Thread: Stropping is King

Scott,

I trust what you've said, but I still think the challenge sounds like a good idea. Having Lynn hone the razor and then reevaluate it at the end is a nice control for the experiment. What it does is take your particular skin and shaving technique out of the equation, allowing us to see how the edge itself held up.

I certainly wouldn't challenge your word on any of this, but the challenge Firestart has proposed would help us figure out if there's anything going on that you aren't aware of.

This has been a robust debate on an area of straight razor use that hasn't been explored as well as others. I'm not turned off by it, although we do need to remember to keep it civil.

Just my two cents,
Josh

Well, assuming this really goes off, here's my requirements:

Razor - good quality full hollow ground. Preferably 6/8's, but 5/8's will do. Prefer carbon steel, but will try stainless too.

Strop - Double hanging strop. I prefer a professional style like the IRS 361 - 24 3/4" long x 2 1/2" wide, no handle attached. But anything will do as long as it is good quality.

Hone - If I determine I need to re-hone I'll be using my own barber hones. I don't own a Norton, but if you think that is an important variable, send one of those too.

By the way, I've been really intrigued by the Pakastani junker razors and related strops. If someone wants to send one of those, I will give my honest evaluation of those as well.

Send to: Sayco Online, 154-A W. Foothill Blvd. #141, Upland, Ca. 91786

All will be returned. You let me know when and where.

Scott

Scott, just for the sake of clarification, your definition of Strop would contain no abrasives on the surface? I am asking this because I've seen paddle/hanging/loom/bench strops with abrasives on them, so I want to make sure we're on the same page.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Scott, just for the sake of clarification, your definition of Strop would contain no abrasives on the surface? I am asking this because I've seen paddle/hanging/loom/bench strops with abrasives on them, so I want to make sure we're on the same page.

That has been your point for debate hasn't it? Yes, just a plain, unpasted strop same as you might purchase from Fromm, I suppose Tony, Hand American, Dovo, etc.

Just as long as it is a good quality strop specifically made for stropping straight razors.

Scott

Originally Posted by xman

this thread is very hot and I am a very busy guy right now so I have a request. Could someone please quote me so I can find your response, reply to this and catch me up, as impartially as possible, as to nature of the proposed experiment and the general camps or viewpoints of the participants?

Please and thank-you very much.

X

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Joe and I both share a certain amount of scientific skepticism. What you gentlemen are suggesting goes against tonsorial tradition, accumulated experience and the accepted modern theories, which leads us to believe one of the following:
1) You are honestly mistaken and have extremely thick skins and/or high tolerance for discomfort and/or low standards for shave closeness. (This also implies that your blades are sub-par)
2) Your strops have certain abrasive properties because mine sure can't keep a razor going past 15 shaves.
3) You're pulling our collective leg. (least likely)
The way I'd set up the experiment is:
1) Have Lynn find a razor to Scott's specs and hone/shave test it.
2) Have Tony M. send you a brand new strop, that only received stock treatment.
3) Have Scott use it for 100 shaves without using any hones or dressing the strop with anything other than Tony's stock strop dressing.
4) Have it sent back to Lynn for a re-evaluation.
That is ofcourse if the 3 gentlemen in question would agree to the experiment.

X This is where the whole experiment thing started but for opinions and arguments you really have to read the whole thing.