion so stropping might be more critical.
Can you get by with a paddle strop?

[MaritimeFanatic]

I was thinking about making a small paddle strop, but I'm trying to think about other ways if I can. I more wondering about how long a stropped edge will keep for. Let's say if I took 4-5 razors, all stropped, and used each only once. I'm wondering if the edge on that last razor - the one that has been sitting for a couple weeks - if that last razor would still have a good edge or whether it would be rubbish at that point.

[simpleman]

I think it would. YOu can strop on anything tho. Newspaper, jeans, or the palm of your hand.

[ScottGoodman]

With the salty air, it's questionable. Using stainless blades, you may get by with your scenerio. Either way, I would keep the blades sealed with something that would draw moisture from the blades. It's really more practical to have a paddle strop or simple strop and one or two razors...

[Gibbs]

You have a belt? Before I got my leather strop all I had was a belt and a horse tack "Latigo". I sit and step on oned end of the belt with my right foot, bring the belt over my knee/thigh and hold the other end of the belt in my left hand, making the belt tight. I stropped that way for years on knives. For touching up I don't see why that wouldn't work in a pinch.

[riooso]

I have a shaving kit that I take on trips and inside I wrap a 2 1/2 inch strop around the parameter of the kit. I have recently been using one of the felt pads from Straight Razor Designs and coated it with 0.125 Cubic Boron Nitrate. 20 laps every 5 days is keeping two of my razors going for over 3 weeks now. I strop but I would think that if one were to just give it about 5 laps before shaving it would be all you need. It is a lot smoother than using diamond paste. If you are satisfied with Chromium Dioxide you could use that on the felt. It does not take up a lot of space.


Take Care,
Richard

[cpcohen1945]

You can 'rest' a stropped blade forever -- no loss of sharpness. But I'd be really worried about corrosion (I assume you're in salt water). High-carbon steel rusts easily, and a freshly-honed edge is really vulnerable.

Maybe oiling the blades would be enough to keep the rust away.

If I were in your situation, I'd either carry a strop, or take up DE shaving with stainless-steel blades.

Charles

PS -- The Poor MAn's Strop at www.whippeddog.com is adequate, and rolls up fairly small. It's a good travel strop, IMHO.

[MaritimeFanatic]

Thanks for all the responses. How long you can "rest" an edge is what I was particularly going for. I was thinking of stropping and oiling a few razors and using each one once, but it does seem like a good idea to make some sort of travel strop.

While it depends on what type of boat you're on and where, for the most part I am on tugs that are in and out of rivers and coastwise applications. The interior of the cabin are, for the most part, pretty dang nice. I've been on tugs that were nicer than my apartment. New boats usually have all the amenities - internet, flat screen tvs, independent air circulation and really good food. I eat better out on the water than at home! It's all part of the deal since they want you to keep coming back. No matter how you slice it up, being gone 6 months out of the year kinda sucks. Hopefully I'll be going back to my old company out of Philly, but I'm also looking at New York and an assist company out of Louisiana.

[Kentos]

DEs are boring to shave with compared to straights. While still boring, single edge razors are "funner" than DE's by a long shot, and give a similar auditory sensation, as well as a better shave IMO. So if you do go to a safety razor, try a Gem 1912/14 instead of a DE.