Thread: Quick stropping experiment

And if we recall our observations from The Grand Experiment (also Two & Final) we believe that more stropping is better than less.

Though I wonder if my preference isn't for that freshly honed feeling. The first shave or two coming off the hone can be a bit challenging to be stropped well and perhaps longer stropping sessions with new honed razors is an anwer there, but when that shave works it's sooooooo comfortable.

After the experiment I only increased my stropping to 42-48 laps preceded by 12 or so on the linen because I wanted that fesh feeling to last, but I think I'll increase my stropping some more and see if that might actually help me accomplish my ends. My 361 got old quick what with nicks and such and I'm wondering if I can't reach further with a pristine edge as well.

X

I'm pretty interested to see whether my edge will continue to improve for the next few shaves. I've been having some issues with comfort; I have a touch of razor burn on my chin most days.

For some reason I think this stuff just takes me a little longer to get the hang of. It took me more than a month to get decent shaves with a DE, when most guys seem to get the hang of that in a week or so.

I think my beard is pretty tough, although it's kinda sparse in places...

Josh

Stropping experiment? did someone say stropping experiment?. When I did the Grand experiment awhile back the basic conclusion was that 60x gave the best results. As I recall when I started the experiment I was using a Double Duck vintage Horsehide strop and then switched to one of Tony's #1 strops later on. I didn't see any difference in the strop change. When I did 100x there was no improvement in the edge. Nothing bad happened but just kind of spinning your wheels so to speak.

thebigspender,

Yes, I thought of naming mine the Short and Inconclusive Experiment. I read your thread on the Grand Experiment--all 147 pages. Great stuff.

I think it's really beneficial for newbies to experiment: Try something, then test. The problem is there aren't many tests that work for everyone. The shave test is rough for newbies because we don't know whether the change is due to some change in our shaving technique, or stropping, or honing...

Being able to do the HHT eliminates some of those variables for me and figure out what works.

Josh

I think your learning very quickly . . . wanna read through my three years of posts on learning to hone?

Originally Posted by joshearl

For some reason I think this stuff just takes me a little longer to get the hang of. It took me more than a month to get decent shaves with a DE, when most guys seem to get the hang of that in a week or so.


Josh

This morning I did some more experimentation. Some guys have questioned whether the linen actually does anything, besides maybe clean the edge, so today I thought I'd test that.

I grabbed some hairs and tested them. The edge on my Solingen 5/8 would cut hanging hairs, but the middle wouldn't cut them cleanly. There was definite pulling of the hair.

I did 30 laps on the linen with some light pressure, and tested again. Improvement. Now the middle cut the hair with tugging and the toe and heel sliced it cleanly.

Then I did 50 laps on the leather, starting with pressure until I felt drag, then easing up for the last 10 laps. Much, much better. Hairs popped off without any tugging over the whole edge. The middle is still not quite as good as the ends, which I can't figure out. Might be my honing, or maybe I use the middle more when I shave.

So to recap, in my judgement the linen definitely starts the process of realigning the edge. And more laps on the leather seems to be better than fewer, which goes along with the results of the Grand Experiment.

The shave was more comfortable today. I think I've been overreaching with my shaving, trying for more smoothness than I'm able to achieve right now. So I'm dialing back, which means I have some stubble today but no razor burn.

Josh