Thread: Stropping after shaving ... or not ? ... But why ?

Originally Posted by bassguy

I like stropping afterwards, 20 on linen and 108 on leather. Then oil and put away. This has kept my razors shiny and rust free, and ready to go out of the box.

108? Wow, you're precise!

Oil?! Dohhhh. I should probably be oiling my razors!

After shaving, I wipe on a towel to clean and dry the blade, then strop on the linen side.

Before the shave, I strop on the leather side.

So as not to lose track of what I've done, I have a system:
Razor is put away in it's leather pouch, top facing left if I haven't linen stropped it, facing right once I have.

Once the leather side stropping is done, and it's ready, I close the flap of the pouch (top still facing right, ready to unsheath with my right hand).

Hopefully this is a system that'll keep working even as my memory fails. But if I ever find the razor in it's sheath, flap closed, but facing left???? I'll consult the form.

;-)

strop 60/60 linen leather before and 20/20 after shaving, leave them sitting in my hot water boiler cupboard for an hour and store in its original box without oil. The boxes seem to be quite good at preventing rust and corrosion, I've came back 3 months later and an unused edge is still good to go out the box

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

108? Wow, you're precise!

I do 100, because I've always done 100, then 8 slower, exact strokes just to finish. 108 is an important number in Eastern religions, no other reason really.

Originally Posted by bassguy

I do 100, because I've always done 100, then 8 slower, exact strokes just to finish. 108 is an important number in Eastern religions, no other reason really.

Oh, interesting, I just thought it was a typo and I was being funny! I actually like the 30/70; I've thought of 20/60, etc, but I can't get over the fact that 30/70 given me the nive even 100!

Sometimes I post strop 20 laps on the leather, but I also strop again before I shave with it. I have never noticed any negative effects. Personal preference I guess.

I strop 25 laps linen + 50 laps leather pre-shave. Wipe down with a towel and 15 laps leather post-shave. Never needed to oil the blades. Long time between touchups on the rocks.