Thread: Linen "Leveling Effect"

Here's an idea I had: maybe you guys can tell me what you think of this. I've found that edges @ the refinement level of say a coticule or a Norton 8k (shave ready, but maybe not 'scary sharp') benefit in both smoothness & sharpness from a good linen stropping. Jnat edges, less so & even there I can have too much of a good thing if I overdo it. CBN edges are degraded slightly--the edge is still plenty sharp & lasts just the same as if I had finished at that level to begin with (no crumbling or anything), but not quite what it was. It's gone from lightsaber to simply "very good", where a coticule or Norton edge can be brought up to very good by good stropping.

I'm definitely more conservative w/ linen stropping these days, typically only doing 10-15 light strokes right before leather (before a shave only). I'm thinking maybe the guys who wrote those old barber books might have discovered something similar. Maybe that's why they recommended no linen right after honing...? We've got to keep in mind, a lot of the old knowledge has been lost, so we're essentially relearning a lot of this stuff as we go along. I'm sure a lot of what we still struggle to figure out was common knowledge in the old days of proper razors & this might be one of those cases.

Whaddaya say, gentlemen? Anyone seen something similar? And to be clear, this is unpasted, clean linen. I have no idea how chalk or wood ash or something might influence the results, but it does make me curious to try...

There's lots of speculation going on as to what stropping exactly does. Prof Verhoeven did lots of experiments but could not find any noticeable effect of stropping. That does not mean it does nothing to the edge as the techniques used to search for a difference may not have been sufficiently sophisticated. I think it removes some very little burrs. Straight off the hones a razor's edge is less keen than after stropping. I have noticed this so often that I am convinced stropping does something. OTOH after four or five shaves and stropping on leather and linen only between shaves I start to notice some pulling. So for me is stropping without an abrasive substance is not enough to keep an edge going. Since I started using a paddle strop pasted with CBN my hones see very little use.

Another vote for CBN. A totally reliable super powder/spray/paste is just what the doctor ordered.

Wouldn't we all love to have a definite solution to our honing problems?

My solution starts on the 1k.

Jerry
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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

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.

Originally Posted by Kees

Prof Verhoeven did lots of experiments but could not find any noticeable effect of stropping.

With all due respect to Prof Verhoeven I must disagree. As evidence I will submit:

1. Try shaving without stropping more than once and tell me (with a straight face) that it was a pleasant experience.

2. Why does the HHT improve exponentially after stropping compared to before?


BTW Kees, I'm not disagreeing with your post as you brought up some very valid and valued points. I'm just taking issue with Verhoeven, that's all

Originally Posted by Ryan82

With all due respect to Prof Verhoeven I must disagree. As evidence I will submit:

1. Try shaving without stropping more than once and tell me (with a straight face) that it was a pleasant

Ok my straight face will tell you.I strop every 3 shaves and it works just fine for me and it is pleasant!YMMV......

As I had not come across CBN before - I tried Wikipedia - it came up with (amongst others) China Business News; Chemical, Biological, Nuclear Warfare, Christian Broadcasting Network - of these I can only see the last one having any relevance (as in a plea for divine intervention). If I have this wrong would someone please let me know what the acronym stands for.

Originally Posted by Edwardd

Ok my straight face will tell you.I strop every 3 shaves and it works just fine for me and it is pleasant!YMMV......

Okay, but are you talking about a freshly or recently honed razor, or one that has completed a couple dozen shaves? Have you tried consistently shaving without stropping?

I understand that YMMV, but I'm curious as to why you would skip on the stropping on a semi-regular basis.....

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Okay, but are you talking about a freshly or recently honed razor, or one that has completed a couple dozen shaves? Have you tried consistently shaving without stropping?
Yes to all the above,fresh off the stone and two dozen shaves in.Every three shaves the blade starts to pull.Just like a mach 3 gets dull.At that point I strop on a paddle to bring the edge back in line.Maybe my beard is lighter than yours,all I know is that it works for me.

I understand that YMMV, but I'm curious as to why you would skip on the stropping on a semi-regular basis.....

Tha mach 3 worked for several shaves before it pulled.I don't see why a straight can't go 3 shaves before needing the edge realigned.

I should also add that this is how my grandad did it.