Stroping, honing, straight razor.

[Meemai]

Hi,

I tried to read the guides and one thing that I do not understand still is.

If I buy a new straightrazor can I just strope it, or do I need to strope and hone it? How many times should I strope how many times should I hone?
I wonder and can't really find an guide that deals with when to do what and why?

I wouldn't mind stroping it everytime before the shave but having to hone also, I wouldn't like to work with a wetstone.

 

[gangaskan]

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/34371-How-often-should-you-hone-your-razor


there you go


you can just "strop" the razor, most straights come from the factory honed to their specs, but some people hone it further for a sharper edge. it is all about preference. if you buy the ebay stuff watch out, you never know what condition or quality they are (in terms of the cheap 10-20 dollar straights) i know some like the gold dollars once they're honed.

and just a tip, get a piece of junk leather to start stropping with until you get the hang of it. i ruined a nice Dovo because of this

 

[Mike H]

It depends on where you purchase your straight razor. Most manufactures say their razors are shave ready, and occasionally this is true, but usually it is not. Most razors will need some additional attention from the factory. Once you get a true shave ready razor, it will need to be stropped on plain leather 30 to 60 times before every shave. After a while (5 - 30 shaves) it will need a touch up, either on a pasted strop or back to the stones. Using a piece of balsa, coated with CrOx / FeOx you could keep your razor fresh for up to a year.

Strops - http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Strops

Interactive Guide to Straight razor shaving - http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Interactive_Guide_to_Straight_Razor_Shaving