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 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.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

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.

I suspect there are as many answers as members.

I am on 10 laps on webbing and 30 on leather...then 5/20 after the shave. Why strop after the shave?...I guess I just am not ready for the fun to end

And then you can throw in the fun variable, a theory/opinion that paddle strops aren't as fast at truing an edge as the hanging strops...

A strop is a strop in my book as long as it's quality. Most paddles are meant more for travel and tend to be very narrow so you need to be careful with them but something like a bench strop might be even more efficient than a hanging one.

No.

James.