Some Stropping Questions

I have been looking a lot at different stropping techniques for and thoughts for straight blades and just wanted to get some opinions on a couple questions.

1. When stropping, do you want the strop as taut as possible or do you leave a little flexibility?

2. Ideal number of strops I have seen range anywhere from 20-50. Is there a true ideal to shoot for in that range?

3. Am I correct in not applying pressure when stropping but letting the weight of razor be sufficient?

Thanks so much for all the help and thoughts!

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Originally Posted by jdtaylor

I have been looking a lot at different stropping techniques for and thoughts for straight blades and just wanted to get some opinions on a couple questions.

1. When stropping, do you want the strop as taut as possible or do you leave a little flexibility?

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As a beginner, start with the strop sitting flat on a table or counter top.

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2. Ideal number of strops I have seen range anywhere from 20-50. Is there a true ideal to shoot for in that range?

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You only need one strop

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3. Am I correct in not applying pressure when stropping but letting the weight of razor be sufficient?

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Aim for that, by the time you control the razor with your hand you will be a a good starting point to learn. Too much and the edge is ruined, too little and you can always add more!

Haha, sorry about number 2 there, I meant to "laps" on the strop in terms of number instead of number of strops. Chalk that oops up to posting right when I wake up.

I do 30 on fabric then 50 on leather at the end of the shave. I do at least another 30 in the morning before using the razor

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Originally Posted by jdtaylor

Haha, sorry about number 2 there, I meant to "laps" on the strop in terms of number instead of number of strops. Chalk that oops up to posting right when I wake up.

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I think many shoot for around 70-80 laps. I normally myself go for 50 on linen and 75-80 on leather, if I don't loose count. But what I have seen here are numbers ranging from 50 to 100 and as high as 125 and 200 but those last two are extremes. But the key is is your number of laps producing a smooth shave. If not add another 20. If still not add another 20. Keep going till you get a smooth test shave. However if you notice that as you add laps and your shave gets worse stop immediately and examine your edge and technique.

There is no set number of laps on the strop that people do.
Typical number is 20-50 or 30-50, but it will not hurt if you do more on the leather strop especially. If you do less then you may not burnish the edge enough.

Pressure is very minimal, I would not say the weight of the razor only and I am not sure this is possible to do. IME a little bit of pressure is good. The right amount of pressure you will learn with practice, but for starters do as little as possible.

The tautness of the strop also is something to figure out with practice. In general you do not want the strop taut, just a tad of slack but not so much as to round the edge.

Hope this helps.

Stropping is way under rated. It is your final polish of the bevel and edge.

Pressure is more important than taughtness. As lite of pressure you can that will keep the strop flat under the razor from the spine to the bevel and edge.

Use linen to clean the bevel and keep your leather free of debris, 20-30 on linen and 50-100 on leather, make sure you leather is clean, wipe with damp cloth once a week.

Linen and leather can keep you shaving with a keen edge for a long, long time or ruin an edge in 1 stroke.

Check out the link on this thread:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...yone-seen.html

There is more info in that link than u need but it shows some good examples of what stropping does for an edge, especially linen

Thanks so much for the tips and help. I am trying to be diligent and patient with my stropping as I know it is extremely important both for the blade and my face, lol. I appreciate it!