Thread: How often to strop?

Purchased my first razor through the classifieds here....it's on its way. I've been trying to decide whether to make a strop from scratch or buy one from whippeddog, which I will probably end up doing. I've seen lots of information on HOW to strop, but I haven't seen a definitive anwer on how often to strop. Is this something that should be done after every shave? Before every shave? Once a week? Or is it just something that you get a feel for and do it when it needs it? Any help?

Stropping is daily maintenance, and I am under the impression most strop both before and after a shave. The before-the-shave ensures the edge is at it's best, while the after-the-shave stropping makes sure all the moisture is off the blade. I usually strop 10 times on a linen and 30-40 times on leather before a shave and 10-15 on leather afterwards.
With pasted strops it's a totally different thing. I'll use that only once the razor shows signs of edge deteriation, perhaps after 5 shaves or so. A few laps, 6-10 maybe, is usually enough. This is dependent upon what paste or strop you use. As always, YMMV.
Hope this helps.

You definately want to strop your razor before every shave. I also do it after each time i use a razor to dry the insure all moisture is removed from the edge.

Thanks guys. What is the purpose of a linen strop?

Hello, CenTech:

Please take a look at this link on stropping: Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Regards,

Obie

About 20 licks after the shave and 50-60 licks before the shave, always.

I read somewhere that it was bad to strop after shaving...but I can't remember what the reasons were.

Originally Posted by tumtatty

I read somewhere that it was bad to strop after shaving...but I can't remember what the reasons were.

You may have read it somewhere, but you will regret it if you do. Stropping after shaving does a number of things, among the most important is remove the micro-crud and moisture from the bevel. If you don't strop after a shave, you can expect your edges to last about 1/2 (or less) as long as a well stropped razor.

Strop after a shave and before a shave, end of discussion.

Originally Posted by tumtatty

I read somewhere that it was bad to strop after shaving...but I can't remember what the reasons were.

There's nothing wrong with stropping after a shave.

The linen surface is a bit harder and stiffer than the leather surface for stropping. If you're going to use linen, do that first and then the smooth leather. I always do at least 20-30 laps on linen, and then at least 50 laps on leather. You don't have to strop after the shave or even before it, but the blade should be stropped at some point between shaves to maintain the edge.

Originally Posted by tumtatty

I read somewhere that it was bad to strop after shaving...but I can't remember what the reasons were.

I did too, I dont remember where I read, but I remember I saw on youtube this man said not to strop after the shave, only stropping before the shave. I dont remember the reason why, and I also read about Dovo straight recommend to rest the razor for 24 - 48 hours before the next shave, For the best edge. but I think stropping on linen after shaving is a must to clean the moisturizer off the blade