Thread: Too much stropping?

Is it possible to strop a razor too much? I am just starting out with Straights and, because of this, I try to get in some practice with my razor and strop even when I do not plan to shave right away. I will not spend a lot of time during these practice sessions, maybe 50 to 100 passes before I put the blade away.

I do it more to get my technique down than anything else, but could I be overdoing it?

You could be overdoing it if your technique is somehow off, but otherwise I doubt it. Certainly others who know better than i do will weigh in.

Look at the edge with magnification. If you’re not chipping or rolling the edge, go for it.

Where folks have a problem is lifting the spine or too much pressure.

The only way to perfect your stropping… is to strop…

Like Marty says, if you're stropping properly I don't believe you can over-strop a razor. I routinely will refresh a blade with 60+ linen and 150+ leather laps. I've read accounts of barbers keeping their edges sharp and keen even after hundreds of shaves with proper and numerous stropping sessions on the linen and leather. Strop carefully and correctly and go for it!

Originally Posted by Wolfpack34

Like Marty says, if you're stropping properly I don't believe you can over-strop a razor. I routinely will refresh a blade with 60+ linen and 150+ leather laps. I've read accounts of barbers keeping their edges sharp and keen even after hundreds of shaves with proper and numerous stropping sessions on the linen and leather. Strop carefully and correctly and go for it!

I have probably pushed an edge to 200 shaves using just linen and leather, and it was by no means dull when I used the razor to test a hone for a friend. The linen has to be a real linen, though. I've not had the same luck with any modern linen that doesn't have abrasive on it.

I'm convinced that someone who was skilled with a good vintage non-abrasive linen could shave for several decades with a razor without it looking much different. I have too many razors to ever be able to put that to the test, though.

You can't over stop a razor if done properly. I think it was gssixgun who said there are diminishing returns for anything over 60 laps IIRC, but there are many who do over 100 laps between shaves. Won't hurt the razor, but not sure after a certain number of laps if it will gain you much either. I do about 15 linen, 25 leather before and after each shave, so end up with 80 laps between shaves. Seems to work for me. Practice away, as it is the best way to perfect your technique.

Lou

20 passes on the green side of the balsa
20 passes on the red side of the balsa
50 passes on the fabric strop
20 passes on the leather strop

*ting* *ting* *ting* went the hairs on my arm. Wife was surprised at how "noisy" the blade was. Nice to hear it sing.

Originally Posted by Orville

20 passes on the green side of the balsa
20 passes on the red side of the balsa
50 passes on the fabric strop
20 passes on the leather strop

*ting* *ting* *ting* went the hairs on my arm. Wife was surprised at how "noisy" the blade was. Nice to hear it sing.

Those pastes you're using - if the Green paste is crox, that's fine to use as a touch up for your blade when it starts to tug, usually after 10-12 shave at the least in my experience.

If those are the Dovo Green and Red paste's, you're using much lower grit paste's - the Green being for, "especially dull razors", and the Red being for, "somewhat dull razors" IIRC - "dull" being the operative word, not in need of a "touch-up" in the case of the green crox.

If you're using the Dovo pastes, or even too much crox, you will make your edge potentially very brittle, and it will then lose it's "edge" or sharpness fairly quickly.

You can't overstrop a razor. Once you get past 60 passes you're just exercising your arm (IMHO). The biggest issue with mega stropping is you might tire and roll the edge or do something that might damage the razor or the strop from fatigue.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Those pastes you're using - if the Green paste is crox, that's fine to use as a touch up for your blade when it starts to tug, usually after 10-12 shave at the least in my experience.

If those are the Dovo Green and Red paste's, you're using much lower grit paste's - the Green being for, "especially dull razors", and the Red being for, "somewhat dull razors" IIRC - "dull" being the operative word, not in need of a "touch-up" in the case of the green crox.

If you're using the Dovo pastes, or even too much crox, you will make your edge potentially very brittle, and it will then lose it's "edge" or sharpness fairly quickly.

Balsa strop came preloaded from Whipped dog. I am going to assume he knows what he's doing. As for myself, this was the first time I have given it a go on the wood. doubt I will do so again for a while now. Thanks for the info. nonetheless.