Been straight shavin 4 about a month. Used a leather strop daily. about once a week I kneed to use a balsa strop cause the razor seems to be dull. is this normal ? Need some info please. thanks
Strops? Which one when?
- Thread starter razorlessrich
- Start date
Sounds normal, I may go more often than that, say every 4 or 5 shaves. After you use the balsa and leather, are you getting a comfortable shave?
Yep, sounds totally normal, especially for a beginner. I actually use the balsa strop after every shave. I do 6 laps on each side and so far that seems to have been enough to keep the edge from pulling.
Lately, I've been doing 3 to 5 laps crox followed by 60 laps leather daily. Keeps the razor nice and sharp. Good stropping technique is everything.
When your technique reaches its zenith you may find your edge lasting longer. On the flip side as you become a connoisseur of edges you may "chase the Dragon*(ProfChaos)" looking for ever sharper and smoother edges.
Everyone is different so do what works best for you
.
Everyone is different so do what works best for you
.
~~~like several others suggested, using a pasted strop will help to keep the edge going but eventually you will need to do more to the edge than just stropping on a pasted strop
For ages, the natrual thing to do was to send the razor away for a full honing, when the pasted strop would no longer 'get it'
With the advent of lapping film you can virtually keep the edge going for ever with your pasted strop and a strip of film
Most going this route are using 1um lapping film, so long as the edge has not gone too far or too long
in that event (1um not bringing it back), go to a 3um strip first, then 1um, then your pasted strop
check out some of the lapping film threads for more information
then goto the BST to post a WTB for a strip of film (one each, 3um and 1um)
this is an oversimplification and assumes your bevels are sound and not needing work
Best,
Jake
Reddick Fla.
Pasted strops, or crox on balsa may keep you going for some time.
I have an edge that has been going strong for over 50 shaves with just stropping, no compounds at all.
It has been a while since I shaved with the TI, I will dust it off and shave with it tonight.
I have an edge that has been going strong for over 50 shaves with just stropping, no compounds at all.
It has been a while since I shaved with the TI, I will dust it off and shave with it tonight.
~~~~I have an edge that has been going strong for over a year w/o using compounds, it sits in one of my razor rolls LOL
Best,
Jake
Reddick Fla.
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
I think it is silly to wait for a razor to get dull before hitting the pasted balsa. I give it about 10 laps after each shave with 1u pasted balsa, and then about 20 laps on .25u, and usually my edge simply doesn't get dull. If it does, I just triple the number of laps for one session. If you wait until the razor is dull, then you are shaving with a dull razor, at least once.
Having some film and a decent lapping plate on hand is a good idea, though. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/283576 is a good thread to read in its entirety and save to your hard drive for future reference while you learn how to put a crazy sharp edge on a razor with the film. There are others as well, so do a search. The only stones I have now are a King that I use sometimes for bevel setting, and a set of diamond plates from Harbor Freight ($12) that I use for heavy steel removal. Other than that I use only film for honing and I love the edges I get from it.
Having some film and a decent lapping plate on hand is a good idea, though. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/283576 is a good thread to read in its entirety and save to your hard drive for future reference while you learn how to put a crazy sharp edge on a razor with the film. There are others as well, so do a search. The only stones I have now are a King that I use sometimes for bevel setting, and a set of diamond plates from Harbor Freight ($12) that I use for heavy steel removal. Other than that I use only film for honing and I love the edges I get from it.
LOL, 50+ shaves, SHAVES-LOL
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