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

Originally Posted by wildfirejoe00

Neil, one article I read was written by an individual who had a college degree in metallurgy and a penchant for using and honing straight razors. His opinion was based upon an actual study on the subject, and he provided microscopic pics to show the gradual "growth" (his words not mine) and slight realignment of the edge over a short period of time without stropping after shaving. His conclusion, a straight razor should ideally "Rest" (Again, his word not mine) 48 hrs., but not less than 36 hrs. before stropping. Sounds like you have a similiar background in metallurgy, you just disagree with his findings. I would be very interested in hearing about the research that forms the basis of your opinion for you to give such credit to the "tooth fairy" and "santa clause". You may very well be right, but in view of the fact there are folks out there that strongly disagree with you, you could greatly legitimize your statement if you provided something more than, "Geez", "Mileage", "Tooth Fairy". I believe I read awhile back that Lynn A. does not strop after shaving anymore, but I concede, my recollection may be incorrect on that one. It would be great if Lynn could chime in on this topic. Joe

I said what I said with former postings - many of them, I assure you, in mind. All here on SRP.

Agreeing or disagreeing, to whatever extent, is human nature. People have had, do have, and will have conflicting theories and ideas - it is in our nature and I couldn't give a toss about it, so I am certainly not getting into a p@ss@ng contest over it.

I believe in plastic flow theory (look it up if you don't know what it means - do not ask me) and the research on coticule.be that concludes the edge is realigned with a good stropping. No reason to wait 48 hours or more to see if that works.

These opposing theories have been around long enough, and I guess folk were a bit more inclined to believe in fairy tales in the 1600s and 1700s then they are today.

I do not know about your friend, but he should know that no one experiment in isolation serves as a theory. Many experiments, blind tests, people overlooking the steps performed, etc, etc, all these are needed. For your friend:

1. Lighting at extreme magnification is critical - a slight variation can be the difference between smoothness and a ragged looking moonscape.
2. What sort of microscope - I doubt that an optical type could do the job. Probably a scanning electron microscope of 5000 mag would be necessary.
3. In use a razors edge picks up a lot of detritus - skin cells, dust and many other things - these would have to be excluded.
4. To ensure the soundness of the experiment, it would have to be performed in an a suitable environment.
5. You would need to perform the experiment with 'control' razors, too.

During shaving, the edge can be rolled back a little in very small areas by particularly strong bristles, and tiny bits of metal can be lost. Stropping serves to ameliorate all this. If you agree that metal is crystalline in nature, which I believe it is, then it could (possibly) grow back - in the shape of well defined crystals. But why should this 'growth' be directional - has it some sort of memory? Why would it not grow back at all crazy angles, like regular crystals do, thereby cancelling out any effect? It would not, would it, no more than Santa can get down my chimney.

As an aside, I am with Groucho Mark on this issue, as is explained by the classic A Night At The Opera movie

ZEPPO: Hey wait (reading a contract) what's this?
GROUCHO: Oh that? That's in every contract...
ZEPPO: Well, I dont know...
GROUCHO: It's in every contract - its what they call a 'Sanity Clause".
ZEPPO: Ha - you cant fool me - there is no sanity claus
GROUCHO: You win the white carnation...

or words to that effect!

And what about lightly etched razors from way back when? Why have the engraved lines not grown over with new metal growth? You may cite passive resistivity forming a protective coat, but many owners regularly polish the blades, thus removing this ultra thin protective layer.

How about the tang in the pivot pin area? It is constantly, in some if not most razors, being rubbed by the scales thus showing bright metal - if we keep it dry. Why, in razors of 200+ years old, have we not seen this area grow chunkier with new metal? Because it isn't happening is the logical answer.

You may say that is all just regrowth of crystals (though in this world of ours nothing is generated from nothing, you cannot make matter), what about re-alignment? This indicates that you think the old steel alloys used to make razors with have a sense of what they edge looks like. Why the edge? Can't it remember what the freshly ground blank looked like, or the blank metal piece it was forged from, or the fiery conglomeration of liquid metal? No, it prefers to remember itself as its best - steel must have some intangible feminine component, I suppose! So it has the power to force a micro rolled area and wavy serrated edges back into line? In preference to moving them out of line? Or making them roll up further?

And as for well educated Machinists, they might very well be well educated, but what in? Not in edges, etc growing back, or they would be able to explain it, wouldn't they?! Machine shops and metal works are a rich source of myths about metal, and that is a fact, not a myth! Ask Mike Blue - he has debunked much of this tiresome old 'folklore' in his posts here.

Some things like this have no answer, just like the Northern Ireland problem, eastern terrorist mentality, the prevalence of masonry in some circles, etc. I guess its a person thing. I know a heck of a lot of people who have tested the theory of ;resting' (some call it 'tired' razor syndrome) and have not felt any difference at all - I am one of them. I guess you know just as many who cite the opposite. C'est la vie - maybe they belive in UFOs and alien abduction too.

Regards,
Neil