Thread: Stropping is King

Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

Well, except for the number of repetitions (we have had experiments here that show 45 is a sweet spot) this is what I do, and probably everyone else.

What do you think you do that's different? What makes the edge last so long?

All I can think of, Joe, is that I've tried lots of different variations in speed, pressure, and patterns while stropping. Another factor is sound. We all know about "singing" razors. I've noticed, even with "non-singing" razors, there is a particular high pitched whisper, or rasp that comes from all of my razors when they are at optimum sharpness on the strop (particularly on "smooth" leather strops, not so much on a Russian).

I hope this helps,

Scott

[quote=Joe Lerch;74200]

Originally Posted by honedright

It's a pretty startling claim, and the first time I've heard it made. Even Dovo only say you can get up to a dozen. So, how about letting us in on your secret?

Well, if you read from the begining of this thread, and some others, I've really been trying. I would love to have every newby and vetran alike to have the same success I've had. The more successes, the better for the whole straight razor industry.

Scott

Originally Posted by honedright

All I can think of, Joe, is that I've tried lots of different variations in speed, pressure, and patterns while stropping. Another factor is sound. We all know about "singing" razors. I've noticed, even with "non-singing" razors, there is a particular high pitched whisper, or rasp that comes from all of my razors when they are at optimum sharpness on the strop (particularly on "smooth" leather strops, not so much on a Russian).

I hope this helps,

Scott

Scott,

I have done a few experiments myself and found that I get best results when stropping with the spine just coming off the leather (i.e. hovering 1 or 2 mm above the leather). When doing so my razors also make a singing noise that does not occur when the spine is pushed against the leather. I wonder whether the singing will disappear when you actually push the spine against the leather. If so, I reckon you do your stropping with the spine off the leather.

I realse that what I just wrote is heresy to most forum members but I felt I had to discuss this now that you mentioned the singing of your razors.

Originally Posted by Kees

Scott,

I have done a few experiments myself and found that I get best results when stropping with the spine just coming off the leather (i.e. hovering 1 or 2 mm above the leather). When doing so my razors also make a singing noise that does not occur when the spine is pushed against the leather. I wonder whether the singing will disappear when you actually push the spine against the leather. If so, I reckon you do your stropping with the spine off the leather.

I realse that what I just wrote is heresy to most forum members but I felt I had to discuss this now that you mentioned the singing of your razors.

No. I keep the spine against the strop. If you look at my video, and read my strop guide on ebay, you'll note that I emphasize keeping the razor totally flat against the strop at all times.

I still get the "singing" and/or high pitched "rasp" with the spine against the strop.

Scott

I have read how honing technique is taught on this forum that, going through the correct grades of hone produces the best edge. No argument or mystery there. Why then is it not recognised by some that stropping is but another arm to the process of sharpening. Does it not follow that going through the grades on a strop or many passes on one type, would have the same effect as going through the grades with hones.
A razor can't maintain a tru flat hone bevel if stroped repeatedly can it? Surely a more rounded profile will result eventually and as such a far stronger edge results.
A comparison would be in the honing of a plane blade or chisel. You put the primary grinding angle on the edge, then follow with a slightly steeper angle for the fine honing. This decreases the area to hone and also strengthens the edge by having a steeper angle for the cutting edge. Some tools I hone at the same angle as the primary grind but this takes forever and rounds the grind bevel, same as I think stropping does. The end effect is the same "Sharp"
When you strop you are not running this newly honed edge over a flat surface but a slightly concave one thus only 3 points of true contact are made; spine, back edge of hone bevel and the fin itself. I believ that repeated stropping would create a new curved bevel in time and this I am sure is a stronger edge.

Please someone get a microscope out on a very well stropped razor. I for one would like to have this proved or dissproved. Knowledge is a great thing, lets get some

Don't I just waffle on!

PuFF

I see a lot about pressure/no pressure in stropping. Rather than pushing down on the blade, I find it useful to kind of "torque" the blade a bit toward the edge side - while still keeping it flat. A better way to say it might be to "emphasize" the edge over the spine. I find if I don't do this, I lose that "rasping" sound Scott spoke of. Any thoughts on this?

Of course you could all be talking about this already and I'm just too thick to understand Good discussion.

Jordan

where is your thumb in relation to the neck of the razor?

PuFF

Assuming you're asking me Puff, I keep my thumb on the top corner of the tang on the edge side and my index finger on the botton corner on the spine side - they're caddy-corner from one another if you will. Does this make sense?


Jordan

Originally Posted by jnich67

I see a lot about pressure/no pressure in stropping. Rather than pushing down on the blade, I find it useful to kind of "torque" the blade a bit toward the edge side - while still keeping it flat. A better way to say it might be to "emphasize" the edge over the spine. I find if I don't do this, I lose that "rasping" sound Scott spoke of. Any thoughts on this?

Of course you could all be talking about this already and I'm just too thick to understand Good discussion.

Jordan

And, just for the sake of comparison, I emphasize the pressure on the back (spine) of the razor. And, I keep my thumb pretty much squarely over the center top of the shank (next time I strop, if I remember, I'll confirm this).

Scott

When I've tried this I find I lift the edge off the strop on the return stroke (pulling toward me). I'll check it out again. Thanks!

Jordan