Thread: Over stropping

I know this question is probably asked before, but I'm bringing it up again. The wiki says this : "

There appears to be some consensus that 30 to 60 passes on a leather strop will yield optimum results" Optimum results makes it sound like if you go way over it may yield lesser results. I know 100-200 wont do it but would like ~300 laps have a negative effect compared to 60?

I know... why do that many? well I was making a new strop and i wanted to try it out and got carried away. I was wondering if there's a point where one could over strop.

I don't think it hurts anything. However, with a tired arm your form will suffer and thence your edge. I done 150 myself and no ill effect. I usually do 60. Double O

I do 50-60 on linen then 100-200 on leather after honing. I'll do about 20 on felt and 50-60 on leather before shaving then 20 on felt after shaving. Been doing this for over 2 years with excellent results.

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.