Thread: When is it time to Strop?

Morning!...

Well coffee in the hand and a few cuts from my first SR shave last night (Dovo). Anyhow, a new razor out of the box can give you how many shaves without stropping? I realize some variables will contribute to different answers. And is a their a good indicator when you should strop?

Thanks! Take care, Joshua

Personally, I strop before each and every shave which I think is pretty standard. I was wondering if your Dovo had just a factory edge or was it honed prior to being sent to you? Also, are you confusing stropping with honing?

Bob

You'll find most here strop before each shave, but Bob's questions are valid. Let us know.

on the box it said ready to shave, so I suspect that it was honed prior, plus it worked fine when I used it. For honing, do you need a stone to refine the blade or some badass machine to get that edge? Stropping is essentially buffing the blade, so I wasn't sure if I had to strop before I do my next shave.

"Ready to Shave" is open to alot of interpretation. That depends on where you purchsed the razor. If it was from Straight Razor Designs, Vintage Blades, or one of the other vendors here, or from the classified ads here, its probably actually "shave-ready". A razor with only a factory edge is not by any means shave-ready. With regard to honing, stones are what is preferred. Usually, a 1K or 2K to set a bevel (if you're starting from scratch with a dull razor. Then, progressing up through the stones, 4K, 8K (if you use the Norton stones), and then a final polish/finishing on a 12K finish stone. Stropping aids in bringing the micrscopic blade edge back into alignment between shaves. It also cleans the blade. The only time a machine is really used is in the factory, or by one performing a total restoration on a vintage razor. Hopefully that was somewhat helpful, welcome aboard and good luck!!--Nick

Originally Posted by Jmlaviol

on the box it said ready to shave, so I suspect that it was honed prior, plus it worked fine when I used it. For honing, do you need a stone to refine the blade or some badass machine to get that edge? Stropping is essentially buffing the blade, so I wasn't sure if I had to strop before I do my next shave.

I ususally strop before each shave. I'll do 30 laps on linen; this helps to remove any particulate that may be on the blade from a prev. shave. Then I'll do 50-60 laps on leather...

What kind of razor do you have just outta curiosity? If it's a Dovo or something that comes "shave ready" from the factory (it's not), then it probably needs additional honing.

Most of us use stones to hone; some use lapping film. I, or any number of people on this site would be happy to hone your razor for you...just ask!

The factory razors I have used needed to be stropped a little before shaving. None needed to be honed. From a boutique shaving store they are often re-honed and stropped so are ready for shaving when they arrive at your door.

The short answer is, strop whenever you feel the need for a sharper, smoother edge.

Yeah its a dovo.. got the set off of amazon. Comes with some soap, a shitty brush and a strop. There is a place down the street the sharpens razor and knives, anxious to bring it into him and hone it, then again I think JeffR is right about the honing aspect, maybe just stropping it several laps before my next shave is legit. The strop has both a black and brown side.

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Before taking your blade to the guy down the street I would go in and ask him about how he sharpens razors. If he says a machine thank him for his time and run away. If he says he use stones ask him what kind and what grits.

I would send it to one of the members in the members services area in the classifieds on srp just so u know what a truly honed razor will feel like, so u know when it starts losing that feeling it may b time for a touch up. I usually strop everytime before and after I shave. Stropping is something that also takes time to learn. But all the info and all the help u need will b found right here take ur time there is a learning curve but it will become addictive .. Happy shaving