Thread: Can I strop

Originally Posted by eddy79

No need to rest a razor. Barbers used the same razor all day all week for years without issues I'm sure we can use it once a day no worries. A bit of stropping before and after is a good practice to keep it dry and in top condition

Thanks I was wondering I can't remember where but I read that somewhere

Originally Posted by JIW167Jason

Thanks I was wondering I can't remember where but I read that somewhere

that's still common advice, both Dovo and Thiers Isaard say to let a razor rest before using. probably just a way to sell razors.

I remember reading the same thing...something about letting the fin form or some similar nonsense. As said above, I believe it was simply a marketing ploy. I strop whenever the mood strikes me, so sometimes before and sometimes after I have never noticed a difference due to stropping times.

I do 20 on linen and 20 on leather after the shave and 30-40 on leather prior to the shave, sometimes more.

I do linen and leather after and leather before. I like the idea of leather before storing the razor as I believe the edge picks up a bit of oil from the strop that helps prevent oxidation.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

I do linen and leather after and leather before. I like the idea of leather before storing the razor as I believe the edge picks up a bit of oil from the strop that helps prevent oxidation.

thats the thing i generally lightly oil my razors and then wipe the excess off before storing them.

Originally Posted by shanky887614

thats the thing i generally lightly oil my razors and then wipe the excess off before storing them.

Maybe if I had a lot of razors or if I knew it was going to sit for a while (weeks) I might oil my razors but for day to day use it seems a bit like work for works sake to me.

And yes the razor resting debate is one with no definitive answer but anecdotally I don't think anyone here has proved it necessary. As a user of predominately one razor I don't see any difference if it has sat for a day or so or not between stroppings/uses.

I only use leather as a strop as I found no benefit in any of the fabrics I tried, though admittedly this isn't many.