Thread: Over stropping

Originally Posted by rubicon308

I've been curious about this as well, although I haven't been stropping quite so much as you gentlemen it seems. Sometimes I like to strop around 50 passes after a shave as well as before the shave if it's been a little while between shaves - so that would add up to 100 passes... I've tried stropping with fewer strokes, say just the 50 before shaving - down to 35 passes even, and I honestly couldn't tell you the difference in shaves. Sometimes I just feel like stropping more times than others.

Not sure if my ole memory is correct or not, but I think I read somewhere that you weren't supposed to strop right after a shave. Don't recall the reason.

Can anyone confirm or deny that?

Originally Posted by Eekspa

Not sure if my ole memory is correct or not, but I think I read somewhere that you weren't supposed to strop right after a shave. Don't recall the reason.

Can anyone confirm or deny that?

I have heard that the razor should rest after use. Seems like bunk to me, and I have stropped after every shave and my edges seem to last wonderfully. I have also read that this is a myth...further, barbers back in the day used to shave many clients in a day and probably stropped between each client (effectively stropping AFTER the last client).

I call BS on the notion that a razor needs to "rest"...but I could be wrong.

i do 200 laps pre shave. 50 linen, 50 cotton, 50 TM Bridle, 50 TM Steer. Just cuz i have those strops.

No my last shave was done with a razor I honed myself (first hone job) and i bet i stropped that thing 1000 times on leather as everytime i went into the bedroom i grabbed it and stropped it. The shave was dang fine for my first hone job, so i am guessing all that stropping didnt make the edge worse.

I strop about 40-50 passes. I must be an underachiever, but it works for me.

On the other hand, if you enjoy it.....strop on! Probably doesn't hurt anything.

Originally Posted by erictski

i do 200 laps pre shave. 50 linen, 50 cotton, 50 TM Bridle, 50 TM Steer. Just cuz i have those strops.

No my last shave was done with a razor I honed myself (first hone job) and i bet i stropped that thing 1000 times on leather as everytime i went into the bedroom i grabbed it and stropped it. The shave was dang fine for my first hone job, so i am guessing all that stropping didnt make the edge worse.

200 laps pre shave = no date scheduled for the night.

I suspect that stropping on a shave ready edge will eventually reach a point of diminishing returns, i.e. a lot more stropping done perfectly will eventually show little or no greater edge improvement. Some knife hobbyists believe that an unusually high number of strokes can be counter productive because there is unlikely to be a greater edge improvement, but a significantly increased risk of spoiling the edge following a slightly inept stroke. This is especially so on high grit finishing stones.

As my shaving skills improved, i became able to discern differences regarding how I was stropping and shave quality, which improved my stropping skills. I currently do about 60 on linen and 60 on latigo (TM unpasted strop) after shaving. I do another 60 on latigo immediately before shaving. I wipe my blade and strop to remove any dirt that could possibly adversely impact the stropping. I rewipe if anything starts to feel wrong during stropping.

I use pasted strops when stropping on linen and latigo seems to be losing its effectiveness. A few strokes on the 0.5 um diamond pasted strop will usually bring back my edge.

I can recall at least one honemeister who advises against stropping after shaving reporting that the steel needs to relax for a few hours before stropping. I cannot discern any difference and hope that I may someday have a level of skill that would allow me to achieve and possibly benefit from such a difference, if it really exists and is not some form of placebo effect. I would rather maintain my blades immediately after shaving thereby possibly reducing the risk of corrosion damage. There are so many uncontrollable variables at play, I cannot argue against what may work for someone else, especially someone with far greater skill and experience.

One cannot strop too much.

I do 30 on the linen & 60 on the leather. I don't see the need to do any more than 60, because by 60 I'm ready to get on with my shave.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Once the razor is dressed adding two or three additional pair of pants or shirts doesn't do anything more in the enhancement department.

I've found 60 to be the magic number. Do too many and you may go blind.

I'll just do it 'til I need glasses...

Originally Posted by Hirlau

200 laps pre shave = no date scheduled for the night.

Im married so dates are out of the question anyway...

but really to do 75 laps(25/50) or 200 laps...takes maybe 2 minutes longer so hey why not.