Thread: 'Aggressiveness' of strops and razor edges?

I've read numerous times about someone describing the feedback and use/qualities of strops being some form of 'aggressive'. For instance, flax or plain linen strops, even strong vintage firehouse strops seem to be so textually prominent, that I can't imagine they would be OK to use on delicate edges of razors. Wouldn't you want something smoother than something with lots of texture (at a macroscopic level at least), say a 'smoother' leather strop, just like you would use a very smooth/fine hone (for finishing at least)? I could see such strops being useful for knives, but for razors? Someone please enlighten me.

I use a linen/cotton strop after my shaves primarily to insure the edge is dry. The theory is, as far as I know, that each and every bump on the linen (bump as in natural bump from the weave) tends to catch any part of the very edge that is starting to turn or roll from use and thus do the preliminary edge straightening, leaving the final polish to the leather strop.

In any case, aggressive use of ANY strop can/will damage the edge, a light hand is important.

I will not touch my razors to a linen strop after honing, I'm happy with the idea that the hone has kept the edge straight and only do a very light stropping on leather. After the shave, I wipe the blade clean with a cotton terry towel and then do a few very light strokes on a linen strop to dry the very edge.

Perhaps it's my technique, or my linens, but I have never been able to improve the edge on any of my straights over just stropping on leather, so I stick with leather for stropping and as I said, I'll use the linen strictly for drying.

Others have different views and results.

Regards

Christian

That's my understanding as well, that the linen/cotton/felt side does the preliminary straightening, broad strokes as it were, and the leather does the fine tuning, with perhaps a little polishing action if done enough.

People often use a rougher strop for pastes as well or the rougher side of a smooth strop.

I just do as was described above. I do a few laps on linen to make sure the edge is dry and clean before going to the fine leather strop.

After I use a pasted strop I clean the edge with my fingers or by stropping on my leg for a second and then go to the linen strop (to make sure all of the paste is off) before going to the leather.

Everyone uses variations on the same theme. Linen, Flax, firehose or whatever for aligning the edge and some type of leather to burnish/polish the edge. Using a light hand, as in the weight of the razor, can't be overstressed to avoid damaging the edge.

I do 10-20 strokes on an English linen (flax) strop post shave to dry the edge/bevel after drying the blade with some toilet paper. I also do a regular stropping routine after honing. I do laps on a hanging hard felt strop sprayed with crox, wipe the blade down and do a regular linen and leather routine to finish.

Bob

Originally Posted by Shokunin

I've read numerous times about someone describing the feedback and use/qualities of strops being some form of 'aggressive'. For instance, flax or plain linen strops, even strong vintage firehouse strops seem to be so textually prominent, that I can't imagine they would be OK to use on delicate edges of razors. .

And yet they have been, and have worked for Millions of men for hundreds of years... Proof is in the use

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

I will not touch my razors to a linen strop after honing, I'm happy with the idea that the hone has kept the edge straight and only do a very light stropping on leather. After the shave, I wipe the blade clean with a cotton terry towel and then do a few very light strokes on a linen strop to dry the very edge.

The 1961 barber manual on honing/stropping excerpt PDF says to strop on leather only after honing. They recommend linen and then leather once the razor has been used for shaving. I followed this advice for a long while, then speaking with one of the premier pro honers I was surprised to find out that he does linen/leather after honing.

Says it knocks off any divots or anomalies (the linen) after the honing. So I tried it both ways, I haven't come to a conclusion, so I stick with leather like my friend the Kaptain. All stropping once the razor is shaving is done linen/leather, but, following the shave I rinse and dry with a paper towel, then leather only to get the striations in the bevel dry. Different strokes for different folks.

Member DaveW, and maybe Utopian IIRC, have said that a razor can be well maintained for a long period of continuous use by stropping alone. I can't say through my own experience because I rotate so many it is difficult to keep track.

Same here Jimmy

I went with Leather only after honing for quite some time, then it occurred to me that the linen would find any "weak" spots in the edge so I switched

That was about 2008 IIRC

To this day I finish honing, then strop on linen, pull out the loupe and look for any issues, then finish on leather.. I figure if the edge isn't solid enough to hold up to the linen it should not be going on my Hollywood face anyway

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Same here Jimmy

I went with Leather only after honing for quite some time, then it occurred to me that the linen would find any "weak" spots in the edge so I switched

That was about 2008 IIRC

To this day I finish honing, then strop on linen, pull out the loupe and look for any issues, then finish on leather.. I figure if the edge isn't solid enough to hold up to the linen it should not be going on my Hollywood face anyway

glen I agreed with you all the way up to the Hollywood face bit ! Tc

By Hollywood face he meant Marty Feldman.