Thread: Is It Possible To Strop Too Much?

I usually strop 50 on cotton/100 leather. I realize I may achieve maximum improvement on my blade in about half the number of laps I do. However, I enjoy stropping and have been known to exceed even the 50/100 if I have a good rhythm going on a favorite strop. Is it possible to do so many laps that there is detriment to the edge, as one can do by over honing?

The only way over stropping is a detriment is if you are not very good at stropping.

Well...if it starts to adversely affect your family life and job, you might want to seek help. As long as you keep your priorities straight (and your technique good), you should be OK.

Originally Posted by unit

Well...if it starts to adversely affect your family life and job, you might want to seek help. As long as you keep your priorities straight (and your technique good), you should be OK.

"Hello, my name is Mapleleafalumnus and I have a stropping addiction."

For me it's about a good run. Sometimes it takes a few starts but the aim is around 20-30 strokes in a row that feel 'just right' on linen or leather. Sometimes I'm in the zone, others not.

Just don't get carried away there. You don't want to go blind do you?

Originally Posted by unit

Well...if it starts to adversely affect your family life and job, you might want to seek help. As long as you keep your priorities straight (and your technique good), you should be OK.

Your priorities have to be askew to be in this hobby!

Jim

Originally Posted by Theseus

The only way over stropping is a detriment is if you are not very good at stropping.

+1. Not if your're doing it right. OTOH, thebigspendur did a comprehensive test a few years ago and found that after 60 laps results are more or less maxed out.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

+1. Not if your're doing it right. OTOH, thebigspendur did a comprehensive test a few years ago and found that after 60 laps results are more or less maxed out.

I might (seriously) speculate that at some point (perhaps 60 laps) the muscles get tired and form suffers slightly. In any event, it really makes little sense to strop that much. If you are seeing benefits beyond ~50 laps, perhaps there is something else wrong and your efforts might be better spent correcting whatever that may be?

When I first began shaving with a straight razor I read this very interesting thread here, and began doing 50/linen, 50/leather. Did that for a long time. In the last year or so I'm down to 30 to 40 but equal amounts on linen/leather whatever the amount is. Not that my way is the 'right' way .... just what I do.