The edge has hit its stride and – at peak smoothness now – is a joy to use.
Yes, an edge can be too sharp. I actually like that feeling, but I associate it with a new edge that I know will soften with a couple of uses. I’m still thinking that stropping is a highly overrated activity.
I’m still thinking that stropping is a highly overrated activity.
According to Brad Maggard, old soft Sheffield steel “springs back to life” when stropped. I’m now thinking that a comparative Sheffield edition of the #NoStrop challenge is in order for science.
To be simplistic about it, a degree of correlation with elements that contribute to wear resistance - carbon content, alloying elements, heat treatment - might be in order 😁
Technique-wise, I use a very wet lather preparation, and I keep shaving angle low to optimize cutting efficiency and to favor compressive loads at the edge over shear loads.
Yes, an edge can be too sharp. I actually like that feeling, but I associate it with a new edge that I know will soften with a couple of uses. I’m still thinking that stropping is a highly overrated activity.
According to Brad Maggard, old soft Sheffield steel “springs back to life” when stropped. I’m now thinking that a comparative Sheffield edition of the #NoStrop challenge is in order for science.
To be simplistic about it, a degree of correlation with elements that contribute to wear resistance - carbon content, alloying elements, heat treatment - might be in order 😁
Technique-wise, I use a very wet lather preparation, and I keep shaving angle low to optimize cutting efficiency and to favor compressive loads at the edge over shear loads.