Thread: Over stropping

Don't think I could do 200 in one set. I'm impressed!!

Oh I forgot to mention I use two strops so there is a break after 100. Hey, I'm 63, I need the break. If I could do 200 straight I'd be impressed too!

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.

I seem to recall the wise elders have tested this to some degree and found that there is no or very little improvement past 60 laps, and no real decline in edge due to stropping over a long period of use. My interpretation was that a person could strop themselves into a stupor and it was simply wasted effort beyond 60 laps...I further presumed that beyond 60 there was no benefit OR detriment to the edge. This presumption is based on the long duration test Glen did with a stropping regimen that included laps on loaded strops...I could be reading into things too much.

As a caveat, this assumes proper stropping form. As stated, if you get tired and start flubbing strokes, you ought to be able to damage the edge nicely

I would also suggest that **my** stroke seems to improve as I strop...for this reason, I generally strop a few extra passes to make up for the first few that I do not count due to "less than ideal" form.

I strop 50 on cotton or linen, and 100 on leather. I think half the number of laps would probably get me the same edge, but I enjoy stropping. This regimen keeps my edges in good condition, so it works for me. Stropping is not removing steel, so assuming good form, no amount of laps is going to hurt the edge.

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.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Do too many and you may go blind.

Seems like I heard that once before and concluded that vision was over rated.

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 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.