Thread: pro stropping style

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

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?

I actually like the statement in there and many other places that "Anyone who uses a SR knows Stropping does something good to the edge"

Honestly over the years and after several lengthy tests of my own, here are my conclusions and I honestly could careless if anyone believes them or not

1. Burnish is a good word to describe the action to the edge from stropping
2. Convexing of the edge occurs only from improper stropping, and if it occurs at all from proper stropping it happens well after the edge is due for a touch up anyway so it is a moot point.
3. Stropping does remove micro-corrosion, I can see it on my White Linen strop
4. DE and Disposables use blade coatings to make their razors shave smoother we use a strop
5. Taut is the proper word used to describe how to hold a hanging strop
6. The flip is the most important part to learn when stropping
7. If you pay attention to the spine while stropping and make sure it moves equally and evenly across the surface all will be good
8. Slow the heck down and learn the technique before you try speeding up "Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast"
9. Use a stropping pattern that makes sure the entire blade edge is hitting the strop
10. Finally... Don't overthink the whole issue, there is little doubt it works, relax and enjoy the shaves