5 ms·
This study should be considered along with that from metallurgist John Verhoeven, who thought the main cause of chipping is corrosion. (https://knifesteelnerds.
by wrp 4y ago
This study should be considered along with that from metallurgist John Verhoeven, who thought the main cause of chipping is corrosion. (https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/01/11/what-causes-razor-blades-to-dull/ https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/01/11/what-causes-razor-bla...)
What both these studies reveal is an absence of bending of the sharp edge, indicating that the tradition of razor stropping has no real effect.
- danielheath 4y ago> indicating that the tradition of razor stropping has no real effect Indicating that if stropping does help, it's not by the obvious/expected mechanism of bending the sharp edge back.
- trabant00 4y agoI think stropping is still required after sharpening. But during shaving it might not do anything as indicated by the findings.
- wrp 4y agoWhat we need is before and after microscopy to see just what effect stropping has. It seems like an obvious idea to me, but I haven't found any.
- Zak 4y agoThere are a large number of electron microscope images here showing the results of various sharpening tools including strops with and without added abrasives. https://scienceofsharp.com/home/ https://scienceofsharp.com/home/
- wrp 4y agoThanks. Those studies are interesting, although after reading What Does Stropping Do? I feel like I still don't have a clear answer on whether it does any good to strop before shaving. The photo evidence seems really ambiguous.
- Zak 4y agoIt straightens and sharpens the edge, which is likely to improve the shaving experience. It's unconventional, but I use an abrasive when stropping my straight razor (quarter micron diamond paste), which greatly increases the sharpening effect and reduces the need for other sharpening (traditionally, honing on stones).
- denton-scratch 4y agoStropping definitely is required after sharpening. Without stropping, you get a pretty harsh shave.
- mauvehaus 4y agoI don't shave with a straight razor, but I do sharpen carving tools for woodworking. I strop with a fine honing compound on the strop, and the purpose of that for my application is to get a more highly polished edge than I get off of stones. The[0] explanation among woodworkers being that a more polished edge has fewer micro serrations along the edge that create weak points on the edge for dulling to start. If the edge has fine points from coarser (relatively) stones, they can break off, leaving a definitely non-sharp region behind. Or something like that. Other tools that are frequently stropped include drawknives. Chisels and plane irons are less commonly stropped because the softer strop inevitably reduces the flatness of the blade at the cutting edge[1]. [0] Ok, one explanation. Some woodworkers will argue bitterly about anything related to sharpening. [1] The importance of which is another topic that woodworkers will argue endlessly.