Changed my stropping routine

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05-06-2013, 08:41 PM
Durhampiper

Changed my stropping routine

When I first started reading up on how to shave with and maintain a straight razor here, it seemed that the consensus on stropping ran toward "50 on linen (or cloth, webbing, etc)/100 on leather"--so that's what I did for probably a couple of years. But then as I continued to read I encountered recommendations to strop only on the leather pre-shave and only use the cloth for stropping post-shave to clean the edge. And then I sent a razor off to gssixgun for a restoration, and he recommended not stropping more than 50 laps so that the edge would last longer between honings. So I decided to experiment. First I tried stropping only on the leather pre-shave, about 80 laps, and on cloth and leather (20/40) post-shave. That didn't seem to give as comfortable a shave as my former stropping routine, but I wasn't sure whether it was because of fewer laps or because of stropping only on leather pre-shave. So instead of doing the scientific thing and only changing one variable, I changed everything: pre-shave, I stropped 20 laps on the webbing and 60 on the leather, and 15/30 post-shave. I've been using this routine for about 6 months now, and my shave are every bit as comfortable as when I was stropping 50/100. And my edges last just as long or maybe a bit longer. So for me, at least, I'd have to say that I get a more comfortable edge using both components of the strop pre-shave but at fewer laps than when I started out, than just stropping on leather alone. And as always, YMMV.
05-06-2013, 10:47 PM
thebigspendur

Do a search for the Grand Experiment and you'll see this has been discussed before. I find around 10 on linen and 60 on leather is the best combination.
05-06-2013, 11:24 PM
1holegrouper

Preshave; I normally do 20 linen and 60 leather. I could probably get by with 10/50. If I feel I need to do more then its probably time for at least a Crox touchup or back to the hone. But, a lot of this depends upon your shaving,stropping style, your beard and the razor itself.

Edit; PS; after the shave and dry off of the razor and before I oil the razor I do about 10 laps on the linen just to make sure the edge is clean and dry.
05-06-2013, 11:53 PM
BobH

Always just did 20/60 pre a shave and I don't strop post shave. Post shave is just a wipe down with toilet paper and an air dry for a couple of hours before storage. Shaves are comfortable enough I do not feel any need to experiment much. The improvements towards a comfortable shave have been that with time my stropping, shaving and honing skills just improved almost instep.

Bob
05-07-2013, 12:09 AM
CaliforniaCajun

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durhampiper

When I first started reading up on how to shave with and maintain a straight razor here, it seemed that the consensus on stropping ran toward "50 on linen (or cloth, webbing, etc)/100 on leather"--so that's what I did for probably a couple of years. But then as I continued to read I encountered recommendations to strop only on the leather pre-shave and only use the cloth for stropping post-shave to clean the edge. And then I sent a razor off to gssixgun for a restoration, and he recommended not stropping more than 50 laps so that the edge would last longer between honings. So I decided to experiment. First I tried stropping only on the leather pre-shave, about 80 laps, and on cloth and leather (20/40) post-shave. That didn't seem to give as comfortable a shave as my former stropping routine, but I wasn't sure whether it was because of fewer laps or because of stropping only on leather pre-shave. So instead of doing the scientific thing and only changing one variable, I changed everything: pre-shave, I stropped 20 laps on the webbing and 60 on the leather, and 15/30 post-shave. I've been using this routine for about 6 months now, and my shave are every bit as comfortable as when I was stropping 50/100. And my edges last just as long or maybe a bit longer. So for me, at least, I'd have to say that I get a more comfortable edge using both components of the strop pre-shave but at fewer laps than when I started out, than just stropping on leather alone. And as always, YMMV.

I do 30 strokes on fabric or felt, then 50-70 strokes on leather before the shave. I do it again after the shave, to make sure the edge is free of any soap or water residue before it has a chance to dry and to make sure the whole razor is dry so it won't rust. This is especially important if you don't use the same razor every day.
05-09-2013, 04:35 PM
Gotdzel

I've played with my routine a bit and I'm liking 25 on linen and 50-75 on leather. Depends on my mood. 😊 About once a week I hit the CrOx.