Thread: Does 30+30=60?

This is probably a dumb question but I've nothing to lose...

If I strop 30 passes after a shave and then 30 more times before my next shave, is that the exact same thing as stropping 60 passes before my shave?

Sounds reasonable to me..I strop after each shave and before the next one as well.

ya me too. I was just wondering from a time perspective, could I opt to strop it all after my last shave or is there something deeper and more magical about stropping right before the shave

I think the correct answer is YMMV

Seriously, I think you should try it both ways, AND try 60 before and 60 after. Everyone is potentially different. I think the differences between 30+30 and 60 and 60+60 are probably quite slight honestly, but you just have to practice and see.

Honestly, I think I am pretty good at stropping, but I still have enough variability that my stropping is going to offer up more variability than the differences between 30+30 and 60 and 60+60.

In my experience stropping before the shave seems to be more effective (correct me if I'm wrong here). I only strop a few passes (5 usually) after the shave, to remove microscopic dirt and moisture from the edge itself.

An old barber told me the razor edge is distorted by shaving and slowly returns (mostly) to its former shape after a shave. It's better to leave the razor alone for a while after shaving and strop right before using it again.

Originally Posted by eod7

An old barber told me the razor edge is distorted by shaving and slowly returns (mostly) to its former shape after a shave. It's better to leave the razor alone for a while after shaving and strop right before using it again.

I agree with this. IMHO the edge does get a bit deformed from the act of shaving and the steel needs time to reset itself. But then it needs to be stropped just before each shave to bring the edge back "in line" and to remove any oxidation that has occurred ( and it will) and also to remove any "gunk" leftover from the last shave.

The only reason to strop on leather after a shave is to help the edge dry out but IMHO it also runs a slight risk of damaging the edge.

Just my 2¢

i know some guys strop the night before when they shave in the morning and the shave is fine. Also when you get a blade from a honemiester they tell you not to strop cause they have already done so. So in my opinon once you strop it should be good atleast as long as the blade doesn't sit for to long a period of time without protection.

Stropping after shaving is just like stropping before shaving. If you are just shaving the next day then I'd bet it makes no difference when it's done between shaves.

Stropping in the evening and then shaving in the morning works. I have done this a couple of times (not sure it's quite as good though. I will try it again and see). However, at least one razor I received from the pro honers definitely needed some stropping, so I guess too many days had passed (even though the blade was oiled, it had to cross over to Canada so it took a while). Still, I have become quite picky about my stropping so it could be a personal preference thing. But maybe a newbie should leave a honemeister-honed blade alone the first time so they don't mess it up completely.