Thread: Uneven stropping between each side of the blade?

Is it possible to have a difference in stropping technique between blade sides resulting in a sharper razor on one side versus the other? Maybe putting a slight curve on the edge along its entire length?

I'm noticing my razor appears sharper when I do the right side of my face compared to my left. There could be a few explanations for this. I suspect it's because the left side is my off hand, but want to get your views on the stropping. Do I need to look at that too?

Thanks for the advice!

I would suspect its more of an angling and approach issue than a stropping one. Are you right handed and are you only using that hand? If so, try using your left hand on your left side. If that is it then it underscores the impact of our technique on our shave.

Originally Posted by 1holegrouper

I would suspect its more of an angling and approach issue than a stropping one. Are you right handed and are you only using that hand? If so, try using your left hand on your left side. If that is it then it underscores the impact of our technique on our shave.

I'm right handed and shaving with both hands. I bet you're right. Lots to improve on and it's good to try and isolate where the problem is. I'll see if I can use both sides of the blade with my more confident hand and check the difference. Thanks.

A good edge will shave no matter how it is oriented. I think you have a difference in technique from hand to hand instead.

It's possible the issue might be in honing not stropping.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

It's possible the issue might be in honing not stropping.

Please elaborate on this thought?

Is the angles used from left to right hand,has nothing to do with honing or stropping IMO, the blade cannot be sharper on one side and duller on the other.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Is the angles used from left to right hand,has nothing to do with honing or stropping IMO, the blade cannot be sharper on one side and duller on the other.

This is my thought pattern,
the edge is singular even if the bevels coming into it were at different angles like some chef's knives.

Originally Posted by pfries

This is my thought pattern,
the edge is singular even if the bevels coming into it were at different angles like some chef's knives.

Are you suggesting I need to test this with a chef's knife and see if the the same thing happens? I think it's probably technique at this point

But the edge could work differently left to right if the bevel is unequal? An extreme example might be a plane blade with bevel on one side only, you'd have to adjust the angle to get a sliver of wood from both sides. Steeper with the bevel, shallower without otherwise it would dig. If this is the case on the razor it'd be subtle but need a difference in angle between left and right. I guess an experienced user might do this automatically to compensate?

Anyhow, how would I check? I have a microscope and could photograph the edge on both sides to compare at the same scale?

If the razor has been honed, it's more common to have unequal sides due to honing issues than it is to produce that effect from bad stropping.