Thread: pro stropping style

Perhaps the Interview that Obie did with the man who has many, many years of stropping and shaving experience would be helpful!!

Straight Razor Place - Conversation with Liam Finnegan

By reading all of your comment, which I respect and I believe to be correct, it calls to my mind a simple question: what is stropping for?
And why there are so many different strops around? Stripe, paddle, loom and you mention it. Leather would not certainly remove steel from the blade (saved when you apply chromium oxide on it or other pastes) but however has the capability of "shaping" the edge, which is very thin and weaker than the spine.

Originally Posted by razorguy

And why there are so many different strops around?

Because man found different ways to hold straight and firm a stripe of leather, I believe it is simple as that.

Originally Posted by dudness

Because man found different ways to hold straight and firm a stripe of leather, I believe it is simple as that.

You are right of course, but it is also a matter of fact not all strops work the same. The result you get from a loom strop is different from the one you get from a hanging strop. This is something which can be seen on a microscope, for example.

Originally Posted by razorguy

By reading all of your comment, which I respect and I believe to be correct, it calls to my mind a simple question: what is stropping for?
And why there are so many different strops around? Stripe, paddle, loom and you mention it. Leather would not certainly remove steel from the blade (saved when you apply chromium oxide on it or other pastes) but however has the capability of "shaping" the edge, which is very thin and weaker than the spine.

I've been thinking for a while about the often asked questions, and came up with a 'Top Ten'. I posed the question in the Mentor area about writing some easy to read, succinct articles on these oft asked questions. One was titled 'Do I need to Buy a Strop?' I wrote it and posted it for comment. Gugi wrote what is below (a quote from the reply) and I think it says it all, really. It makes very good logical sense to me; and previous to this I really was a little unclear myself; I simply knew it worked.

I think it's best to state clearly what the stop does because that also explains why it is so important. It is not a subject of opinion, and has been scientifically proven since the 1930s that the strop's main role is to maintain the edge free of oxidation. That's what dulls the edge, rather than mechanical deformation or 'misalignment of teeth'.
Everybody knows how fast the high-carbon steel of razors oxidizes (including the so called stainless steel razors), and if you don't strop for a few shaves the edge is basically rusted through.

There's another video of someone else (can't remember his name now, Mr Ham I think ) that I came across several years ago that shows a very exaggerated stropping style. He too was what looked like an old time barber. Arms were flying, razors were lifting, strops were flapping around, but I think it was effective (maybe...).

I've noticed that when I strop more quickly I lift the razor, particularly at the handle end - it's like a "U" shape in the vertical plane. Not necessarily the way to do it, just what has happened to me over time.

In any event, I suppose the point is that there are "different strokes for different folks". As long as you are hitting that edge and not damaging it.

James.

One opinion

WONDER PHOTOS REVEAL UNSUSPECTED FACTS ABOUT Razor Blades and Shaving (Oct, 1931) | Modern Mechanix

I will search out the other from Voerhaven that says that there is no visible difference from stropping under magnification, he was dealing with edges off the hones though so it isn't Apples to Apples

Originally Posted by gssixgun

One opinion

WONDER PHOTOS REVEAL UNSUSPECTED FACTS ABOUT Razor Blades and Shaving (Oct, 1931) | Modern Mechanix

I will search out the other from Voerhaven that says that there is no visible difference from stropping under magnification, he was dealing with edges off the hones though so it isn't Apples to Apples

Hmm. I love thinking about this but it also annoys me. I like the article and the photos, and one could imagine the oxidation being removed and hence the edge being smoothed. However, I'd like to see the other article. I swear a newly honed razor without being stropped feels different (harsher?) than a newly honed razor that's been stropped. And if there's no visible difference, then WHAT the F is happening??? I'm freaking OUT man! Will there NEVER be an answer?

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I think it's best to state clearly what the stop does because that also explains why it is so important. It is not a subject of opinion, and has been scientifically proven since the 1930s that the strop's main role is to maintain the edge free of oxidation. That's what dulls the edge, rather than mechanical deformation or 'misalignment of teeth'. Everybody knows how fast the high-carbon steel of razors oxidizes (including the so called stainless steel razors), and if you don't strop for a few shaves the edge is basically rusted through.

I completely agree on this and thank you, Carl, for this very useful post.
However, by watching the edge of the bevel on a microscope after stropping, it looks shinier and clean, but also more "straight". Over time, still by observing on a microscope, the profile of the edge tends to change.
Of course rust plays a detrimental role on the quality of the edge, but it is also clear that stropping makes the edge more efficient and the blade cuts better.
This is something I can tell myself. I am used to always do a three passes shave and I am also used to strop the razor before each pass. The razor cuts better and I notice a difference when I do not do that.

Originally Posted by razorguy

I completely agree on this and thank you, Carl, for this very useful post.
However, by watching the edge of the bevel on a microscope after stropping, it looks shinier and clean, but also more "straight". Over time, still by observing on a microscope, the profile of the edge tends to change.
Of course rust plays a detrimental role on the quality of the edge, but it is also clear that stropping makes the edge more efficient and the blade cuts better.
This is something I can tell myself. I am used to always do a three passes shave and I am also used to strop the razor before each pass. The razor cuts better and I notice a difference when I do not do that.

That wasn't my original text, I should point out, but I'm agreeing with it somewhat, though I have no microscope.

Do you think maybe the strop removes oxidisation, and that's what straightens the edge? That is, the uneven edge IS the oxidisation (rust) formed and stropping removes that rust formed in clumps and so takes the edge back to the straight edge is was prior to rust forming and disfiguring the edge.

Just thinking aloud...Surely there is also some 'burnishing' of the metal...