Do you strop/hone your blade?

**WickedSwde** · 06-27-2012, 06:11 AM

When I started my tiny collection of DE thingies I met a guy who had some DE blade stropp/honing machines. I smiled but I also understood that blades used to be expensive.
So my simple question is, Do someone use this at least just for fun?

A link to a guy who are collecting them ... pics and links to other info
http://user.tninet.se/~uqv930t/vassare/stroppram.htm

/W

**Mandina** · 06-28-2012, 02:29 PM

There are lots of threads on the varieties of stropping (with machines or cork or on the palm of the hand, etc.), and lots of opinions on how effective or not stropping may be. I sometimes hand-strop blades but it remains unclear to me if doing so helps in any way. Some other shavers, however, say that it really helps. YMMV.

**smalltank** · 06-28-2012, 02:49 PM

you can always blade flip which evens out the dullness...
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogq4wfpT7hc

**Hearse95** · 06-30-2012, 01:24 PM

I have resharpened a few blades with mixed results cheap blades seem to take a new edge better.

**mo_zo** · 07-10-2012, 06:10 AM

Why bother ? I use now Supermax SP at 0,5$ per 5 blades cart. I get 2 shaves and then toss the blade..

**soda** · 07-14-2012, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by Mandina

I sometimes hand-strop blades but it remains unclear to me if doing so helps in any way.

I saw a video of a guy hand-strope a blade, so I gave it a try. I know it's very subjective, but I thought it helped. BUT I don't have a fancy machine, just my palm of my hand.

**LegionPrime** · 07-14-2012, 10:57 AM

Personally, I shave with my blades. Just compare the cost of the machines to the cost per shave for the blades. Will it pay for itself? Maybe . . . someday. But is it really worth the additional time and effort it would take for a return of just a few pennies? Maybe back when a penny was still worth something, but today? Sorry, I have better things to do with my time.
That being said, some of those machines are pretty neat and I might buy one someday as a curiosity, but that's about it for me.

**Viseguy** · 07-14-2012, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by LegionPrime

But is it really worth the additional time and effort it would take for a return of just a few pennies?

Not to mention the risk of injury. The more you handle a blade, the more likely you are to cut yourself with it. Stuff happens.

**JimK** · 08-08-2012, 09:36 PM

I expect the manufacturer to deliver a shave ready blade edge. That's why I tried so many blades to find the several that I really enjoy shaving with. I would love to have a DE razor blade sharpening device as a curiosity, but that's all. Perfectly honed new blades are so cheap, and so readily available that I would be mad as hell if I had to do anything but shave with them!

My shaving goals are fast, smooth, and cheap. Compared to my dark years of cartridge shaving, I'm in shaving heaven right now, and I never had the urge to strop, wipe, polish, dry, or marry any of my very favorite 10 cent DE blades. I simply use, rinse, and after a week, toss them into the slot in my medicine cabinet where they rest in peace.

**Sledgehammer39** · 08-09-2012, 03:34 AM

No, I do not strop my DE blades!

**bryan1980** · 08-09-2012, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by JimK

I expect the manufacturer to deliver a shave ready blade edge. That's why I tried so many blades to find the several that I really enjoy shaving with. I would love to have a DE razor blade sharpening device as a curiosity, but that's all. Perfectly honed new blades are so cheap, and so readily available that I would be mad as hell if I had to do anything but shave with them!

My shaving goals are fast, smooth, and cheap. Compared to my dark years of cartridge shaving, I'm in shaving heaven right now, and I never had the urge to strop, wipe, polish, dry, or marry any of my very favorite 10 cent DE blades. I simply use, rinse, and after a week, toss them into the slot in my medicine cabinet where they rest in peace.

+1. It should be ready to use the moment its unwrapped and loaded into the razor. That's the point of using disposable razor blades, stropping is for straight razors. There are far, far too many brands of blades out there. If it gives you an unsatisfactory shave, try a different blade. Simple as that.

**Gordy2** · 08-09-2012, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Viseguy

Not to mention the risk of injury. The more you handle a blade, the more likely you are to cut yourself with it. Stuff happens.

...and the more you handle any sharp cutting object, the more chance you have of accidentally nicking and dulling the blade.

**dreadpirate** · 08-09-2012, 07:45 PM

Nope! Stropping my straight is enough for me.

**Docd** · 08-09-2012, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by Hearse95

I have resharpened a few blades with mixed results cheap blades seem to take a new edge better.

I would go out on a limb and agree. I would assume cheaper blades would probably have a higher carbon level. Carbon steel (and possibly cheap stainless) can be sharpened, but good stainless steel would not be worth the effort IMHO.