Thread: Strop or Hone?

The razors I got are fairly inexpensive, although from what I've read so far the Joseph Rodgers is a nice blade and in fantastic condition for I estimate over 100 yrs old!! I think I'm going to send off the Rodgers and the AMA and take it from there.

Any recommendations on where to send it in the UK other than razorsharpening.co.uk?

Originally Posted by Duckcm18

Hi guys first time posting here and I have a little query. I have acquired 3 Razors in an eBay lot. A fine Joseph Rogers and Sons 5/8 Wedge, an AMA Solingen 5/8 Half ground and a Carrera that's a bit smaller than both.

None are Shave ready and they're my first razors, my questions are should I send them off to be professionally honed and start with decent shaving edges or continue to try to bring them back with stropping? How do I work out when an edge can't be achieved with stropping alone? How many laps are too many?

Thanks in advance of your expertise.

Definitely get it honed.

I always feel like I'm flirting a little bit with danger when I patronize, but based on the questions you have asked and remembering my personal experiences beginning I think it would help you immensely to buy this DVD: World Of Straight Razor DVD - Straight Razor Place Classifieds. You need an overview about everything that deals with straight razor shaving and this DVD lets you see everything involved and makes it look doable. I still review it once or twice a year and pick up some things I've forgotten.

Here are a couple of enjoyable reads:
1. Is Straight Razor Shaving for You? - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com.
2. Shaving made easy; what the man who shaves ought to know .. : 20th century correspondence school, New York. [from old catalog] : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive. This online book is downloadable and is just as relevant today as it was in 1905.

You sound to me like someone who will really enjoy straight razor shaving, and in fact you remind me of me when I started. It took me a long time to master the art but I really enjoyed the journey. It's something special I do for myself after so many years of unhappy shaving experiences with multiblade and electric razors.

Congrats on discovering a great pastime and remember we're always here for help. I'm still hustling some of our most experienced members here for advice because after 2 1/2 years I'm still finding their counsel useful!

Get it honed. No amount of stropping is going to get it shave ready if it isn't properly honed. Once you have it honed, 30 laps on cotton/linen, followed by 60 on leather should do. I do more becasue I enjoy stropping, but I doubt I'm improving the edge. I've never used him but have read many positive remarks about Neil Miller in the UK.

Just found the Neil Miller website, honing looks really cheap! Thanks for the tip.

I've just read number 1 on your list CaliforniaCajun and have downloaded number 2. Definitely some bedtime reading. I really hope that I do get out of SRS what I aim to. A little bit of manly pampering and me-time making an everyday chore fun.

Keep the advice coming

Originally Posted by Duckcm18

Keep the advice coming

Never strop naked.
Friends don't let friends strop drunk.
Stropping is the most important skill to learn re: blade maintenance.
Check out the stropping vids in the library. Glen and Lynn have posted outstanding stropping demonstrations.
Practice stropping on a folded newspaper until you get your 1st cheap strop.
Get a cheap strop for your first one, as you will mangle it.
Lock your shave den door whilst shaving.
KEEP YOUR BLADE DRY!!!

"My name is MapleLeafAlumnus, and I'm addicted to stropping..."

+1 to everything MLA just said, and also check out the recent "Stroptober" thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...st-2012-a.html

Do I need to post a vid of my stropping action to see of I'm ding it right?!

I think I'm doing ok, and have an old vintage strop that I got for £18 off eBay. But I'm no expert in whether its suitable. There aren't any tears in the middle but it does have some nics on the edge near to where the return x finishes. I've been avoiding going as far down as there when stropping is it worth it?

Vintage strops are a bit of a lottery in my experience. Unless it's obviously shot, I find it difficult to judge from photo's. The nicks you describe don't sound as though they'd be a problem, look out for cupping and the quality of the leather in general. Definitely get your razors honed by someone who knows what they're doing, both Steve at the Invisible Edge and Neil Miller certainly know there way to a fine edge.

There are some very useful instructions on how to both strop and hone provided in some older barber manuals found in the archives here at SRP and elsewhere on the web. If you take the time to read the instructions carefully and practice, you will develop the skills to become proficient on your own. That is how I did it, and that is how the "professionals" did it. Challenging learning curve, yes. Trial and error for sure. Frustration guaranteed. But there is no other way to learn. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll arrive.

Originally Posted by Duckcm18

Do I need to post a vid of my stropping action to see of I'm ding it right?!

I think I'm doing ok, and have an old vintage strop that I got for £18 off eBay. But I'm no expert in whether its suitable. There aren't any tears in the middle but it does have some nics on the edge near to where the return x finishes. I've been avoiding going as far down as there when stropping is it worth it?

These stropping videos have helped me, recorded by members of this forum:

straight razor stropping - YouTube