When Do You Strop

[jabomano]

Do you strop before a shave or after?

What's your stropping technique (how many times on the strop) and your favorite strop maker.

I'm looking to refine my skill.

Ray

 

[Gustav]

I always strop before I shave. I do 100 laps on a paddle strop. I then do about 15 laps after I have shaved and cleaned the razor just to dry the edge.

I used to have a linen/leather 2 inch Dovo strop which I gave away but right now I am looking at getting a 3 inch leather/2 inch canvas Paladin from Ruprazor. Does anyone have any experience with these strops?

 

[bradyarz]

both.
pre: ~40 linen ~50 leather (i usually don't count)
post: ~20 linen

i have a dovo russian and cotton and a tony miller linen component.

 

[gumbo]

both.
pre: ~40 linen ~50 leather (i usually don't count)
post: ~20 linen

i have a dovo russian and cotton and a tony miller linen component.

+1, that's exactly what I do.

 

[johnmrson]

Both. I usually do about 20 laps on leather after I've shaved. Then when I set up the bathroom at night for the next morning (pick the razor, brush and cream / soap), I usually do 20 or so on cloth and another 20 or so on leather.

My favorite strop is my Ambrose strop.

 

[sanfranciscian]

30 linen, 50+ on leather, or sometimes i don't count, I think i am starting to be able to tell when the blade is ready to come off the leather and just stop then. I usually decide what blade is going to be used next and strop it up the night before. I only have one strop so thats the favorite. SRD 2" latigo.

Ian

 

[honed]

Before shave: About 20 on linen & 50 on leather
After shave: 10 laps on linen (to dry the edge)

Always using my wonderful Neil Miller linen/buffalo 2.5".

 

[DESkydiver]

I use two razors in rotation and when I finish shaving and cleanup, I take the razor I just used, strop it 20 times on linen and then 25 times on leather and set aside. I then take the razor I will use tomorrow and strop it 25 times on leather and place in stand with brush ready for tomorrow. So between shaves, each razor will receive 20 laps on linen and 50 laps on leather. Then once a month I take the razor to my yellow coticule and using just water (no slurry) run through 10-15 laps for a ‘tuning’.

I use my Vintage Blades 3” latigo strop

 

[SliceOfLife]

I usually strop when I think about shaving. Then spend a few hours on B&B. Then shave. (I shave before bed most days). I typically am planning on doing a SOTD shot right after, but my motivation tends to die off lately, since it's such a hassel carrying everything around, setting up the shot, etc. I need a nice easy to carry box to do SOTD's in so I can set up right in the bathroom and take them just before/after the shave.

I tried cloth stropping after, but honestly I've been cutting waaay back on my time on the cloth strop (From ~30-40 strokes then 30-50 leather to ~10-20 strokes then 50-75 leather). And I never really cared for it to begin with. I much prefer to wipe the blade with tissue paper and put it up.

 

[LarryAndro]

I shave, clean, strop, oil and store. I think the friction of stropping a blade on leather cleans the metal, removing the residue that my cleaning with a soft cloth doesn't. (I use a very easy touch when cleaning the edge. So, the cleaning won't be very efficient removing residue.)

If I didn't strop after the shave, the residue would be left on the bevel. Which would mean when I apply oil on top of the residue before storing, the residue would remain on the blade until the next shave and stropping. While I can't prove it, I suspect the residue and gunk left on the blade contains trapped water droplets.

But, let's be honest! I don't think it makes much, if any difference. Just telling you why I strop after shaving.

 

[Poulin]

I usually strop before and after. Today I was both lazy and rushed so I didn't strop at all.... which was ok since I stropped yesterday after. I'll just have to strop tomorrow before.

Most of the time I use a Kanayama 80000 to strop.


I need coffee.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

Depends on the blade...but usually around 40 linen 60-80 leather on a VB Red Latigo. I also do it the night before the shave 99% of the time.

 

[Shangas]

I confess to being quite lazy with stropping. I do about a dozen laps both sides of the edge after each shave. That's about it. It gets the results I need. Sometimes I lose count and actually do the recommended 20-30.

 

[jabomano]

Great info here...and it's much appreciated.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

I confess to being quite lazy with stropping. I do about a dozen laps both sides of the edge after each shave. That's about it. It gets the results I need. Sometimes I lose count and actually do the recommended 20-30.

Wait a second...wait a second....

You buy a str8 at a local flea market, hone it off the first try, get good shaves with it instantly...now you're saying you barely strop...what gives? You're gifted like Luke Skywalker or something!

 

[azmark]

A few passes on cordovan after I lather my face and the soap soften the whiskers more before my shave. But normally strop about 50 linen then about 75-100 after shave then store the razor.

 

[BladeRunner001]

Do you strop before a shave or after?

What's your stropping technique (how many times on the strop) and your favorite strop maker.

I'm looking to refine my skill.

Ray

Before and after (sometime in between - the night before too)

50/60 is what I routinely use before

40/50 after

40/50 in between (sometimes - when I feel like it - just because )

 

[Luc]

Between shaves.

30 linen/60 leather

 

[Shangas]

Wait a second...wait a second....

You buy a str8 at a local flea market, hone it off the first try, get good shaves with it instantly...now you're saying you barely strop...what gives? You're gifted like Luke Skywalker or something!

USE THE FORCE!!

Hahaha...I dunno. I just don't strop as often as people say I should. If I just sharpened the blade, then yes, I'd strop it 30-40 times each side, but otherwise, I do between 10-20 strokes after each or every second shave. I've found no reason to strop more than that since I've never had anything in my shaves that told me I need to (razor-burn, cuts, etc).

And I wouldn't say I got good shaves with it instantly! In my defence, it wasn't until my fourth shave that I stopped getting razor-burn!

 

[domino]

After the shave I strop 5~7 laps on fabric and leather. Before the shave depending on the razor 15~20 fabric and 25~30 leather. This is all done on a Ambrose strop.