Thread: Resting between stropping (Not me, the razor).

Unfortunately, steel does not magically reform itself after being plastically deformed.

Stropping actually buffs off oxidation from the micro-dings left in an edge from the previous day's shave. That isn't all that the stropping does, mind you.

My theory is that this oxidation does not have time to occur completely if the blade is used every day.

All theories aside, modern science doesn't support this claim of steel reforming itself over a 24 hour period. Something else is happening here and this wives tale is a convenient avenue to explain it.

Letting the fine edge on a razor 'rest to reform itself' is about as valid as pigs having wings.

When steel is deformed in the elastic region, it returns to true almost immediately after losing any/all applied force. Take, for example .. a spring. I think the world would be in trouble if every steel spring in the world took 24 hours to bounce back. In other words ... if the steel was to rebound elastically, this rebound would be immediate and not take a 24 hour time period to execute.

Yes, one could argue different steels react differently ... but this argument only goes so far and ends quite poorly. The aforementioned example spring steel is generally a medium carbon steel and razors are, of course, high carbon steel. The characteristic for this steel with a fine edge would be to experience plastic deformation and breakage. Since high carbon steels in general are quite stiff, this type of steel does not see much elastic and plastic deformation. High carbon steels behave similarly to a ceramic: able to absorb alot of force with little to no deformation with fracture being catastrophic. Sure, minor elastic deformation may occur ... but again, the rebound from the deformation would be immediate. Being on such a fine edge, it is my opinion that this this elastic deformation would move to the plastic region quite rapidly.

There are no magical properties within steel, except if you enjoy tinkering with magnets.

But if this reformation was to occur, we would have limited time to photograph wrecked cars or plasma cut steel for instance(s). In keeping with the tone of this thread, wrecked cars have this ability to magically reform themselves into the brand new car that it once was if left alone for a few days to heal. If steel is cut, we cant keep the cut pieces close to each other or else they will reform into one piece of steel again.

These last two sentences are pure and absolute rubbish ... just as much rubbish as a 24 hour reforming period for a razor edge.

Look where you are getting advice ... a razor manufacturer. Of course they want you to buy more razors. What they claim doesn't make sense to me and it does not adhere to general metallurgical principles. Since their business is metallurgy, I am pretty comfortable with figuring they know these principles as well. Remember, it takes money for testing. I don't know of one razor manufacturer that would want to prove/disprove this wives tale... simply because it costs them money without any return on their investment. In other words, it doesn't make business sense to prove or disprove this wives tale ... plus, not proving this tale might sucker someone into buying another razor from them ... so why rock the proverbial boat?

It's not gospel ... its a fable that might make them more money.

I don't see stropping after a shave to be harmful at all.




This might be the longest post to date for me. Hey, just sayin'.

Woot !