This has probably been covered, but I just read on a site called ems.com that you should never under any circumstances strop after a shave. I have been stroping before and after shaving because that’s what I thought you’re supposed to do. Help!
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This has probably been covered, but I just read on a site called ems.com that you should never under any circumstances strop after a shave. I have been stroping before and after shaving because that’s what I thought you’re supposed to do. Help!
That's a camping website....
LOL...........Quote:
Originally Posted by markbignosekelly
Although I think I am in the minority here, I believe what is claimed on that site is true. The thought is based on the fact that metal has a "memory" and wants to go back to the position it was in before the bending all by it's own. In theory, there is less realignment to be done and less stress to be put on the metal after it had time to recover.
As a former saxophone repairman, I can say that metal memory is a fact, as leaks that are fixed by bending the keys reappear the next day.
One thing to consider is that stropping after the shave does have the advantage of cleaning and drying the edge before storage. For that reason I always clean and dry my razors with a tissue after the shave.
Kind regards ,
Peter.
I will always strop on cotton/linen post shave, and most often use a suede strop too. Rarely on my finish leather though. But that's just out of habit.
I want to clean my edge by stropping and removing any debris and water residue by cleaning and heating up my blade by stropping, that it helps with smoothing out my edge, helps.
Ì don't think metal memory from bending and forming and damage is the same as from forging and grinding/honing.
I also don't see what a strop could do steel other than do things on a microscopic level, which is exactly what I want post shave.
Same reason post honing stropping works, post shave stropping works; for me.
I see no harm in stropping post shave, au contraire. I will 100% always strop post shave.
Strop after honing, strop after shaving, strop before shaving, all yes.
People that say to do or not to do something, what's their reasoning and their experience and/or evidence of saying so?
I guess it wouldn't be hard for people with a microscope to examine an edge post-shave and then take a look again after a few days if things have changed? I would be intrigued to find out. I don't have the gear though.
Someplace on here are some OLD pics that were done by Popular Mechanics Magazine (Or Similar) about the effects of stropping in general
The only advantage I can see for doing 10ish laps on Linen, as recommended, is to Clean and Dry the edge at the microscopic level...:shrug:
The YMMV axiom comes into play here, try it for a month and see what you find to work best for YOU !!!
There are quite a few sites that claim if you store a razor in a Pyramid it will stay sharp too,,, Soooooooo believe what you will LOL
Well the Egyptians were an advanced race so anything is possible :p
I strop after each shave(20 laps) to make sure the edge is dry. And then I strop pre shave for another 60 or so. If this was a problem I would have issues with edge retention. And the barbers who stropped all day long would have had issues. I think it's all bull. But dont let me be a pimple on the @$$ of progress if that's what you wanna do.
After i shave i clean and dry my razor with kitchen towel then 40 on linen and 40 on English bridal leather
before i shave 60 linen 100 Buffalo leather.
It may or may not help, I like to think it does. It only takes a couple of minutes and it has never hurt my razors, i don't think a person can over strop if they get into the zone, always assuming they CAN strop properly - we all know you just dont grap one end of a strop in one hand and a razor in the other and expect much more than a nicely cut up strop the first few times at least, my first strop was a real work of art :roflmao
Likewise. I generally strop 40 to 80 on smooth leather before and 20 on suede side to dry the blade after. Last time I counted I get a bare minimum of 20-30 shaves before edges start to diminish depending on the blade and my habits. Take that for what it's worth.
Here's the fly in the ointment for that never stop theorum. Once the edge does diminish I can bring it back almost indefinitely with flax or hemp fiber stropping.
As Glen pointed out there is a lot of myth and hog water out there. Add to that that each strop is different and can be contaminated PLUS no two people strop alike. I have improved edges by stropping mid shave. I have also ruined edges by stropping with an errant stroke. The very nature of stropping is so subjective that I could prove either argument in an experiment just by doing It differently.
Before and after cor me. My edges stay keen so why would I want to stop.
Whatever works for you is what I recommend.
From my experience although not with saxophones in this situation you would have to "over bend" past where you want it to finally end up.Quote:
Originally Posted by therapy
This just made me think that with a Dished strop could you over bend the this edge and have it end up straight?????:hmmm::D
Tony Miller flax and leather after shaving, and leather before. :)
Tony's No 2 Roughout has the best suede side. That's what I use after.
If you're bending your razor you're stropping too hard :pQuote:
Originally Posted by therapy
Stropping a razor is more an abrasive process than mechanical. The leather gives so much more than the steel that it will sharpen inside the hollows of micro pits.
I remember the Modern Mechanics article Glen mentioned had a micro picture of this.
This is one of those topics that back in the day would have seen people ready to go to war over. Just like taping the spine. Sometimes I miss those days.
:nj
"Hey, Pandora? What's in this box?"Quote:
Originally Posted by OCDshaver
Personally, I've found putting the razor under a Rhombus works way better than the pyramid.
I think we once discussed stropping after shaving and there was some discussion about it not being good, something about deforming the edge which is weaker after shaving. But then again I might be wrong and maybe it's the opposite. In any case I've never done it.
Stropping properly cannot be performed enough. Strop! :D
i did my own experiment.
I honed 2 razors, one i used and stropped regularly, the other I oiled up and put aside,
I found the one i didn't use never needed to be stropped so my conclusion is, stop shaving :roflmao
You could say Im a bit of an advocate of stropping being that a corner of a room in my house is designated as a stropping zone.
I.M.H.O. I believe I can never strop to much before or after shaving. I known over the years that diligent stropping prolongs my keen edges longer thus keeping my blades off the honing rocks. As far as laps I don't even count anymore too many passes to even worry about it.
Also Im an advocate of what I call progressive stropping where Ill use a Lipshaw Microtome diamond patterned strop and finish with one or more different leather panels.
For me its like night and day.
Attachment 348957
I do not typically strop after a shave. I normally strop the next morning or at least a couple hours after shaving.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elnones
I don't feel the need to to get the razor clean on a strop. I clean it well after shaving with tepid water - not hot, and wipe with a tissue
I found a long time ago that if I used hot water and rinsed well I would still have water spots on the razor immediately after. The steel would get hot and it would dry to spots right away.
Cooler water eliminated that.
