Thread: Linen "Leveling Effect"

Originally Posted by Castel33

I would say that there is a reason why that using leather last has been the gold standard for finishing a shave ready edge.

I have shaved off of my wool felt and linen strops before and while the shave was close it was also much harsher then off of leather.

So I would say that by finishing on leather we are probably losing a small amount of sharpness but we are gaining a more polished/ smooth edge. I feel I would rather have the smooth edge.

It's a very simple thing to test for yourself just reveres your normal stropping routine. You will not damage your edge by doing this.

Thank you for your comment. I only have a poor man's strop at this time, but am taking in knowledge/information to help make a decision as to what strop to get/use moving forward.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I think the word "Burnish" is the best description of what stropping actually does,,, There is no doubt in my mind at all that it adds something to the edge, perhaps it is just that miniscule little polishing action that does it but it does something good...


As to the Linen after Honing debate, mark me in the yes side, I use linen after honing, simple to decide for each person though, just hone, strop, shave, then decide

+1 I find that a razor that won't or will barely pass HHT after coming off the stones, will pass with ease after 75 laps on a strop.

I find that my (Illinois) canvas strop acts like a very fine abrasive. I like to use the canvas and leather to strop a razor after sharpening. I have never seen a factory new razor that needed "honing"; only a few that needed a little stropping on canvas.

I believe that all we have is anecdotal evidence regarding the benefit of linen. My personal experience is that it is a great pre-leather cleaner. However, most shavers could bypass the linen and go directly to the leather where the REAL benefit is realized. Of course this is only my personal opinion. My experience is that most stroppers will do better going directly to leather and forget the linen.

Gammaray