Thread: Is it possible to over strop a razor?

As the title suggest, is it possible to over strop a straight razor ? Will it make more blunt? If yes, anyone know the science or explanation behind it?

Properly stropping? No. Improper stropping, 1 lap may be too much. Ive stropped up to 200 laps and never had an issue. 60 is my magic number. Ymmv.

My sense is that assuming you have proper technique, there will be no detriment to the edge from over stropping. However, you will not improve the edge after a certain number of laps. There is also the possibility that after too many laps your technique may deteriorate.

Everyone has their own routine on number of laps. Mine is 30 on linen or cotton, followed by 60 on leather.

As has been pointed out that short answer is no.

However the law of probability suggest when you increase the number of laps you increase your chance of making a mistake.

I have read that you can mar a razor's edge pretty badly if your stropping technique is flawed. Then, you'd have to go to a treated strop or even stones in order to restore.

If your stropping technique is good I think your arm would fall off before you did any damage to the blade. If it's not so good then looking at a strop will kill the edge. If you hurt an edge on a strop you may be able to bring it back on a strop. That is if you haven't completely screwed up. Are you going for a Guinness record or did you dull your razor ?

Originally Posted by 10Pups

If your stropping technique is good I think your arm would fall off before you did any damage to the blade. If it's not so good then looking at a strop will kill the edge. If you hurt an edge on a strop you may be able to bring it back on a strop. That is if you haven't completely screwed up. Are you going for a Guinness record or did you dull your razor ?

No Guinness records just remembering someone told me in a knife shop once of not over stropping. I guess what he should have said is not to over strop with the wrong technique.

Funny thing....when I think stropping a knife my mind goes right to a power strop..

There was a thread many years ago that showed there's a point of diminishing returns - strop "too much" and you won't harm the blade but it will not get any smoother or sharper. You'll just end up with a sore arm which, as another member pointed out, will increase your chances of duffing the edge on the strop.

Perhaps Gssixgun can remember which thread it was....

It was an experiment by thebigspendur, followed later by another experiment by AFDavis (with some help from me) on stropping speed and its influence on the edge.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...nal-phase.html
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...xperiment.html

James.