under the microscope post shave stropping

[@utubephil100]

Many thanks Joe for a very informative video, especially on the amount of crud removed by hand stropping - it was quite surprising ! By the way, What is the make and model if your microscope please ?

[@michaelshults7675]

Good technique stropping, I think sometimes we hone not because we need to, but because we want too. Lol Most i have went without honing is about 70 shaves. If a man maintains his blade after every shave, (by drying/stropping and oiling there is no reason why he couldn't go 70-80 shaves with no need of honing or even touchup. I think a quality linen helps. I have a coarser vintage" bare"linen I use after "only" 30 shaves. The rest of the time I use a vintage finer weave linen I use prior to leather. I use ballistol oil on my blades.

[@MasterofPlay7]

I see you sell 1095 steel straight razors on your site, do you know how hard you can bring that steel to? Thx!

[@freeman6147]

Hi Joe, I love the fact that you use technology to hone you view. I've heard talk that following up use of leather strop with a linen strop makes for notable improvement - but no-one backs that up - its just opinion. And so, I wonder, have you done any comparative tests with using linen strop?

[@joecalton1449]

i might have one of these microscope videos where I show the edge after each stage. maybe something called start to finish honing or something. i use linen and then leather and then shave. i suppose that depending on what sort of leather you have, and what sort of linen, and what condiditon they are both in would play a much bigger part in deciding which you might like better. i think traditionally, the leather, being smooth, wont get dirty, or collect dust the same way a linen would, and would give a finer finish.

[@freeman6147]

@@joecalton1449 Thanks Joe. It seems to me that before the advent of technology that can prove a point that people, like barbers for instance, would use what worked best over time, and that, slowly but surely what they used would develop to a point were it was pretty optimum. And so, if this is truen then I am guessing that a traditional leather strop and the linen strop - remained in use so long because they were particularly effective - and I guess, for different reasons.

[@freeman6147]

This said, I saw a video recently were someone with technology to see close up, said that he was throwing away his strops because modern honing blocks demonstrably produce a superior result.

[@freeman6147]

I guess though that there is a cost factor involved. A high quality ceramic block will cost a lot more than leather (at least with the immediate outlay) . Still, a high quality ceramic block probably lasts a lot longer than a leather strop and could easier to maintain. So, perhaps, in the long run, they are the better and most cost effective option. Anyway, thank you for your very interesting KZbin channel and your time :-)

[@joecalton1449]

@@freeman6147 you would need a strop anyway to clean and dry out the edge after a shave.

[@porkchopspapi5757]

Say Joe why don't we strop knives the same way we do razors?

[@zenrazor659]

In the video you said you maked 2 razors. So I deduce it was just an exception because you dont make razors?

[@joecalton1449]

yes I make about 12 razors a year inbetween regular knives. i think I have a couple on my website at caltoncutlery.com

[@jimcunningham7341]

In your opinion does a microscope improve your Edge when setting the bevil

[@joecalton1449]

well the scope only lets you see what you are doing with the stone. if you are honing to a burr on the bevel set, you can feel what you are doing and don't need to see usually. if you aren't using a burr for the bevel set, then for me, the scope or a loupe or something really helps.

[@lovelandwormery]

Joe when I strop I always roll the razor spine first. You seem to be going edge first. Sorry if I am not clear. Watch the video and you will see what I mean.

[@joecalton1449]

im not sure that I see what you mean, except that when I palm strop I do a roll on the edge motion, and when I strop on the strop, I roll on the spine. not sure why I do different motions on the palm and the strop, but it seems to work out pretty well.

[@lovelandwormery]

@@joecalton1449 what I was trying to say is to roll on the spine rather than the edge. Just my thought for safety.

[@majinpe]

great info, only if it was put into a 5 minute video

[@porkchopspapi5757]

Why not clean the blade by stropping on say a ppr towel instead of your palm? It would clean better & dry at the same time. No?

[@cookinitmax]

Why not palm strop on a peace of cloth to clean ?

[@joecalton1449]

yes you could, but then you would need to wash or replace the cloth, with palm stropping, you just wash your hands and its one less thing cluttering the counter.

[@majorpayne5289]

👍Cool

[@judgetoogood1033]

It is the edge that matters, or is it. The trash doesn’t cut or touch the hair.

[@Do_not_assume]

Unnecessary long video. Just get to the point. What are you trying to say?