Thread: Strop maintenance question

I take my str8 and run it under water after I'm done w/ it. Then I let it rest before stropping it again. I read somewhere where you weren't supposed to touch the blade edge for 24 hrs after using it so that the edge burrs can return to their vertical position. By just running it underwater, am I getting whiskers embedded in my strop?

Originally Posted by rostfrei

I take my str8 and run it under water after I'm done w/ it. Then I let it rest before stropping it again. I read somewhere where you weren't supposed to touch the blade edge for 24 hrs after using it so that the edge burrs can return to their vertical position. By just running it underwater, am I getting whiskers embedded in my strop?

I think the general consensus is that knives, but not straight razors, have "burrs."

Many, including me, strop their razors briefly after shaving, rinsing, and drying, to ensure there is no moisture left on the critical bevel. So I think you can safely strop before 24 hours have passed.

I would suggest rinsing, drying (include the inside of the scales), then stropping X 10-12 on linen or cotton or whatever is available, then applyying a light film of oil, stroking from spine to bevel. Maybe not necessary if you use the same blade every day. There should be no whiskers on your strop.

Lot's of guys strop after shaving, If I'm not mistaken, I think Lynn said he strops his blades after shaving....Now, you are correct. I have read the same thing, that you should let the edge rest after shaving...to be honest, I don't think you have too...
Me, sometimes I do strop after, sometimes I don't, but I'd definitely say you can do so without harming your blade....

Rich

I have always done 20 round trips on leather following rinsing and throughly drying the blade. I've read tha letting the blade "rest" is an urban myth ... maybe a rural myth too but a myth for sure.

I don't think it is a myth, but I do think that the difference is so negligible that it doesn't warrant worrying about. To strop or not is your choice. I generally don't but that's just because I strop, shave and dry the blade with tissue paper and put the razor away without much regard for anything else. Others strop in the middle of the shave and I reckon those old time barbers must have stropped a single razor multiple times in one day too.


Mick

Well, just think how many razors a barber would have to have sitting around "resting" when he is shaving many a day.

Sounds like an old story to me.

I always strop after my shave (after cleaning and drying the blade) and ~24 hrs after the shave before storing it away. Of course, stropping before the shave as well.

OK, someone break out the Scanning Electron Microscope and have a look. I run the blade under hot water to get rid of the gunk, then wipe it down with a tissue and strop 20 laps on felt.
The hot water and tissue advice can be found on Robert Williams Web site.

"2. Post Shave care: Carbon steel will stain and rust. It’s the nature of the steel. It is, however, a very worthwhile tradeoff in order to shave with the finest blade steel in the world. Nothing surpasses high quality high carbon steel that has been heat treated and tempered just right. More corrosion resistant “stainless” steels will still rust and stain, but are more resistant to this. And the tradeoff is that alloys are included in the steel that are very good for retarding rust and staining, but don’t help and actually hinder the blade steel structure from being ideal for super sharp zero-radius bevels that are necessary for effortless push-cutting (how razors are designed to cut).
So, razors must be cleaned and dried after shaving. Rinsing with hot running water and wiping clean with bathroom tissue (toilet paper) is the best way to accomplish this. Nothing else will dry and polish a razor as well and as easily as simple bathroom tissue. Merely wiping it after each shave with tissue to remove moisture and then dry tissue to give it a bit of a polish up before putting it away will keep your razor shiny, polished and ready for use next time you use it. In fact, it will only polish more brightly with each iteration of use this way.
If you want more protection, I recommend Renaissance Wax as a coating protectant. Other products commonly used are light coats of camllia oil, olive oil or mineral oil. Renaissance wax or Camellia oil would be my recommendations.
You do not have to strop a razor after shaving with it.
Last modified on May 23, 2010"

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

...advice can be found on Robert Williams Web site...

You got a link to this site. I'm interested in having a look see at it.

Thanks mate.


Never mind mate. I found it.

Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

You got a link to this site. I'm interested in having a look see at it.

Thanks mate.


Never mind mate. I found it.

Mick

You bet!!!

Robert Williams Custom Straight Razors