Thread: What is your routine...

Just want to get a feel for what everyone does as far as stropping....(I know it's all subjective)

Personally I do:

Pre-Shave: 40 passes on the leather

Post Shave: 20 Passes on the nylon and 20 passes on the leather

Every so often I will be hitting it with the red/green pasted balsa I got form Whipped Dog (Haven't needed to yet)

I do 20 passes on fabric pre and then 60 on leather pre. I don't strop post.

I do about 30/60 before my shaves.
If I use a tri-strop, I will do 30/20/50.

Then I will do 20/40 after each shave.

30/60 before shaves.
10-15/10-15 after.

50/100+ after honing.

Before the shave I used to do 50/50 religiously but now sometimes 40/40 , sometimes 30/30. No rhyme or reason, just whatever I feel like that day. TBH, I see no perceptible difference whichever number I do. I always do equal amounts linen/leather though. Not because anyone recommended it, nor do I recommend equal amounts. Just my routine. Following the shave, rinsing and wiping the blade, I always do 20 on leather, wipe the blade with a silicone gun cloth, and put it away. So far so good.

I do not count passes on the strop. I strop before each shave, and I strop until I feel the edge and strop start to exhibit that "feeling" where I know the edge is ready.

Again, this is like my philosophy on stones - get to know your strop and how to get the most out of it. You can buy lots strops and try lots of "routines", but in the end you get the best results by learning how to use each individual piece to its fullest.

My old Roo strop and I have a few years history together now, and I know exactly when it is telling me the razor is good to go - I can feel, hear, and smell it. It is a nice feeling to know a piece of equipment that well, and it only comes from persistence, experimentation, time, and (as weird as it sounds) loyalty.

James.

James, are your strops close to the toilet, you know when the strop warms up.... Are you sure you're smelling a shave ready edge?

Well, I always did think it smelled kind of funny....

James.

40/60 before and 20 linen after

Hi I do 25 on linen then 50 on leather I don't use any paste then after shave 20/25.