Stropping-how long does it take?

[dklaiman]

I started to use a feather AC kamisori style shavette 11 days (10 shaves) ago, and I'm really enjoying the switch from DEs and SEs. So now, of course, I'm interested in trying a straight instead of a shavette.

One of the reasons I went with the shavette is that I shave in the morning before work. I assumed it would be quicker to use the shavette, as I wouldn't have to strop the blade 60+ times after each shave. Once I get the hang of stropping, how long, on average, will it take to strop the blade that many times? I don't mind adding a couple of minutes to my morning routine, but I'd prefer not to get up much earlier than I already do.

Thanks.

 

[silver]

I went slow and steady when I first started out to avoid nicking my strop, but now 60 passes takes under 2 minutes for me. I'm still slowly getting faster and more efficient. Even when taking it really slow, it should only take a couple of minutes tops.

 

[dklaiman]

Thanks, Silver.

 

[Doc226]

I strop the night before, usually about a minute

 

[duderdo]

It only takes a couple minutes at most.

That said, I've been alternating between using the same Feather you have and a regular straight for almost a year, and generally using a traditional straight takes almost twice as long (the feather is about 20 minutes, from lather to finish-- a straight takes 35-ish for me). I think this is because you have to be more conscientious with a traditional straight in terms of wiping off the lather gently to avoid damaging the edge, keeping water out of the pivot, keeping it away from the faucet, and so on. With the Feather you can wing it around and worse case scenario you damage the blade. That might just be me though.

 

[john shea]

I strop about 30 linen then 60 latigo unpasted leather. It takes me about 1 - 2 seconds for each back and forth stroke.

Fast is not important. Clean and smooth using light pressure is very important for keeping a razor shave ready. Learning to strop well is critical because the SR must be stropped before each use and a poorly stropped razor will not be shave ready.

New DE blades are usually sharper than a SR. I have not tried a shavette, but others have reported that a shavette does not shave like a true SR. Feather AC disposable blade SRs have been reported to come closest to the feel of a true shave ready SR. Feather ACs cost as much as a true SR then there is the cost of the special blades, but no stropping or honing is needed.

HTH

 

[u2u]

I would take about three minutes to dry the blade, strop on linen and leather, and apply some oil to the blade. You might need more while learning or less if you don't worry about a good drying to start and oil at the end. Not much time for maintenance. The real extra time with a straight, for me, is in the shaving itself. About 4 or 5 minutes extra.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Yah. Less than two minutes is typical. A minute once you are experienced. Not much of an issue.

BUT:

If you do like I do, and strop on pasted balsa after shaving to maintain your edge, add another minute or two. Still not a biggie.

 

[dklaiman]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm going to stick with the shavettes until I get my technique further refined--and my wallet a little fuller.

 

[Obiwan]

Just to echo above - only a minute or two. You will likely (and rightfully so) want to start much slower though until you get comfortable with the process. What you might want to do is practice and see how it feels. Strop your shavette without a blade on a wider belt or something and see how it feels. It will come second nature after a while I'm sure.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

I'm mainly 35 Linen 35 Leather on a Tony Miller 3" Latigo

 

[GreekGuy]

I find it depends on the blade too. A thin flexible blade will slide over cordovan quite quickly. A big heavy wedge on latigo is going to move much slower. The speed isn't what really matters though, as others have stated. If you strop religiously you could probably get by with less than the 50 laps most people seem to recommend, meaning if time is really a big problem you could always try 25 laps and see if you notice any degradation in the edge.

 

[gash]

Once you develop the technique, stropping can actually be relaxing.

 

[BillC]

The stropping only takes a minute or two. I strop before the shave and also a few laps after to ensure the edge is clean and dry. The pre shave strop you could do the night before before - or just strop a bit more after and not strop before. I was worried about the time before I started, within a couple weeks the time wasn't noticeably longer than with a DE/SE. If I'm really in a hurry one pass with a straight is good enough for a SAS.

 

[mikeadams]

I strop the night before, usually about a minute

+1

Stropping is part of my "getting ready for bed" ritual. Brush my teeth and strop my razor. Ready to go in the morning.

Steve

 

[phane10]

With a shave ready razor, I strop 20 passes on leather before the shave. At the end of the shave, I strop 5 passes on linen and 15 passes on leather.
The time of stropping is ridiculous now because I'm used to do this.