Hi` is it true that by warming the strop with the stroking motion using the palm of the hand helps to apply oils to the strop` which in turn helps towards the dragging action on the blade`then heat is transferred from friction course`d between the strop and metal witch inturn expands the blade edge and the metal becomes thinner ending up with a more keener edge`hence the faster you strop the more the friction the hotter the blade the more it stretches the thinner the metal the keener the edge the more you have changed the temper on the edge,could fast stropping ruin the edge with light pressure.
John, Eventually you will have to use the stones once more. Enough stropping rounds off the bevel. But done correctly you may only need a finishing stone to refresh your edge once a year. Hope this helps!
The Classic Edge Did I say once a year, I must have been VERY tired when I wrote this.... It all depends on your beard type and how many days a week you shave!
What's the purpose to stropping heal-toe? Is it just ensuring that the whole width of the razor gets stropped? I find that knowing _why_ I'm doing something is always best. Thanks!
If your spine has any warping X patterns are great. Also alot of people do X patterns when they hone on a finishing stone, it destroys the scratch pattern instead of making deeper scratches especially on lower grits. And X patterns give alot of contact over the entire edge. Also I think the edge benefits from being honed and stropped at a 30 - 45 degree angle when you're almost done. I like the stratch pattern on the bevel to come at an angle instead of only at 90 degrees.
In what way is turning your wrist an incorrect method? With some of my straights (particularly the heavier wedge like grinds with thicker tangs) I find turning my wrist a much better technique to use in keeping the blade flat on the strop. The key is more so to keep the spine constantly in contact with the strop and only flipping directions once you have finished your stroke. Light pressure as always. No need to rush the movement either. Using the fingertips to flip the razor or the wrist really makes no difference if those other rules are kept in mind.
attigabi There is no one right way, this video is meant for beginners and either works. It's all about practice and eventually you will do it whichever way is comfortable for you. I strop both ways but learning slowly is the key for someone new. Thanks for your comment Attigabi.
It aligns the blade and removes microscopic inconsistencies in the blade. It doesn't sharpen in the traditional sense unless you put an abrasive compound on it first.
Judas. It's a type of leather ... not something that has to come FROM Russian.Russian leather is a particular form of bark-tanned cow leather. It is distinguished by a later processing step, after tanning, where birch oil is worked into the rear face of the leather. This gives a leather that is particularly hard-wearing, flexible and resistant to water.
finally a clear explanation to stropping the razor blade.
Thanks for the vid.
Also how many times does the blade needs to be stropped before shaving?
*62 million times.*
Hi` is it true that by warming the strop with the stroking motion using the palm of the hand helps to apply oils to the strop` which in turn helps towards the dragging action on the blade`then heat is transferred from friction course`d between the strop and metal witch inturn expands the blade edge and the metal becomes thinner ending up with a more keener edge`hence the faster you strop the more the friction the hotter the blade the more it stretches the thinner the metal the keener the edge the more you have changed the temper on the edge,could fast stropping ruin the edge with light pressure.
Where can I buy that first strop in the video?
I use 12 passes is this prooocess good when i stahp the stroophing
I am thinking about making a paddle strop with flat wood and some leather. Is there any difference between a paddle and a hanging strop?
one hangs, the other one doesn't
Hey Phil, would you say that with regular stropping (say after every 3 or so shaves) you will never need to stone-hone a straight razor?
John,
Eventually you will have to use the stones once more. Enough stropping rounds off the bevel. But done correctly you may only need a finishing stone to refresh your edge once a year. Hope this helps!
The Classic Edge Did I say once a year, I must have been VERY tired when I wrote this.... It all depends on your beard type and how many days a week you shave!
The Classic Edge
What's the purpose to stropping heal-toe? Is it just ensuring that the whole width of the razor gets stropped?
I find that knowing _why_ I'm doing something is always best. Thanks!
If your spine has any warping X patterns are great. Also alot of people do X patterns when they hone on a finishing stone, it destroys the scratch pattern instead of making deeper scratches especially on lower grits. And X patterns give alot of contact over the entire edge. Also I think the edge benefits from being honed and stropped at a 30 - 45 degree angle when you're almost done. I like the stratch pattern on the bevel to come at an angle instead of only at 90 degrees.
In what way is turning your wrist an incorrect method? With some of my straights (particularly the heavier wedge like grinds with thicker tangs) I find turning my wrist a much better technique to use in keeping the blade flat on the strop. The key is more so to keep the spine constantly in contact with the strop and only flipping directions once you have finished your stroke. Light pressure as always. No need to rush the movement either. Using the fingertips to flip the razor or the wrist really makes no difference if those other rules are kept in mind.
attigabi There is no one right way, this video is meant for beginners and either works. It's all about practice and eventually you will do it whichever way is comfortable for you. I strop both ways but learning slowly is the key for someone new. Thanks for your comment Attigabi.
Good point!
Where do i buy the second strop in the video
classicedge.ca
does it polish or sharpen?
It aligns the blade and removes microscopic inconsistencies in the blade. It doesn't sharpen in the traditional sense unless you put an abrasive compound on it first.
how is it Russian if its from Germany
The leather part of the strop likely came from Russia originally being later imported to Germany and applied to the other materials there.
Judas. It's a type of leather ... not something that has to come FROM Russian.Russian leather is a particular form of bark-tanned cow leather. It is distinguished by a later processing step, after tanning, where birch oil is worked into the rear face of the leather. This gives a leather that is particularly hard-wearing, flexible and resistant to water.