Unstropped vs Stropped Edge
What's up guys.
Just quick question: While I do normally strop before a shave, I don't really feel that it adds anything to the comfort of my shave. Does anyone have some magnified pictures of a stropped vs unstropped edge? I constantly read about stropping smoothing out an edge but I can never actually see it and I certainly don't feel it. I've varied my stropping technique many times to include light or a decent amount of pressure, listening to the sound of stropping, feeling the draw of the strop, etc.
Could this be an issue with the strop surface? What I mean is in when viewed in the light my black latigo leather strop appears to have some places that seem less "worn" and some that are smoother. Generally before stropping I run my hand up and down the strop to help generate some warmth on the strop. Would a strop dressing help to make the leather more supple, smooth, and shiny and thus help in smoothing my edge?
This video is a perfect example of what I'm referring to on my strop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgsEKpA4SUI
Watch from about 6:32-7:00 and you can see how his black strop near the bottom reflects light like a mirror and is very, very smooth. Mine looks more like the top where you can see some wear and isn't as shiny.
Thanks a bunch.
Unstropped vs Stropped Edge
Well it may depend on how many laps you do. I personally do about 30 on cloth and 75-80 on leather. It varies IMO. I don't have pictures, but have seen a few on this site. There was an obvious difference.
The variables are pretty huge when it comes to added comfort during the shave. Razor, soap, water, stropping laps, strop materials, brush material, prep, stretching skin, time to allow lather to set, ect...
I wish I could point you in the right direction. :(
Unstropped vs Stropped Edge