Opinions on this article (stropping routines)?

[Badger_Killer]

I've been wet shaving for a few months now, long enough to be wondering what I've been doing wrong and how I could be doing better with the maintenance of my straight razors. I would appreciate the opinions of those who are experienced here on this article because it seems to contradict much advice that I've seen posted (when I'm scanning the web). For example, in discussions on stropping (not necessarily on this forum, but I've seen it enough webwide that it sticks in my mind), there are posts stating that you should not just strop every time you shave, but before and after (HUH?!). After seeing ad nauseum posts that recommend daily stropping, this article seems to negate even that with the idea that a straight razor can shave a few times before it's stropped again. It also implies that keeping at least two razors in rotation to give each at least 48 hours for the edge to (magically?) straighten itself would best. By stropping my blade too often, I could be stopping this mystical process by which the edge straightens itself, and because of that I have to get it honed too often???????? I can't recall seeing these ideas posted elsewhere, so I'm wondering what those here who have known, watched, talked to, and even slept with straight razors think of them.

http://www.knifecenter.com/info/razor-sharpening-tips

The article also puts some emphasis on pastes. I have not done this with my current strop (this one I've managed not to clumsily cut up) out of concern that the paste would not go on evenly. I recall that it kept the paste on for at least a month before I decided it was getting too bumpy. If I have only one useable strop, should I be stropping with paste on it every time, or is pasted stropping something you should do only occasionally with a different strop?

 

[Monsieur Blaireau]

I clicked on the link and it took me to their website, but I did not see the article in question. In keeping with the general spirit of this forum, however, I am not going to let that keep me from voicing an opinion in response to your post.

Stropping is probably the most important stage of edge maintenance. I strop my razor about 25 to 40 strokes on leather before a shave, and then again that many or fewer on linen followed by leather after shaving. The pre shave stropping does seem to realign the edge, as is commonly held, and the ritualistic revisitation afterwards cleans the edge of any residual soap scum, hair, sebum or, on that increasingly rare an occasion, blood. A clean blade is a happy blade.

I have had absolutely no inappropriate contact with any of my straight razors. Generally, when they are not in use, I leave them alone in the dark, and what they do during their off hours is their business. When we do talk, it tends to be in respectful if somewhat distanced, hushed tones. What can I say; they're a lot sharper than I am. I let them set the tone and boundaries of the conversation. I've been curious about what happens to them when they are out of my loving hands, but I have never had the temerity to ask outright. Nevertheless, I hazard the guess that, were I to ask them about this mystical straightening process that some say happens just whiz bang on its own, they would mock me for spewing such outright hooey. A cold stare would ensue as they waited, wordless and impatient, for the strop.

 

[jpcwon]

I always strop before & after I shave. I will usually do 30/60 before, and 10/10 after to remove any debris from the edge....Seems to work well...As far as straightening itself out after shaving? Not sure on that one...

 

[Fish Slayer]

I am surprised that nobody has answered. I did not read your link, but I personally am in the camp that resting your razor for 48 hours is more about selling multiple razors than any metallurgical phenomenon.

From a materials science view, surface area greatly speeds up any chemical reaction. The surface area (surface per mass of metal) is very high at the sharpened edge of a razor. That implies that that any rusting will be most likely to occur at the edge. With that thought in mind, after my shave I rinse my razor with hot tap water, dry it on my towel, including a couple of “stropping” like strokes on the towel, followed by drying on a tissue (known dry surface), followed by a few laps on the fabric side of my strop (which I believe is effective in removing any residual soap / hair / skin that might be hanging on), followed by a dozen or so laps on the leather side of the strop to really dry it off. The leather may also provide some transfer of oils from the leather that could also aid in preventing rust.

I also strop pre shave, mostly because I want the chance for the best edge that I can get and it seems like the right thing to do. There are a couple people on this board that have documented over 50 shaves without honing using a similar routine of stropping after and before shaving. Doc226 has documented over 100 shaves on one razor with only stropping as edge maintenance. There are some posts of members getting multiple shaves without stropping, but the reports that I have seen are not very positive.

Bottom line is that I see a lot more reason to strop post shave than to let the razor rest before stropping.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Resting the razor has only a vague justification. Steel is somewhat resilient and can gradually as well as immediately spring back to its natural shape. But really... I have shaved daily with the same razor for weeks with no perceived difference in the shave.

Stropping before the shave is important. Try shaving without doing it and you will notice a difference. After the shave is good but not necessarily necessary. Only a dozen laps or so are needed post-shave. Try about 4 dozen pre-shave. I don't mess with linen, felt, canvas, etc etc etc. I find that they actually can have a slight dulling effect. I only use the hanging leather strop.

However, I do strop post-shave on diamond pasted balsa, and it does a great job of preserving my edges, and actually eliminates the need to ever re-hone. After the balsa, I go a half dozen on the leather, spray on a little WD40 and wipe off the excess, and put it away. To shave, I wipe it absolutely dry and clean between folds of tissue, hit the strop, and shave shave shave. Works for me.

I have read a lot of articles that are just so full of horse hockey about stropping and shaving. Mother Earth News once did an article that had me by turns laughing and groaning.