Fix with strop or Hone?

Hey all,

I just recently purchased a straight from vintage bladesllc. It is great and came ready to shave. Anyway, my current strop was a crappy one I got with a kit and I had put some nicks in it with a previous crappy straight I was using before I got my new one. So stupidly I stropped my new razor with the crappy strop and now the edge has dulled a bit giving me a hard time on my third pass. I just ordered a new strop much better quality and a three inch one so I don't have to do the x pattern. My question is: Will the new strop get the blade back to shave ready because its a new blade or should I take it to the Norton 8k?

Thanks in advance for your help! :)

I would wait till you get your new strop and try stropping your blade real well. if that doesn't work strop again then if the edge doesn't come back go to the hone.

Yes, stropping could return the edge to shave ready condition. That's usually my first step. I think the last time I honed my Puma was last March 2012. So I know stropping will keep an edge shave ready.

Ok thank you both for your help. Please pardon another Nubee question, but what exactly does stropping really well mean. (How many strokes) Ha, but seriously....:)

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Originally Posted by pbsd

Ok thank you both for your help. Please pardon another Nubee question, but what exactly does stropping really well mean. (How many strokes) Ha, but seriously....:)

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To me "How many strokes?" is like asking "How many minutes/ seconds until the gas tank is full?" It's full when it's full, yes?

Same concept with stropping. Number of strokes is really meaningless. Maybe a general reference, but if you were told your tank would be full in 5 minutes and it started over-flowing at 1.5, would you keep adding fuel?

Hey Honeright. Yes I get what you are saying. I guess a better question would be how do you know when your tank is full. What's the gage?

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Originally Posted by pbsd

Hey Honeright. Yes I get what you are saying. I guess a better question would be how do you know when your tank is full. What's the gage?

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The gauge I use is typically called the "Thumb Pad Test." Some use what they call the "Shaving Test."

To use another analogy, the thumb pad test is more like a gauge on a fuel pump. Once you have developed the skill to "read" it, the thumb pad will quickly tell you if you've stropped enough and the razor is ready to shave.

On the other hand, the shaving test is more like getting into the car and driving to determine whether or not you've added enough fuel. And if not you must go back and refuel. Or - strop, lather, shave.... strop, lather, shave...

Yes I understand the you will know it when you feel it. I have done a thumb test on the new razor I bought that was shave ready. It didn't really seem that sharp to me until I shaved. I am sure this is a frustrating question that will inspire a lot of eye rolling and head slapping, but can you try to describe in words with the blade is supposed to feel like when you touch it with your thumb? I mean is it like aw f#@4#q sharp!, or something else?

Oh, and to further muck it up, a couple of different methods have been described for the thumb pad test. The method I use seems risky, but if done correctly is perfectly safe and is consistent with what I've seen barbers do. This method involves drawing the moistened thumb pad along the edge of the razor for a fraction of a nanometer before lifting the thumb away. More of a light touch. Actually this method, if practiced, provides a wealth of info about the condition of the razors edge.

The other method involves drawing, or scraping the thumb pad lightly across the razors edge. While I use this method with kitchen and pocket knives, I don't find it useful for straight razors.

This link in the wiki is a good guide http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ests_explained

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Originally Posted by pbsd

Yes I understand the you will know it when you feel it. I have done a thumb test on the new razor I bought that was shave ready. It didn't really seem that sharp to me until I shaved. I am sure this is a frustrating question that will inspire a lot of eye rolling and head slapping, but can you try to describe in words with the blade is supposed to feel like when you touch it with your thumb? I mean is it like aw f#@4#q sharp!, or something else?

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There are a few sensations you might detect:

1) The razor passes over the pad smoothly without a "drawing" or "ut-oh, I'm about to get cut" sensation. The razor is essentially dull for shaving purposes. Requires aggressive stropping or, more likely, honing.

2) The razor passes over the thumb with that "ut-oh" sensation, but there is also a subtle "gritty" or rough sensation at the same time. More stropping required, possibly on the linen with some pressure then back to the leather.

3) "Ut-oh" coupled with a sticky smooth "I'm-touching-a-friggin-laser-scalpel...whoa!" Absolutely no rough or grittiness detected. The razor is shave ready!

Yea, I just tried it with my new Dovo which was shave ready when I got it three shaves ago. I'm not getting an ut-oh sensation so I guess I screwed up a perfectly good blade. Can I take it from step one to three but stropping on my better strop when I get? When would you decide to go from the strop to the hone?

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Originally Posted by pbsd

Yea, I just tried it with my new Dovo which was shave ready when I got it three shaves ago. I'm not getting an ut-oh sensation so I guess I screwed up a perfectly good blade. Can I take it from step one to three but stropping on my better strop when I get? When would you decide to go from the strop to the hone?

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A lot depends on your skill level and experience. If I couldn't bring the edge back almost immediately on the strop, I'd try just a few light strokes on a fine hone, then strop again. Keep in mind that the edge isn't that far from shave ready, unless you used it for a letter opener recently or you severely rounded the edge on the strop.

Hey thanks for all of your responses. It's been really helpful!! I will tell you all the dumb s!#@@t I have done. Can you tell me if you think I killed it?
Here is my confession:
*Last night I tried the thumb nail test. I didn't know it would hurt the blade until I read a recent post. :(
*As stated above I stropped with a strop that had cuts and flaps on it. :(

Thumb nail won't hurt your razor edge if used appropriately. Thumb nail is your gauge for honing, thumb pad is the gauge for stropping. If you use the thumb nail after stropping, it might set you back a bit, so don't do that.

As for stropping on a damaged strop, meh. I prefer a nice smooth damage-free strop. But you be surprised what you can get away with on a blemished strop.

Another tool in my bag is the HHT. Regardless of what some may say about it being useless, or a "parlor trick," etc. the HHT is useful. I use it just to confirm my thumb pad test. If I think the thumb pad is right on, but my razor won't properly sever a hanging hair, I strop a bit more with some deliberation until the razor splits the hair. Not "pops" the hair, but splits the hair. And then I thumb pad test again for that ah-ha!

The edge has ceased to be . It is no more.
If you haven't already, introduce yourself to the pyramid method with the 4/8k.
Pyramid honing guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Damn, I thought that pyramid stuff went out in the 80's man.

So you think I should drop it down to the 4k?

It's a pretty foolproof system.

Just my observation of the thread, I think it goes. Strop like you mean it with great care. If it doesn't shave right for you go to the 8k for a light short hone. Strop and shave test again. If that doesn't do it then hone it. Pyramid works for most. This is also what I would do but being a beginner myself I feel obligated to ad the fine print disclaimer. :<0)

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

It's a pretty foolproof system.

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Should I start at the ten?

Hard to guess without seeing the edge but if you feel there's not a lot of damage approach it from there. You can always rinse & repeat.

I was trying to teach you to listen to the force....

But I perceive that you have been seduced to the Dark Side.

I currently don't have a lapping stone can I clean it with something else? I know it's used to also flatten but it's only been used once

You don't know the power of the dark side!

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

HA! Now that's freakin funny

Really?

Attachment 119827

And I see your razor is as sharp as mine. Now, lets see how you handle it.

I wouldn't rely too heavily the "Sharpness Tests" wiki. That wiki contains some "interesting" info, but if you can find a copy of a good standard barber text, easily found online, you'll find better information.

This one will do:

Practice and science of standard barbering; a practical and complete course of training in basic barber services and related barber science. Prepared especially for use by barber schools, barber students, barber apprentices, practicing barbers in pre

Check out the sections on honing and stropping.

Go ahead and wear a pyramid on your head while reading Thorpe's book. That's if you think pyramids are all that.

3 or 4 passes over a fine barber hone or brick, which ever is handy, followed by a few thwaps over a willing horses butt to refine the edge.

Thank me later :)