Stropping Routine - Pre & Post

[AndroiDad75]

I wanted to see what everyone's stropping routine was - including the Pre and Post shave stropping. Also, if you have a reason why, that may be helpful as well.

Here is mine:

Pre-Shave
Linen: 0 (Currently - Used to be around 20-30)
Leather: 60

Post-Shave
Linen: 20
Leather: 20

I used to do 20-30 on the linen before a shave, but someone made a comment that I may be stropping too much and degrading my blade quicker. I don't know if this had to do with the fact that I was a fairly new SR shaver, or what, but at that point I moved to no linen before the shave and using the linen to mainly dry the blade after.

 

[bluesman 7]

That is very close to what I'm doing.

Pre-55 leather, Post- 34 denim, 34 leather. The strange numbers are fibinachi numbers. No real reason for them other than finding the golden ratio all through nature, and step changes of that ratio seem to work well in things like grit steps 1k, 2k, 3k, 5k, 8k,13k etc.

 

[BDF]

Wow, is that like eigenvalue?

Post shave: 20 on linen, 30 on leather.

I do not strop pre- shave. I figure if it worked for Gillette and billions of razor blades, it would work for me and my several straight razors.

Brian

That is very close to what I'm doing.

Pre-55 leather, Post- 34 denim, 34 leather. The strange numbers are fibinachi numbers. No real reason for them other than finding the golden ratio all through nature, and step changes of that ratio seem to work well in things like grit steps 1k, 2k, 3k, 5k, 8k,13k etc.

 

[Lmarkow]

I haven't really be counting, pre or post shave. I use just leather pre shave; suede or linen first, then leather post shave. In all instances I find I strop until I hear a particular sound of the razor going back and forth, then have that sound sustained for a good number of laps.

 

[EL Alamein]

20 linen, 20 leather - pre-shave. That is all.

Chris

 

[AndroiDad75]

That is very close to what I'm doing.

Pre-55 leather, Post- 34 denim, 34 leather. The strange numbers are fibinachi numbers. No real reason for them other than finding the golden ratio all through nature, and step changes of that ratio seem to work well in things like grit steps 1k, 2k, 3k, 5k, 8k,13k etc.

I love it. Math and stropping!!!

 

[Chaloney]

Pre: 20-30 linen, about double on leather

post- 10-15 linen, same on leather

 

[jpcwon]

I do 30/60 linen/leather pre-shave on either my TM, #3, or Scrupleworks

Then, I do 12/12 linen/leather post shave on my Illinois #827...

 

[jkh]

I typically do 40(ish) on linen and 60(ish) on leather before the shave.

 

[AndroiDad75]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I guess most are using some form of linen/cotton/etc..., along with leather, pre-shave. I may have to add that back to my routine.

 

[daflorc]

10 round trips on natural linen, 20-30 on leather. Done and done.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Linen then leather either pre or post. Usually post if I'm not refinishing the razor before my next use. Pre if it's a fresh edge. Counts? Umm... 12-30 linen/suede, 28-66 leather... I'd guess.

 

[California Cajun]

I wanted to see what everyone's stropping routine was - including the Pre and Post shave stropping. Also, if you have a reason why, that may be helpful as well.

Here is mine:

Pre-Shave
Linen: 0 (Currently - Used to be around 20-30)
Leather: 60

Post-Shave
Linen: 20
Leather: 20

I used to do 20-30 on the linen before a shave, but someone made a comment that I may be stropping too much and degrading my blade quicker. I don't know if this had to do with the fact that I was a fairly new SR shaver, or what, but at that point I moved to no linen before the shave and using the linen to mainly dry the blade after.

Pre-shave:
30 linen, 60 leather

Post-shave:
30 linen, 50 leather

It took longer for me than for most to master straight razor shaving and everything that comes with it, but at no time did I think I ever dulled or in any way harmed the blade from stropping. I think that's an unnecessary fear. If you like the shaves you're getting, don't worry about adversely affecting your blade from stropping.

 

[Alum of Potash]

I use the linen side as a towel for the most part. So ~5 laps after shaving just to remove residual soap scum and grime along the edge. Then 30 laps leather. Before shaving, 60 laps leather, possibly preceded by ~3-5 laps on a pasted strop as deemed necessary.

Why? It's a jazz thing...

 

[Kentos]

Stropping shouldn't degrade an edge if it's on clean linen/cotton/leather IMO.

 

[FireHoseJockey]

I do 20 linen and 50 leather Pre and no post. But, am trying to learn weather I should strop Post. I read one time that one strops pre and to let the blade relax at least 12 hour before stropping again. I do not want to damage my blades.

 

[jpcwon]

I do 20 linen and 50 leather Pre and no post. But, am trying to learn weather I should strop Post. I read one time that one strops pre and to let the blade relax at least 12 hour before stropping again. I do not want to damage my blades.

That whole "let the blade rest" thing, IMHO, is an urban myth...There is no problem stropping right after shaving. I always do 12/12 linen/leather just to clean any debris off of the edge when done shaving...

 

[gary haywood]

After honing 60/60 pre shave 20/40 after shave 10 linen to dry razor.


gary

 

[Heespharm]

15-20 on linen just to warm up the blade then 25 before... Post shave 15-20 linen then 25-50 post depending on how much the blade or the shave needed

 

[Brianskeet]

I enjoy stropping so probably over do it. Post hone 40 on natural linen, 60 on leather. Post shave 20 on linen 40 on leather then the same pre-shave as well.