Of the papers I've read from Dr. Verhoeven's studies the stropping was done on a spinning leather wheel and compared a loaded chromium wheel to plain leather. Thus, showing the plain leather added no refinement to the edge but the loaded wheel did. Thanks, Possum
Mr. Parker, Read exactly what I wrote, I'll quote it again for you: "Of the paper I've read..." I was not saying 'your' paper. I was meaning this paper;
http://mse.iastate.edu/fileadmin/www/mseiastate.edu/static/files/verhoeven/knifeShExps.pdf
Where he examples several types of leather wheels for stropping and the more common stationary type. All the accompaning photos show how little affects the plain leather had on the steel. While the loaded strop had much affect at refinement and burr removal. (different slurries used) Alfred Pendray
an accomplished Master Bladesmith did the stropping on the running leather wheels. (around pg.29) We maybe closer than you think... I'm just saying plain leather has 'some' affects. We already agree a loaded strop has much more affect on the steel. While some of Dr. Verhoeven's findings strike against, shavers normal pratices its hard to argue with a camera. So, load them strops up boys we're going to do some shaving! Possum
We are both talking about the Verhoeven paper, but we're talking about different parts of it. He uses both leather disks and flat leather strops in different chapters.
I agree that the leather strop has some effect. When I strop on linen, I must strop on leather afterwards in order to get a good shave. However, I'm saying that I don't know what those effects are, except that (a) they're beneficial and (b) I'm pretty sure it doesn't involve straightening out imaginary teeth in the edge. Hopefully someday some intrepid member with access to a SEM will perform similar experiments using a traditional straight razor and strop.
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