to all stroppers

Merry Christmas to all.

I've read for months on stropping and understand the purpose however, I have a question. Why stop before every shave? you don't have to do it if you use a safety razor, although I did read a thread where someone used the palm of their hand to get some additional shaves from their blade. Normally you can get a good weeks shave from a safety razor without any stropping at all. So if your straight razor is shave ready why can't you go a couple of days without stropping. So far I have only been able to go 3 days without stropping before feeling a drag. Just curious that's all.

Best always, Rookie 1

To get the best possible shave...

You also don't dispose of a straight razor blade... Do you really have to toss that DE blade? Can't you just keep shaving with it forever??

According to the 1961 barber manual, and all others AFAIK, you'll always get a better shave by straightening/refreshing the edge on a strop. Many shavers strop after the shave as well to get any micro gunk out of the bevel after rinsing and drying the blade. That is what I do anyway.... but I confess that I like to strop razors. :)

To me, shave ready means stropped. That is part of the reason why all the guys that offer honing services strop the razor before sending it out.

Like Jeff said, you don't have to strop, but not stropping will give you a lower quality shave (maybe not straight off the hones - that I don't know, but between shaves).

You know Lee/Hoglahoo and I had a great discussion on this and here was the conclusion after a ton of the science stuff.. :D

DE and Disposables use special coatings to make the blades "Slicker" ... On a Straight we do know for sure, besides all the scientific stuff that we believe, that stropping the razor burnishes, and polishes, the edge, making it "Slicker" and if not for any other reason, I am good with just that one :D

"Strop away Marelle, Marelle, strop away"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY_LBAVWRMU


5:30 into the vid :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rookie1

Why stop before every shave?

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I stop before every shave for a moment of silence in respect of the short lives of the whiskers about to be sacrificed to the straight razor shaving gods.

Strapping the razor is to improve the razor's edge and get a better shave. If strapping doesn't improve your shave, you probably aren't strapping it right, or maybe it just isn't necessary for you. You can probably go a few shaves before you really need to give your razor a good strapping - I find personally that a few trips down the strap before and/or after each shave ensures a tip-top shaving edge on my razor

It works, how I have no clue, but a violin HHT can be turned into a catch pop after stroping. I also know this little extra won't last the shave, in fact I strop between passes.

I just know once my stropping technique became proficient, my shaves became so much smoother, and also, sharper = less chance of pulling, catching... blood.

What's your point. I like to hone and strop my razors. The question is why doesn't the razor hold the edge for a week like a DE

I agree, you do get a better shave but why doesn't the edge last longer?

Stropping does give one a better quality shave but, if you don't have to strop a DE before every shave why can't you at least go a few days?

Try and drag a disposable cartridge across your face ATG after 2-3 shaves and you'll see it's nowhere near as sharp as it was out of the box.

The vast majority of people use disposable cartridge razors for a simple once over WTG pass. Even a slightly dull blade will still manage a half decent WTG pass and thus people use them for a week + before they start to notice that the bade is going dull... but by that point the blade is REALLY dull compared to a properly maintained straight.

I have seen a video somewhere of a device that is used to strop the blade in a DE, although most just throw them away after a few uses.

Besides stropping lets work on this for "slicker" hehehe

http://straightrazorpalace.com/image...tons/quote.gif http://straightrazorpalace.com/image...iquote_off.gif

These two buttons allow you to answer each persons post and quote it while you answer it

if you want to quote a few posts hit the one on the right as you select the quotes until the last post then hit the one on the left this is called a multi-quote

If you just want to quote one post use the one on the left

Rock On brother


g

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rookie1

What's your point. I like to hone and strop my razors. The question is why doesn't the razor hold the edge for a week like a DE

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You can answer each post seperately like this!!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rookie1

I agree you do get a better shave but why doesn't the edge last longer?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rookie1

Stropping does give one a better quality shave but, if you don't have to strop a DE before every shave why can't you at least go a few days?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rookie1

This seems to explain it. Straight razors are not coated and therefore do need to be stropped to maintain their slickness.
Thanks.
Rookie 1

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That my friend is a muti quote so that way everyone can figure out who you were answering

I dont know if it has been covered yet but a razor edge will corrode and loose comfort pretty fast if its not cleaned and refreshed on a strop

A disposable dont need to be possible to shapened the traditional way sinse its discarded when the factory edge is dulled
That may allow for higher stain resistent steel being used

just a thought

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jeffegg2

To get the best possible shave...

You also don't dispose of a straight razor blade... Do you really have to toss that DE blade? Can't you just keep shaving with it forever??

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What's your point. I like to hone and strop my razors. The question is why doesn't the razor hold the edge for a week like a DE

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

You know Lee/Hoglahoo and I had a great discussion on this and here was the conclusion after a ton of the science stuff.. :D

DE and Disposables use special coatings to make the blades "Slicker" ... On a Straight we do know for sure, besides all the scientific stuff that we believe, that stropping the razor burnishes, and polishes, the edge, making it "Slicker" and if not for any other reason, I am good with just that one :D

"Strop away Marelle, Marelle, strop away"


YouTube - Signs - The Alien confrontation


5:30 into the vid :)

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This seems to explain it. Straight razors are not coated and therefore do need to be stropped to maintain their slickness.
Thanks.
Rookie 1

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

According to the 1961 barber manual, and all others AFAIK, you'll always get a better shave by straightening/refreshing the edge on a strop. Many shavers strop after the shave as well to get any micro gunk out of the bevel after rinsing and drying the blade. That is what I do anyway.... but I confess that I like to strop razors. :)

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I agree, you do get a better shave but why doesn't the edge last longer?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

To me, shave ready means stropped. That is part of the reason why all the guys that offer honing services strop the razor before sending it out.

Like Jeff said, you don't have to strop, but not stropping will give you a lower quality shave (maybe not straight off the hones - that I don't know, but between shaves).

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I understand that you will get a lower quality shave if you don't strop. Yet, you can get a quality shave with a good DE and blade for a few days without stropping. I think gssixgun may be on to something with his theory on the DE blades being coated extends the life of the shave.

2 more possible explanations are ....

1. The angle of the bevel on a DE blade is much finer

2. The steel used in a DE may resist wear better.

Just my $.02,:)

[QUOTE=Rookie1;708680]Merry Christmas to all.

Quote:

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Why stop before every shave? you don't have to do it if you use a safety razor, Normally you can get a good weeks shave from a safety razor without any stropping at all. So if your straight razor is shave ready why can't you go a couple of days without stropping. So far I have only been able to go 3 days without stropping before feeling a drag. Just curious that's all.

Best always, Rookie 1

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Good question Rookie.
Answer to your question is this.
Straight razor has not made same method as safety razor.
Safety razor has secondary bevel and then coating on top of it to give the edge hardness and sharpness.

Quote:

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I agree, you do get a better shave but why doesn't the edge last longer?

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it depends on your straight razor quality , honing job etc.
hope this helps.

[QUOTE=hi_bud_gl;709116]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rookie1

Merry Christmas to all.



Good question Rookie.
Answer to your question is this.
Straight razor has not made same method as safety razor.
Safety razor has secondary bevel and then coating on top of it to give the edge hardness and sharpness.

it depends on your straight razor quality , honing job etc.
hope this helps.

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Thanks, didn't realize the safety razor had a secondary bevel. Starting to make sense now.