Thread: Why do they recommend using the Strop after shaving and before shaving?

Originally Posted by wildfirejoe00

Sharptonn: Well said. I am under no illusion that I know more than Neil about anything, paticularly this subject. I am not an "expert" in anything. This thread turned vitriolic when I asked a sincere question about "resting" the edge. I wasn't giving advice, I asked a question after recalling an article that I had read a while back written by a metallurgist concerning "his" findings on "resting" the edge. Then the childish insults started about "resting" the edge, putting th razor to bed, etc.. I apoligize for my part in the negativity posted here, I just hope that a new member to this site posting his first question with trepidation of asking a "dumb question" never gets a reception like this. Again my apologies, particularly to Neil.

No worries, Joe. It seems a somewhat controversial subject which comes up on occasion, sort of like honing with tape!

It has been 'proven' and debunked many times here. If you go to the search box on top right of the forum home page and type in 'resting the blade before stropping' there is a plethora of threads on the subject and some neat historical claims and articles on the subject submitted by members. I have actually read through some this morning. Like this thread, quite amusing!
FME and that of many others here, it just does not matter much.

Whatever works for you is what works. Proper stropping is key to lasting edges and good shaves, we all know that. Even a wide range of laps on fabric/leather are also discussed.

To be quite honest, I will admit I 'rest' my edges. As I strop and shave, wipe the edge and strop it off on a dry towel, and let it sit, blade open, till my next shave whereupon I strop it first, putting it away, and strop my current shaver before I shave again.
My reason for this is not to allow molecules to regroup. I shave in the morning and must be off to work. One stropping session of my previous razor and current one seems quite enough. I also will strop directly after the shave if I am not in a rush. Does not seem to matter one bit, FME.

You shall see as you search the subject, it is beaten to death. In fact, as you search just about ANY subject, you will find too much info, some controversial, some quite informative.
In a nutshell, searching and reading will show you much on the subject and clue you in on things to ask of and some to let lie. So to speak!

By all means ask questions and involve yourself in discussions. Also keep in mind that crotchity old Neil would not steer you wrong!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

... keep in mind that crotchity old Neil would not steer you wrong!

My dear Tom, I don't want to appear pedantic, but it is 'crotchety'.

I feel particularly crabby today, so don't get my dander up!

Regards,
Neil (Groucho) Miller

I stand corrected! (as usual!)......................................See what I mean, Joe?

As usual, Tom (Sharptonn) has said it much more elegantly than I can but just to add a resource to the mix, here is a link to the oft-ignored/missed/forgotten library of SRP which discusses stropping at some length (pun not intended, but funny). Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Library

It is interesting to note because often people get steered right to the forum with their questions by Google or their search engine of choice, which on one hand is great, because it helps people to get to know each other as well as the topic about which they have a question, but can get tedious for those that are here a long time or visit a lot, because often it is missed that exact same question was discussed the day/week/month before. For that reason, you will sometimes see humorous or sarcastic responses begin an interplay among the longer term members, the humor of which can be missed by those unfamiliar with each other's styles or senses of humor.

Anyway, I didn't mean to belabor the point or extend this thread unnecessarily, but thought that given the influx of participants that we have after the holiday gift giving and IRS refund seasons, it might be good to point out that SRP has MANY valuable resources in addition to the Forum and its sub-forums among which are the Library and the Custom search box in the upper right which searches the entirety of the forum's history.

Enjoy shaving and each other!

Peace,
Harold (a happy shaver, with smiling razor, resting strop, and my favorite badger)

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

My dear Tom, I don't want to appear pedantic, but it is 'crotchety'.

I feel particularly crabby today, so don't get my dander up!

Regards,
Neil (Groucho) Miller

Dear Neil (G) Miller,

Don't ever change or your fanbase will wither away.

Yours,

R. Razorfeld alias the Pope

So this strop and razor salesman gets lost on a country road and stops at a farmers house and asks for a place to sleep for the night.......

Happened to be chatting about this the other day, about resting the blade, or allowing the blade to "fin", was interesting for one observation I thought.

If resting the blade is true, then stropping afterwards can only potentially damage or is not good for the razor, or so the thinking goes.

If you just put it away after a shave, clean of course, and then when you come to use it and normally strop the blade, then it's business as usual.

So either way the blade will get stropped, and with fewer strokes on the strop, less chance of any damage anyway.

I don't strop the blade after a shave anymore, was hard to argue that point....as the saying goes, just sayin'

Originally Posted by WW243

...asks for a place to sleep......

He asked for a place to "rest".

92% certainty.

Originally Posted by WW243

So this strop and razor salesman gets lost on a country road and stops at a farmers house and asks for a place to sleep for the night.......

sooooooo, did the farmer have a daughter?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

sooooooo, did the farmer have a daughter?

who needed stropping?!?!