Thread: Question about my stropping of a new razor

I recently bought a new straight razor, I had one awhile ago, but I believe my stropping dulled the blade excessively. I did not realize that I had to keep the spine of the blade tight against the strop while moving it, and I generally kept a slight angle, maybe 10-15 degrees from spine to blade.

When I got my new razor, I stopped it like I used to with the spine not touching the strop for about 5 passes on linen and 15 on the leather side. after doing this I watched a few videos and corrected my stropping to have the spine touching the strop.

My main question is, could those 20 passes have damaged the edge?

Also, Is there a desired speed to strop at? I generally go pretty slow to make sure I get good contact with the leather, but all of the videos I watch have the person stropping extremely fast. I am wondering if there is a difference in the end product in relation to how fast I run the blade?

Thanks for any help!

It is very much possible that you've dulled or rolled the edge from those 20 laps with all the pressure on the very edge.

Speed.... that's something that will come with time. There's a variety of opinions on if speed does anything or not... just go at a pace that is comfortable for you, that you can control the razor, and can maintain proper contact with the strop.

its strange I chased speed for so long, now I just like to take time to feel the edge and see if I can identify any faults or estimate from how it is on the strop how it'll perform on my face

There is a highly risk that you have rolled the edge, with some luck you used light enough pressure to minimize the damage and you can fix it with some heavy correct stropping (not heavy as in pressure, but many passes)

Speed will some with time as your technique improves, don't worry

There was a thread a while back about stropping speed, IRC the average was about 1 pass pr. second.

Edit: Found it: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ng-strops.html

Is it worth it to send it to get it resharpened? It is a Hart Steel blade that came shave ready, I did do 20 more the correct way maintaining contact.

I also read a thread about eyeing the blade to see if light hits the edge evenly, and it does look very consistent. I am not sure if this is a valid way of determining if the edge is damaged. Is there a way you know of? Or should I just see if it still shaves next time I use it?

Thanks for the response.

The only way to really tell if you rolled the edge is to strop it up right and then try shaving.

I would say yes IMO, .

edit: sorry guys, dont know why I said it as its a moot point anyways => edited

Originally Posted by justalex

I would say yes IMO, was it a brand new factory produced edge? many people will sharpen brand new razors because the edge put on at the factory isn't good enough. so you might have wanted it sharpened anyways even without the stropping...

Hart Steel is AFIK delivered actually shave ready, although not necessarily to everyones standards

Originally Posted by Zephyr

Hart Steel is AFIK delivered actually shave ready, although not necessarily to everyones standards

It is, and a very good edge

If you trust your stropping technique now, then stropping might get it right. I'd recommend a minimum of 100 laps, then try a shave with it.