I just have to tell this...str8 sharpeness heaven

[zyhano]

So, I like to think that I can sharpen freehand pretty well. I like to think I can sharpen my razors pretty well too...
But then, I also feel that I should be able to get them sharper...

I used to strop only a little with my straight razors, since stropping on bare leather for my knives didn't seem to make them any sharper than a good mirror polish that I achieved on 1 micron dmt loaded strops.

I guessed that it didn't make much of a difference for straight razors to strop more.
So normally, I would do maybe 20 to 30 on a latigo strop (from straightrazordesign.com) before shaving and I would then shave away. No problem there, but sometimes I felt more 'pull' on the hairs than I liked. Stropping helped, but not by much I always thought.

I was a real information sponge on straightrazorplace.com and got so much good information from those guys, but never really was a real believer in doing a lot of passes on the leather because of my knife experience.

So about 2 months ago I started doing 75-100 passes on the strops and
MAN
It makes a difference

I never expected it but I can now shave every day if I like, my shaves are way better than before and feel better too.

So I just thought I would share this for other guys like me, who feel that doing more passes on the strop is a waste of time. It is not. Your razors will really get sharper by doing more passes. I haven't done more than 100 and now I mostly do around 50-60 but I helps soo much.

I'm a believer :thumbup:

morale: the strops do work! Strop more for more enjoyment and sharper str8's

 

[C.S. Graves]

Hmm, I may have to give my straights a second chance and just strop more thoroughly as you recommend.

 

[BasiliOS]

i agree stropping more does make a difference. BUT only when you strop properly.

A newbie to straight shaving causes more harm then good when they decide to strop and they have no idea on how to do it properly.

Currently when i strop i do 100 laps on webbing followed by 100 laps on a Kangaroo strop, helps keep my edges smooth and sharp for a very long time.

 

[C.S. Graves]

A newbie to straight shaving causes more harm then good when they decide to strop and they have no idea on how to do it properly.

Just in case, please list some of the don'ts of stropping... I ain't too proud to say I've probably made a few mistakes.

 

[BasiliOS]

First an easy one. Always lead with the spine. Sounds easy but sometimes people forget.

Keep the strop tight but don't force it quarter bouncing tight. Just tight enough so that it doesn't sag when stropping or else it will dull the edge.

Also make sure the razor is flat. Don't lift the spine or else the edge will dig in and again dull the razor.

And last but not least go easy on the pressure. Just the weight of the razor is enough for stropping.

That's all I have for the moment. If in doubt there are a bunch of videos on YouTube. Or just send me a msg and I'll try to help however I can.

As a random aside what is your honing progression?

 

[C.S. Graves]

Ahh, thanks! Seems like I've mostly been doing it right then, just not doing it ENOUGH.

Another thing, I have one of the extra-wide Dovo strops... seems to be a bit concave. D'ya think this would adversely affect the end result? To compensate, I'd been using a broader "X" motion to pass more of the razor across the full strop width.

But the increased strokes seems to have yielded a more comfortable (albeit a bit rushed and careless) shave.

As a random aside what is your honing progression?

I don't have a lot of waterstones to work with... 1000 grit (pretty much never gets used, save in a vain attempt to restore old blades), 4000, and 8000.

 

[kg4ghn]

I usually do around 25-30 laps on the webbed side and 60 laps on the leather side. Once you get the hang of it, it doesn't take very long to do that many and I get consistent results from that.

 

[BasiliOS]

It's true I go alot faster now than when I first started stropping.

I think that's why I do more laps now. It doesn't take much time so I figure why not.

Also when I strop I kind of zone out. The sound relaxes me somehow lol.

 

[The Z]

I enjoy the stropping, it's sort of a zen thing. I do 25 strokes back and forth on the linen, 50 on the leather. To me it helps the smoothness of the razor just as much if not more than the sharpness. I also do about 10 strokes on the leather after I dry the razor off, before oiling.

I think the golden rule for leaning to strop is to do it slowly and deliberately. Speed will come naturally later.