Thread: Is it possible to over strop?

If there is such a thing as overstropping, I'm sure I would have seen it by now. I routinely strop the bejesus out of all my razors (100 laps on horsehide before each shave and 50 after.) My results using this routine have been outstanding. I have razors that are 20 shaves in since their last touch up hone and are only now beginning to show the slightest hint of a tug. Unless you're doing multiple sets of a hundred laps, I would think that if your arms are getting tired or cramping, you're likely pulling too vigorously with the non-business hand or applying too much pressure on the razor with the business hand.

Diamond spray on felt is something that makes a very obvious difference to an edge. Try halving your strokes & maybe more importantly halving your pressure. It's a very useful tool & well worth learning it's proper use.

Originally Posted by poppy926

Oh ya after that little exercise in stropping I could barely lift my right arm...LOL I am very out of shape, but it may expedite the muscle memory.

It is not a lot of practice that makes perfect
it is perfect practice that makes perfect.

Go for slow and smooth.

And have fun.

Originally Posted by poppy926

Is it possible to over strop a razor?

A little history. I have been shaving with a razor (Henckels 415) I honed myself and it shaved great for a few shave but I know my stropping was not up to snuff. After watching the Wiki videos it has improved. Recently I re-honed and as someone said on another thread I stropped the "bejesus" out of it (10 felt w/.5 diamond spray, 60 rough leather, and 150 premium I leather) on a modular paddle strop.

Also would like some suggestion on daily stropping with my current setup. At least until I get a hanging strop!!!

Thanks in advance
James

The modular paddle strop is a tough act to follow.

Slow deliberate stropping on a paddle could be
the best option for a beginner. Too many beginners try
to use a hanging strop they way ya might see in
the movies. Movie style stropping almost always
dulls a blade.

Stick with 10-20 laps on your 0.5 micron felt
and 30-60 on smooth leather. The 10
strokes on felt will clean the steel and
make it leather ready. Either rough
leather or premium leather should strop
your edge just fine for shaving.

Adjust as needed based on your shave tests.

When you add a hanging strop to your kit,
start slow and smooth. Speed will catch
you... you will not catch it...

Edit: you may skip refreshing the 0.5 diamond on your felt
except for stropping after honing. i.e. You should not
need any additional abrasive for normal stropping.

One of the senior members stropped with a submicron
pasted strop for months and did not notice any problem
so no worries if you wish to spray away all you diamonds.

Hello, Poppy:

With the correct stropping technique you're okay for many strokes. As a rule, I strop 50 strokes on canvas and 100 on leather. I can do a 25 to 50 stroke ration and that would really serve the purpose of stropping my razor, but I like stropping. I suppose you can strop a 1,000 to 1,000 ratio, but that's going overboard with pleasure. Experiment and see what works best for you, always keeping in mind the correct stropping technique.

Regards,

Obie

Oh yes I am paying close attention to my stropping and use as little pressure as I can. My stropping form and technique are no where near perfect but I dont think my stropping technique would cause any damage. I am at about 40 round trips a minute or so.

And not being able to lift my arm that was for dramatic affect. I just wanted to get some feedback if just stopping could be harmful and I think all you guys have answered my question.
Thanks

It has taken me about 2 months to get to 40 laps a minute.

I would only add that pursuing speed in stropping is probably a waste of time. I really enjoy my stropping and usually do it in 30 lap sets and then test my results. I've never even thought about how fast I'm doing it. If your technique is good, then speed will come over time. I doubt I'm doing 40 laps a minute. I'm much more concerned with making each lap a careful, quality lap. I'd rather do 50 really well-done laps than 200 laps done at the edge of my speed capability. Take time,
enjoy your stropping. The results will come both in edge quality and speed, if speed is what you're after.

Oh no I am just after a the best edge I can get. I have been paying close attention and know I have a tendency to lift the edge. I have eliminated when i just layed the strop flat on the counter (havent lifted the edge since). I felt that I was still stropping slow, its a comfortable pace and I dont feel I am rushing anything.

Being a stubborn DIY'er I want to do it myself, but am still waiting for the one my wife ordered. She wont tell me where she ordered it from. Says its pro honed. If not I will send it out to a honemeister. Then I will have a benchmark and will know where I need to be.

Along with the learning curve here is a tremendous opportunity for learning, and it sounds like you're well on your way. Good luck with it, and continue to use the good resources here for help.