Thread: The stone or the strop?

Which do you think has the most effect on a smooth shave? I realize that if you have a dull razor, no amount of stropping will make it sharp. So let me explain. I started with a Philly Strop. Chopped it up a bit, then bought a new one and told myself if I didn't cut this one I would buy a good strop. About that time I sent out about 10 razors for sharpening to GemStar Customs. He sharpened them on a thuringian stone (spelling?). They shaved very nice with my Philly strop. Then My wife got me a SRD Premium one strop for my birthday. The Philly didn't have a canvas counterpart. When I used the SRD strop with the linen side first, I thought, It felt great. Sharper, and smoother. I seemed like the razor actually got sharper every time I stropped the razor. What an improvement! Great strop. About the time my wife bought me the SRD strop, I found a Hess Hairmilk Labs, Gleidsdale Shell strop in a antique store and polished some surface marks out, and took it up to 12000 grit. Left the surface glass smooth.After I got used to the SRD strop, I tried the Shell strop. Again, what a difference. Made my razor shave so smooth. Never knew strops made that much of a difference. I just got a Scottish shell. It's in pretty good shape. Just needs a little work, and it will be in service.Now I have my eye on a Russian shell. I would like to see if there is and difference between the Russian, Scottish,or American tanned shell. So what do you think makes the bigger difference, the type of stone( providing that the are all good stones ) or the strop?

The answer, in my opinion, is both.

You can't have a smooth shave with a dull razor, period. That's why the stone is important.

You can have a smooth shave off the stone, but the strop refines that smoothness even further (assuming your technique is good).

A guy once told me 'the whole is the sum of its parts." So it is a combination of all of it. A good strop will keep an edge going no question. As thebigspendur frequently points out, they all do the same job if the leather/linen is of a high quality. If you're into it, and you obviously are, using different strops is a lot of fun. Which is best is very subjective and can only be determined by the end user.

The other aspect that is being glossed over a little here is YOU

All that stropping is improving your technique on the strops, and most likely you have improved your shaving technique as well..


Jimmy put it best "The whole is the sum of it's parts" and all the parts are probably getting better


One of my favorite sayings when it comes to stropping is

There are two stages when it comes to stropping
1. Do no Harm
2. Improve the edge
It takes quite a bit of practice to move from stage 1 into stage 2,,,, sounds to me that you have made that move...

Hey, you forgot the .001 stage: work on making your strop into a cat 'o nine tails, aka mindless shredding of leather.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The other aspect that is being glossed over a little here is YOU

All that stropping is improving your technique on the strops, and most likely you have improved your shaving technique as well..


Jimmy put it best "The whole is the sum of it's parts" and all the parts are probably getting better


One of my favorite sayings when it comes to stropping is

There are two stages when it comes to stropping
1. Do no Harm
2. Improve the edge
It takes quite a bit of practice to move from stage 1 into stage 2,,,, sounds to me that you have made that move...

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

A guy once told me 'the whole is the sum of its parts." So it is a combination of all of it. A good strop will keep an edge going no question. As thebigspendur frequently points out, they all do the same job if the leather/linen is of a high quality. If you're into it, and you obviously are, using different strops is a lot of fun. Which is best is very subjective and can only be determined by the end user.

Jimmy, your posts always seem to inform and motivate me. Great knowledge and great attitude. :

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The other aspect that is being glossed over a little here is YOU

Glen, sometimes your posts astound me in how simple they are yet seem to cut right to the heart of the matter... just full of simple wisdom. :

Man, I love this place!

Originally Posted by crouton976

Jimmy, your posts always seem to inform and motivate me. Great knowledge and great attitude. :

That's why we call Jimmy the "Sensei" of the Shave.

Originally Posted by Guarnera

So what do you think makes the bigger difference, the type of stone or the strop?

The stropping will maintain an edge and give some smoothness, like others have mentioned in this thread, but if the edge is gone meaning not shaving up to par the strop wont bring it back, but the stone will, so to answer your question the stone has a bigger impact on the blade.

Now add some paste to your strop and you get a totally different answer.........